Working with Professionals

Landscape professionals provide many different services. There are landscape architects, landscape designers, landscape contractors, horticulturalists, and arborists. While there is some overlap among these professions, there are also important distinctions:

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Landscape architects have advanced education, professional training, specialized skills, and licensure in 46 states, including California. Licensure is obtained through education, experience, and successfully passing a licensing exam. A landscape architect manages any job concerning the design and use of outdoor space and the land. The scope of the profession includes site planning, town and urban planning, park and recreation planning, garden design, and historic preservation. They provide analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of outdoor space and land. For more information, contact the American Society of Landscape Architects at www.asla.org.

•	Landscape designers focus primarily on landscape garden design, environmental management, and the preservation of historical landscapes. For information, contact the Association of Professional Landscape Designers at www.apld.org.

•	Landscape contractors install planting, irrigation, and structural elements of design. For information, contact the California Landscape Contractors Association at www.clca.org.

•	Horticulturalists are trained in the science of growing and producing plants. For more information contact the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers at (619) 284-6358.

•	Arborists are trained in the science of protecting and preserving trees and plant life. For information, contact the American Society of Consulting Arborists at www.asca-consultants.org.

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Irrigation Association (IA) certifications that have earned the WaterSense label include the Certified Irrigation Designer (CID); Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC); and Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA). The EPA WaterSense program partners with professionals who have been certified through a WaterSense labeled certification program and sign an agreement to practice efficient irrigation. http://www.irrigation.org/certification.

Request the architect’s state license number and call the State License Board at (800) 321-2752; or look online to verify that the license is current and in good standing. Request a complete description of the work to be done; quantities and sizes of all materials to be used including plant materials; brand name and type of irrigation equipment; and a landscape water management plan.

California state law requires anyone who contracts to do landscape work to be licensed by the Contractors State License Board if the total price of the job (including labor and materials) is $500 or more. Licensed contractors are bonded and must complete four years experience at journeyman or higher in the same trade to apply for a license.

Typically, unlicensed persons are not bonded and may not have liability or worker’s compensation insurance. Be aware if you hire an unlicensed person, you may be financially responsible if injuries, fire, or property damage occurs.

•	Request the contractor’s state license number and call the Contractors State License Board at (800) 321-2752 to verify that it is current and in good standing.

•	Request a list of similar jobs the contractor has recently completed in your area. Look at the work and talk to the owners, if possible.

California Landscape Contractors Association is the nation’s oldest and largest organization of licensed landscape and irrigation contractors and can be reached at (916) 830-2780.

Be certain that each bid lists all the preparatory and finish work that the contractor has suggested including the amounts and types of soil amendments and brand of irrigation equipment.

A landscape contractor is required to have a license bond posted with the Contractors State License Board. However, this bond does not ensure that your job will be completed. It’s a good idea to ask your contractor to provide you with a “payment and performance” bond that covers the full price of your job. Although nothing can totally ensure your job will be completed, a payment and performance bond provides a financial guarantee against mechanic’s liens that can be filed against your property by subcontractors or material suppliers should your contractor fail to pay them.

If a down payment is required, ask the Contractors State License Board for the maximum that can be charged. Be cautious about contractors who ask for payments prior to beginning the job. Most landscape and irrigation contractors do not require a down payment. Full payment is usually requested on completion of the job, or payment is made in installments if the job will take a period of weeks. Make payments by check or money order, not cash.

The law requires that home improvement contracts over $500 be in writing. However, whatever the amount, it is strongly recommended you insist on a written contract for your own protection.

•	A complete description of the work to be done; all materials to be used, including cost breakdown, quantities, sizes of plant materials, and name brands of irrigation equipment.

After the contract is signed, any changes that you and the contractor agree to in the work, or materials to be used, must be in writing. The written change order must also include any additions or reductions in the total job price.

Sometimes, in spite of all the precautions, problems do occur. If this happens, contact your contractor. Usually, problems can be resolved without involving third parties and corrections will be made willingly. If not, file a written complaint with the Contractors State License Board at:

You can call the Contractors State License Board at (800) 321-2752. The staff helps consumers with questions about contractors and will investigate all valid complaints.

To ensure a quality job, discuss with your contractor any possible inconvenience your landscape project will create. For instance, vehicles may have to be moved and covered to protect them from dust. Make necessary arrangements before the work begins to prevent possible delays or problems.