We’re at the Dogwood Arts House and Garden Show today in Knoxville, Tenn. If you’re headed out this weekend or planning to attend other landscape and garden shows this spring, you’ll want to be sure you’re asking the right questions when talking to landscape contractors.

Here’s what we suggest:

1. Are you and your workers insured? If they’re not insured, you shouldn’t let them on your property. Period.
2. What certifications do you have? A landscape contractor that has taken the time and effort to become certified has shown that they care about quality.
3. How many employees do you have and in what type of work do they specialize? If you’re planning to do a paver patio or retaining wall and you learn that the contractor specializes in planting, you’ll probably want to find someone else.
4. Do you have an in-house landscape designer I can work with? A trained landscape designer will be able to help you work through your vision for your project and guide you along the way. If the contractor doesn’t have a designer in-house, consider going with an outside designer (like Carex Design Group!) then have your contractor build the project.
5. Can you show me samples of your work and can I visit some of those projects in person? Any reputable company will be able to do these things. Plus, by looking at their past work, you can get a sense of the style and quality of the finished product.