You’ve found a landscaping company that seems like a good fit for your Fort Lauderdale property. They showed up on time, gave you a quote that felt reasonable, and seemed to know what they were talking about. So you’re ready to sign, right? Not so fast.
Before you commit to any landscaping contract in South Florida, there are critical questions you should ask — questions that separate homeowners who end up thrilled with their results from those stuck in frustrating, expensive disputes. Knowing what questions to ask a landscaping company before hiring them could save you thousands of dollars and months of headaches.
Here are the ten questions that the savviest Fort Lauderdale homeowners always ask before putting pen to paper.
1. What Exactly Is Included in This Price?
This might sound obvious, but vague proposals are the number-one source of landscaping disputes in Broward County. A quote that simply says “landscape renovation — $4,500” tells you almost nothing. You need specifics.
Ask the company to itemize everything: materials (plant species, quantities, sizes), labor hours, soil amendments, mulch type and depth, irrigation adjustments, and debris removal. If sod is involved, confirm the square footage and variety. If they’re planting, get the exact gallon size of each plant — a 3-gallon Clusia hedge looks very different from a 7-gallon one, and the price difference is significant.
A reputable Fort Lauderdale landscaper will have no problem providing a detailed written breakdown.
2. Are You Licensed and Insured in Florida?
Florida doesn’t require a state license for basic landscaping work, but many municipalities in Broward County have their own requirements. More importantly, you want to confirm the company carries general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage.
Why does this matter? If an uninsured worker gets injured on your property, you could be held liable. If their equipment damages your pool cage, fence, or irrigation system and they don’t have liability coverage, you’re paying for the repair out of pocket. Ask to see certificates of insurance — not just a verbal “yes, we’re covered.”
3. How Long Will the Project Take, and What Happens if It Goes Over?
South Florida weather can throw a wrench into any outdoor project. Between afternoon thunderstorms from May through October and the occasional tropical system, delays happen. That’s understandable. What’s not acceptable is a project that drags on for weeks with no communication.
Ask for a realistic timeline that accounts for weather, and get it in writing. Also ask what their policy is if the project goes significantly over schedule. Will they prioritize getting back to your property? Is there any compensation or discount if delays are caused by scheduling issues on their end rather than weather?
4. Who Will Actually Be Doing the Work on My Property?
Some landscaping companies in Fort Lauderdale subcontract portions of their work to other crews. That’s not necessarily a problem, but you should know about it upfront. Ask whether the company uses its own employees or subcontractors, and if subcontractors are involved, confirm they carry their own insurance.
Also ask whether the same crew will be assigned to your property consistently. For ongoing maintenance contracts, having the same team each visit means they learn your property’s quirks — where the sprinkler heads are, which gates stick, where the dog likes to dig. That consistency translates to better results over time.
5. What Happens if Plants Die After Installation?
Fort Lauderdale’s climate is generous to most tropical plants, but new installations can struggle if they’re planted at the wrong time, placed in the wrong light conditions, or not watered properly during establishment. A good landscaping company will offer some form of plant guarantee.
Common guarantees in South Florida range from 30 days to one year, depending on the company and the type of planting. Ask what their specific guarantee covers, what voids it (for example, failure to water during the first two weeks), and whether replacement includes labor or just the plant itself. Get this in writing as part of your contract.
6. How Do You Handle Change Orders and Additional Costs?
Almost every landscaping project hits at least one surprise. Maybe your sandy Fort Lauderdale soil needs more amendment than expected. Maybe the irrigation line is in a different spot than the plans assumed. Maybe you decide mid-project that you want to upgrade from mulch to river rock in one bed.
Ask how the company handles changes to the original scope. Do they provide written change orders with updated pricing before doing any additional work? Or do they just tack on extra charges at the end? The answer to this question tells you a lot about how the company operates. Any additional work should be documented and approved by you in writing before it begins.
7. What’s Your Payment Schedule?
Payment terms vary across Fort Lauderdale landscaping companies, and there’s no single “right” structure. However, there are red flags to watch for. Be cautious of any company that demands full payment upfront before any work begins. A more standard arrangement is a deposit (typically 25–50% for larger projects), a progress payment at a midpoint milestone, and a final payment upon completion.
For ongoing maintenance contracts, confirm the billing cycle (monthly is standard in South Florida), when payment is due, what payment methods they accept, and whether there’s a penalty for late payment. Also clarify whether the price is locked for a set period or if it can increase — and if so, how much notice they’ll give you.
8. Can You Provide References From Nearby Properties?
Online reviews are helpful, but there’s no substitute for talking to actual clients — especially ones in your area. Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods can vary significantly in soil conditions, sun exposure, HOA requirements, and overall aesthetic. A company that does beautiful work in Coral Ridge might have less experience with the specific challenges of a Victoria Park lot or a property near the Intracoastal.
Ask for two or three references from properties within a few miles of yours, ideally for similar types of work. When you contact those references, ask whether the project stayed on budget, whether communication was good, and whether they’d hire the company again. That last question is the most telling.
9. How Do You Handle Cleanup and Debris Removal?
This one catches a lot of homeowners off guard. Some Fort Lauderdale landscapers include full cleanup and debris hauling in their price. Others consider it an add-on — and those hauling fees can run $150 to $500 or more depending on the volume of material removed.
Before signing, ask specifically: Will they remove all old plants, sod, and construction debris? Will they clean hardscaped areas (driveways, walkways, pool decks) of dirt and mulch? Is this included in the quoted price or billed separately? Getting this clarified upfront prevents an unpleasant surprise on your final invoice.
10. What’s Your Cancellation or Termination Policy?
Life changes, budgets shift, and sometimes the relationship with a landscaping company simply doesn’t work out. Before signing a maintenance contract, understand how to end it if you need to. Some companies in South Florida require 30 days’ written notice. Others lock you into a 12-month agreement with an early termination fee.
Neither approach is inherently wrong, but you should know the terms before committing. For one-time project contracts, ask what happens if you need to pause or cancel the project mid-stream. How much of your deposit is refundable? At what point does the deposit become non-refundable? These aren’t fun questions, but they’re important ones.
A Few Bonus Tips for Fort Lauderdale Homeowners
Beyond these ten questions, keep a few general principles in mind when evaluating landscaping contracts in Broward County:
Always get everything in writing. Verbal promises are difficult to enforce and easy to forget. If a landscaper tells you something is included, ask them to put it in the contract.
Compare apples to apples. When getting multiple quotes (and you should — three is the standard recommendation), make sure each company is bidding on the same scope of work. A quote that’s $2,000 cheaper might be using smaller plants, thinner sod, or skipping soil preparation.
Check for HOA compliance. Many Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods have strict landscaping guidelines. A good local landscaper should already know this and factor it into their proposal. If they don’t ask about your HOA, that’s a yellow flag.
Trust your gut on communication. How a company communicates during the sales process is usually how they’ll communicate during the project. If getting a straight answer feels like pulling teeth before you’ve signed, it won’t get easier after.
Protect Yourself Before You Sign
Asking these questions isn’t about being difficult — it’s about being smart. The best landscaping companies in Fort Lauderdale welcome these conversations because they’ve already built their processes around transparency and clear expectations. If a company gets defensive or evasive when you ask for specifics, that’s all the information you need.
At Angler Lawn, we believe an informed homeowner makes the best client. We serve Fort Lauderdale and all of Broward County with straightforward pricing, detailed proposals, and clear communication from the first estimate to the last cleanup. If you’re ready to get a no-pressure quote for your property, visit us at anglerlawn.com for a free estimate.