Source: https://landscapersbc.ca/services/landscaping # Landscapers and landscaping services in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Describe the result you want before shortlisting a landscaping business, whether you are creating an outdoor space, refreshing the yard, or planning a larger renovation. Planting plans, construction, and regular upkeep are different jobs even when one company offers all three. ## Plan your project. Select the topic that matches your current project to find detailed advice and lists of questions to ask a professional. ### Landscaping Consider how your paths, planting, and outdoor living spaces will integrate before you request a quote. #### Choose the right scope For a complete yard transformation, choose a contractor who clearly describes the work and the order of operations. Issues like drainage, excavation, and site access usually need to be resolved before new paving or planting is installed. If you only need a small refresh, a garden-care or planting specialist might be a better fit than a full construction crew. - Design and planning: creating the layout, selecting plants, and establishing a practical scope for the site. - Installation: ground preparation, planting, lawns, and the specific hardscape work the provider offers. - Ongoing care: a separate maintenance schedule for the new space once installation is complete. #### What changes the quote? - The total area being changed and the amount of existing material that requires removal. - Ease of machine access, presence of stairs, loading space, and the route for transporting materials into the yard. - The full construction scope, the specific materials used, and whether professional drawings or specialist input are included. #### Questions to ask - Which tasks will your own crew handle, and which parts require a different trade? - Can you provide a quote that separates preparation, materials, installation, removal, and tax? - What will be finished by the handover date, and who is responsible for the first weeks of watering and care? #### Common questions ### Is landscaping the same as lawn care? Lawn care focuses specifically on the lawn, while landscaping can include layout, planting, grading, and construction. Check a provider’s stated services to confirm they perform the specific work you need. ### Can a landscaper from another city work at my property? Many businesses list several service areas. Review the coverage notes below, then confirm your specific address, potential travel charges, and project size directly with the provider. ### Landscape & Garden Design Connect with designers capable of turning your priorities into a functional outdoor plan. While garden design often focuses on plant selections and beds, landscape design typically coordinates broader elements like circulation, patios, levels, and other site features. Be sure to agree on exactly what deliverables you will receive before comparing professional fees. #### Choose the right scope Determine if you require a consultation visit, a concept layout, a planting plan, or detailed drawings that a contractor can use for pricing. It is helpful to ask how many revisions are included in the fee and whether you retain the right to use the finished documents with a different installer. - Consultation and site review. - Concepts, planting plans, or detailed design documents as specified. - Phasing, material choices, and coordination with installation, where offered. #### What changes the quote? - Site size, survey information, and the required level of detail. - The number of concepts, revisions, and drawings provided. - Plant selection, construction coordination, and follow-up visits. #### Questions to ask - Exactly which plans, lists, and drawings will I receive? - Can I use the design to seek installation quotes from other businesses? - Is construction, plant supply, or ongoing care included in this fee? #### Common questions ### Does a design fee include installation? Only if the proposal explicitly includes it. A consultation, a design, and an installed garden are separate purchases. ### Can a small garden benefit from a design consultation? A focused consultation can help resolve layout, plant selection, and priorities without the need for a complete construction package. Ask which written advice is included. ### Retaining Walls When comparing landscapers, look for those who explicitly list retaining wall construction in their services. It is helpful to clarify exactly what the wall is intended to hold back, what sits above the structure, and whether you are installing a new wall or replacing an existing one. Keep in mind that a decorative garden edge serves a different purpose than a structural retaining wall. #### Choose the right scope Begin with a site assessment. Ask your contractor who is responsible for deciding if design or engineering is required, how they will manage drainage, and how work will be coordinated around your property's access and existing structures. Avoid selecting a wall system based solely on an online photograph. - The site review and the specific wall construction methods offered by the contractor. - The removal of any existing wall, if that service is included in the quote. - The drainage, backfill, and site restoration details outlined in the written scope. #### What changes the quote? - Wall dimensions, the type of ground being retained, and the ease of access for excavation equipment. - The choice of materials, drainage components, foundation requirements, and debris disposal. - Any necessary design work, engineering fees, or municipal approvals required for your specific site. #### Questions to ask - Who is responsible for the design and obtaining any necessary engineering or municipal approvals? - What specific drainage and backfill methods are included behind the wall? - Which areas, including ground, planting, and access routes, will be restored after the work is complete? #### Common questions ### Can I get a reliable price based only on the wall’s length? Length is only one factor. The height of the wall, the type of ground being retained, site access, drainage needs, and the specific construction method all affect the final cost. ### Is a retaining wall a landscaping or an engineering job? While a landscaper may handle the construction, certain projects require professional design or engineering. You should establish exactly who holds these responsibilities before accepting a construction quote. ### Yard Drainage & Grading Find landscape contractors in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley who list drainage or grading services. When identifying the issue, note where water gathers, how long it remains there, and whether it affects your lawn, a patio, or the building itself. A useful first step is understanding the source and the route the water takes. #### Choose the right scope Keep photographs taken during and after rain, and mark downspouts and known drains on a simple sketch. Ask which types of investigations are included before a solution is proposed. A surface-water problem in a garden may require different expertise than water entering a building. - Landscape drainage and grading services explicitly listed by each provider. - Investigation or site assessment where offered. - Excavation, drainage installation, and surface restoration as quoted. #### What changes the quote? - The investigation needed to identify the problem. - Excavation, access, material removal, and the proposed drainage route. - The amount of lawn, paving, or planting to reinstate. #### Questions to ask - What evidence supports the proposed solution? - Where will the water go, and who checks whether that route is permitted? - What is excluded if the issue involves building drainage or underground services? #### Common questions ### Will adding topsoil fix a wet lawn? Not necessarily. Ask for the cause to be assessed before covering the surface; the problem may involve levels, soil, an existing drain, or water arriving from elsewhere. ### Can a landscaper handle water entering my basement? Ask whether the business handles building drainage. That work may need a different contractor than garden drainage or lawn grading. ### Patios & Pavers Find local professionals for paved patios, paths, and hardscape projects across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. When starting a project, consider the intended use, the approximate size, and how the new surface will meet existing doors, steps, and garden beds. While material choice is important, the preparation and drainage scope are equally critical to the long-term result. #### Choose the right scope Compare quotes based on a complete installation specification. Ask what occurs below the visible surface, what is removed first, and how edges and changes in level are finished. If you are repairing an existing patio, clarify whether the underlying issue is surface movement, drainage, or damaged material. - Patio or paver installation explicitly offered by the provider. - Walkways, steps, and related hardscape work where listed. - Repair, removal, and reinstatement when included in the quote. #### What changes the quote? - Surface area, materials, and laying pattern. - Excavation, base preparation, access, and disposal. - Edges, steps, drainage, and integration with adjacent surfaces. #### Questions to ask - What base preparation and edge restraint are included? - How will the finished levels and drainage work with the house and yard? - Does the quote include cutting, steps, removal, and site cleanup? #### Common questions ### Does a paver price include the whole installed patio? Check your quote carefully. Materials, excavation, base preparation, edging, and labour must all be identified to compare complete installed prices effectively. ### Can I keep part of an existing patio? Ask the contractor to assess the retained surface, levels, and condition. The connection between the new work and the existing surface requires an agreed-upon detail. ## More planning guides ### [Lower Mainland landscaping costs: local prices and quote comparison](https://landscapersbc.ca/guides/landscaping-costs) Compare published Vancouver design prices and Lower Mainland maintenance plans, then work through the seven costs that shape a landscaping quote. ### [How to hire a landscaper in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley](https://landscapersbc.ca/guides/hiring-a-landscaper) Learn how to select the right landscaping service, verify local coverage, and compare project scopes and contractor paperwork before booking. ### [A garden design brief for a Lower Mainland home](https://landscapersbc.ca/guides/garden-brief) Prepare a practical garden brief with site photos, priorities, maintenance limits, and phased work for a Metro Vancouver or Fraser Valley property. ## Current business records [Read current public business records](https://landscapersbc.ca/businesses.md). Confirm the service and project address with the business.