Get Quotes from Top Landscapers in Fort Worth, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Landscaper in Fort Worth?

Professionals interested in offering landscape-related services in Fort Worth must first obtain the appropriate license or registration that qualifies them for such work. Failure to get the proper landscape professional license or registration before providing landscape services may lead to fines and other punishments for the offender. Note that the appropriate penalty for this type of offense varies depending on the type of landscape professional license or registration involved and the agency responsible for issuing the license.

Landscape professional license and registration types required for specific landscape services in Texas include landscape architect registration, pesticide commercial and noncommercial applicator license, and landscape irrigator license. In Fort Worth, landscape architects must first register with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE) to be eligible to provide their services.

Applicants can register with the TBAE using either the examination or reciprocal application. Note that registration certificates are issued only to applicants who meet the requirements for the application type they chose. Queries concerning the requirements for obtaining a landscape architect registration certificate can be directed to the TBAE by calling (512) 305-9000. Residents of Fort Worth can also confirm if the individual they intend to hire has obtained the appropriate registration certificate using the TBAE find a professional tool.

Similarly, professionals who wish to work as pesticide applicators in Fort Worth must obtain a pesticide commercial and noncommercial applicator license from the Texas Department of Agriculture. Applicants can submit their application for a pesticide commercial and noncommercial applicator license online or by downloading, completing, and mailing an application form to:

Pesticide commercial and noncommercial applicator licenses are issued to individuals who complete the application process satisfactorily. Homeowners wishing to hire a landscaper who can apply pesticides in their yard should ensure that the Texas Department of Agriculture has appropriately licensed the individual they intend to hire. You can verify your intended landscaper's pesticide applicator license status by calling the Texas Department of Agriculture at (877) 542-2474 or (512) 463-747.

Likewise, landscape irrigators who intend to provide landscape services relating to the connection of irrigation systems to the Fort Worth water supply must also obtain a license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Interested persons who wish to become licensed landscape irrigators must complete the appropriate training, pass an examination approved by the TCEQ, submit a criminal history attestation, and pay an application fee of $111.

Landscape irrigator licenses are issued to applicants who complete the TCEQ application process. For more information concerning the application process for landscape irrigator licenses, call the TCEQ at (512) 239-1000. Homeowners interested in installing an irrigation system for landscape should always confirm whether the individual they intend to hire is licensed. This can be done with the help of the TCEQ landscape irrigator license search tool.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Landscapers in Fort Worth?

The average hourly cost of retaining the services of a professional landscaper in Fort Worth is $16.49. However, depending on the nature of the work and the labor required to do the job, professional landscapers may charge as much as $90 per hour for their services. Because the cost of landscape services varies depending on the nature of the project, it is always good to have a general idea about the type of service you need.

One of the easiest ways to form a general idea about your landscaping project is by contacting different landscapers and asking each landscaper to submit a detailed estimate. Getting estimates from more than one landscaper will help clarify the details of your project and ensure that you do not pay more than the average market price.

A landscaper in Fort Worth earns an average wage of $34,290 annually. Listed below in the table is the cost comparison of the average hourly wages of landscaping and groundskeeping workers in Fort Worth against those of this category of individuals across the rest of Texas and other major American cities:

Do You Comply With the Fort Worth Landscape Ordinance?

Fort Worth landscape regulation is drafted in Chapter 6 of the city's Zoning Ordinance. Violating any provision of the city's landscape regulation is an offense that attracts a fine of not more than $2,000 for the offender. Furthermore, if the offender has been convicted for a similar offense within three years before the alleged offense date, such a person will be fined not less than $250. If it is proven that the alleged offense was not committed at the offender's place of residence, the violation will attract a fine of not less than $1000.

To avoid fines that may result from violating any provision of the city's landscape regulation, it is always advised that you hire a landscaper who is conversant with the requirements of the landscape regulation in Fort Worth. Some of the requirements of the city's landscape regulation include the mandatory submission of landscape plans as part of the building permit application process, installation of a permanent irrigation system to provide total water coverage to plants, and installation of all landscape materials within 90 days after the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the Fort Worth Development Services Department.

Queries concerning other requirements of the city's landscape regulation can be directed to the city's Development Services Department by calling (817) 392-2222.

Will You Get the Landscaping Permit Required As per the Fort Worth Code?

In Fort Worth, permits are not issued for landscape-specific projects. However, the city's landscape regulation stipulates that homeowners or their agents must submit a completed landscape plan alongside an application for a building permit.

A complete landscape plan in Fort Worth contains a calculation of the net site area showing all existing and proposed structures, parking and access, and all required buffer yard areas, analysis of required landscape area, location and coverage of irrigation system, location and dimensions of landscape area, location, number, and planting size of all shrubs and groundcovers, and delineation of artificial lot where necessary.

Homeowners can submit their completed landscape plans and building permit applications online or by downloading, completing, and submitting a building permit application form at:

Once the landscape plan and other requirements for a building permit have been submitted, reviewed, and approved, a building permit will be issued to the applicant. Approval and issuance of a landscape plan and building permit means that the applicant can commence all landscape-related activities in their yard.

However, Fort Worth expects all landscape-related activities to be performed in compliance with provisions of the city's landscape regulation. Failure to comply with any provision of the city landscape regulation may result in a fine of not more than $2,000 for the offender. For more information concerning landscape plans, building permit applications, and the city's landscape regulation, interested persons should contact the Fort Worth Development Services Department by calling (817) 392-2222.

What Kind of Landscaping Services Do You Offer?

Professional landscapers in Fort Worth offer several landscaping service options to interested persons. These landscaping services typically range from basic lawn maintenance services such as edging, trimming, mulching, and mowing to more specialized services such as landscape design, landscape recovery, installation of irrigation systems, xeriscape, hardscaping, and softscaping.

Although residents of Fort Worth can perform some of these landscape services on their own, most landscape work requires skill, expertise, and adequate knowledge of plants, machines, and chemicals to complete. Accordingly, city residents should always ensure that the landscaper they intend to hire is competent enough to handle the job.

Residents can ensure they are hiring competent hands for their landscaping project by asking the individual if they have obtained any qualification, certification, or license related to the landscaping service they need. Furthermore, residents must ensure that the individual provides a means of verifying their qualification, certification, or license to avoid falling for a fake or expired credential.

In addition to verifying the individual's credentials, residents should ask for references for similar jobs and a means to verify them. Getting work references and a means to verify the references will help residents evaluate the individual's competency and level of professionalism.

After performing all the necessary verification to ensure that the individual can do the work, residents should ask their landscape professional to submit a detailed work estimate. Work estimates help residents prepare for their project as they typically reveal the type of work to be done, the amount of labor and materials required to do the job, and the overall price of completing the project.

Listed below are the prices of common landscaping projects in Fort Worth:

What Are the Best Types of Grass for Lawns in Fort Worth?

Fort Worth is located in North Central Texas, and the prevalent climatic condition in this area is humid subtropical with a lot of warm seasons. The average length of warm seasons in Fort Worth is approximately 249 days annually.

This type of climatic condition supports a variety of grasses that preserve the existing and natural environment, moderate air temperatures, conserve water, reduce pollution, and improve the general curb appeal in the city. To achieve these results across its jurisdiction, Fort Worth encourages the planting of grasses by stipulating that every 75 feet of a landscape area must consist of a cluster of native grasses and shrubs and a minimum of five plants.

More so, Fort Worth regulates the planting of grasses by providing a list of grasses for landscape use. These grasses include but are not limited to, switchgrass, buffalo grass, bushy bluestem, Indian grass, inland sea oats, and little bluestem. Before planting any of these grasses in your yard, it is always a good idea to speak with a professional landscaper because most of these grasses require the input of a skilled and knowledgeable professional.

You can find professional landscapers near you by exploring third-party websites such as Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review and professional organizations such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Irrespective of how you contact the professional, do not hesitate to ask for their qualifications, certifications, licenses, and the appropriate means to verify them.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Landscapers in Fort Worth?

In Fort Worth, there are no mandatory insurance requirements for landscapers. However, reputable landscapers carry the appropriate insurance policy to protect you and your property. A landscape insurance policy is necessary because landscapers are often exposed to machines, chemicals, and severe weather conditions that may result in bodily injuries and death. Over 143,000 persons get injured during landscape-related activities yearly due to exposure to machines, chemicals, and harsh conditions.

You should understand that it is essential for your landscaper to have an insurance policy, as hiring a landscaper who is not insured exposes you to different financial liabilities. Hiring a landscaper who is not insured means that you will be financially responsible for work-related injuries, property damage, or death that occurred in their home.

Therefore, before hiring a landscape contractor near you, it is essential to confirm their insurance coverage. You can do this by asking the individual for their insurance certificate and contacting the insurance company that issued the certificate to verify its details.