Select a Landscape Professional

When selecting a Florida-Friendly landscape professional the most important question to ask is if they follow the nine FFL Principles. For a more detailed conversation about how a landscape professional puts the nine FFL principles into practice try using the Checklist for Hiring a Landscape Professional.

Additional things to consider when selecting a landscape professional:

• The contractor’s Better Business Bureau rating.
• Relevant professional certificates and certifications.
• Memberships in professional associations.
• Guarantees of satisfaction.
• Testimonials and references from past clients.
• Pictures from past projects.

Check if the business is licensed and insured

Hire professionals who meet all state and local license and insurance requirements for the contracted work. Consult with your local UF/IFAS Extension agents about other appropriate insurance coverage.

• Workers' compensation insurance – verify coverage.
• General liability insurance – ask for proof of insurance.

Florida law requires licenses for specific services such as applying fertilizers or pesticides. Below is a list of licenses to be aware of when choosing a lawn service provider. Check with the company to be sure they are properly licensed.

• Fertilization application: Limited urban commercial fertilizer applicator certification -  verify limited fertilizer (LF) license.
• Pesticide (including herbicide) application: Certified pest control operator license holders or their ID card holders can apply pesticides in turf and landscape bed areas. Limited commercial landscape maintenance pesticide license holders are restricted to apply in landscape beds only – verify pest control and pesticide licenses.