What to Look for When Choosing a Landscaper Getting a lawn ready for spring can take quite a bit of work, and sometimes it's best to leave the hard tasks to the professionals. When choosing a landscaper or a landscaping company, however, there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Since it will inevitably cost money to get professional help for your lawn, getting a quote before starting is key. Getting references is also important, as is selecting a landscaper who specializes in the type of yard work that you need to have done.

Many people don't realize that while "landscaping" is an all-encompassing term for yard work, there are actually several different sub-categories of landscaping. These are hardscaping, softscaping, and maintenance. Hardscaping is an art of landscaping that involves decorating with non-living, man-made elements to create a picturesque yard. This includes walkways, walls, and even driveways. Softscaping, in contrast, is a form of landscaping that deals with the living components of a yard, including trees, flowers, and plants. Maintenance is often considered a touch-up area of landscaping that involves pruning, cutting, and mowing grass. If you are starting from scratch, it is wise to find either a landscaper who can do both hardscaping and softscaping, or find two companies that provide services in each category.

As with any professional service on your property, you will want to ensure a quality finish and know that you're not being taken advantage of. References and recommendations, which can be acquired both through acquaintances and online, can be quite helpful in helping you determine which companies are recommended. With a reference you'll find out which landscaping companies are the most popular in your area, as well as which companies are recommended for certain types of landscaping. After collecting a few references, take some time to call or email the references to double check their suggestions. In addition to asking people you know who they might recommend, you can also ask landscapers who you're considering to do your yard work for a list of past projects they've worked on. Feel free to call the references that the landscaping company provides, and better yet, visit the sites in person to get a preview of the company's style and finished work.

You can certainly do some research on your own to get ideas for what you want your yard to look like, but like landscaping itself, it is sometimes best to have a professional offer his or her advice too. Some companies will charge a consulting fee to set up a meeting beforehand with you to go over what you're looking for. Others, however, offer a complimentary consult, and some will waive the consultation fee if you go on to hire them for assistance. Regardless of whether you're being charged for this time, having a consultation can be tremendously helpful. In addition to simply explaining what you're envisioning, it never hurts to show the landscaper a picture from a book or magazine with a dream yard that you want yours to resemble.

Finally, before choosing a landscaper, check his or her credentials and certifications. Keep in mind that you might end up hiring several different landscapers to make your yard picture-perfect, so look for certifications and licenses specific to that area. Some landscapers will also be members of major associations.

Whether you are a gardener or just someone who likes a tidy yard or sidewalk, weeds can be a huge annoyance and a big eyesore. Even worse, bending down to pull them out can be hard on the back and knees. Pulling weeds has always been a hassle, but a new Kickstarter project, The Weed Snatcher, aims to eliminate the annoyance of bending down to destroy weeds by doing most of the work for you. With this tool, anyone can now tackle weeds quickly and with ease. No chemicals are needed to eliminate the weeds, either.

Even the tidiest yards and sidewalks inevitably grow weeds from time to time. Weeds are opportunistic plants that can grow in a multitude of conditions and thrive in even the most undesirable places. Getting rid of them can be a hassle, especially when there are a lot of them. And worse, they can spread quickly if they are not taken care of promptly. Normally you would have to get down on your hands and knees to pull out the pesky weed or spray a harsh chemical to kill it. Not only is this uncomfortable for a lot of people, but it's also time-consuming. The Weed Snatcher was created for anyone who wants to remove weeds but is tired of doing it the old-fashioned way.

The Weed Snatcher is an extendable tool that gets rid of unsightly weeds from sidewalks and areas with crevices such as wood decking, driveways, and patios. The tool extends at the push of a button and can be used by both adults and children. Interchangeable heads make The Weed Snatcher perfect for any size crack or crevice and with just a few quick swipes, weeds are gone. It also removes weeds without the use of harmful and noxious chemicals that can be toxic for humans, pets, and the environment. After swiping to remove weeds, all that is needed is a broom and a quick sweep to get the job done.

Weeds are incredibly resilient and don't need a lot to survive. Bending down to remove them can be even more of a nuisance knowing that they will inevitably come back in just a matter of time. If weeds come back, and they often do, The Weed Snatcher makes elimination easy and fast so that you don't have to dread the task of removing them. Even kids can partake in the removal of weeds with this tool as it's so easy to use and adjustable for different heights.