Not every landscaping business is created equal. Some are built to win the contract first and worry about the details second. Others are passionate about what they do and go above and beyond to keep client expectations front and center. Let’s look at the first model, which you may have either experienced or heard about.
A charming salesperson knocks on your door, points out everything your outdoor areas could be, and sells you on such a captivating vision of your newly designed space that before you know it, you’re signing on the dotted line. The next morning, a novice crew with questionable equipment shows up, and suddenly everything goes in the wrong direction.
In some respects, searching for landscaping in Nashville online to protect yourself from those experiences is a safer option, until you’re met with a long list of local names and differing opinions, leaving you to start from square one.
Your outdoor space deserves better than a gamble. Landscape design and construction are investments in your home, your lifestyle, and the resale value of the outdoor oasis you picture every time you look out the window. Making that picture a reality takes more than charm or decent visibility on Google; it demands experience, expertise, local knowledge, and precision craftsmanship, along with respect for our local ecology and a deep understanding of local materials. Big-ticket renovations call for engineering know-how, garden landscapes call for genuine horticultural expertise, and quality project oversight requires a highly experienced manager.
You’ll find all of that, and a well-respected landscape construction company that stands behind its work, at Landscape Solutions.
How to Choose a Landscaping Contractor
To choose a landscaping contractor, confirm their license and insurance, review completed projects similar to yours, ask about their experience with local soil, how they handle the climate, how they choose required materials, and confirm who manages the work day-to-day. A design-build firm that covers planning, construction, and care under one contract keeps a single team accountable for the work and the outcome.
Be sure to address these five areas:
- Licensing and insurance: proper credentials for the scope of the work.
- Experience: a solid track record with references.
- Portfolio: finished projects comparable in scale and style to what you’re considering.
- Communication: a written scope, hand-drawn plans, a clear timeline, and prompt answers to your questions.
- Project management: one dedicated person overseeing schedule and budget.
From design through construction and ongoing maintenance, hiring a full-service design-build firm keeps knowledge about your hardscapes and softscapes from season to season in one place, along with the unique aspects of your landscape that impact planting or building choices, your priorities and goals, and your billing information. Contracting different vendors project by project can lead to poor communication, a tangle of contracts, and no clear point person to turn to if issues pop up after the project closes out.
Licensing and Credentials
Tennessee has no license specific to landscaping, save for the size and type of job. Any project of $25,000 or more, including labor and materials, requires a contractor license from the Tennessee Board of Licensing Contractors before the contractor can bid. In Davidson County, a Home Improvement license is required for residential work between $3,000 and $25,000, with the state’s definition of home improvement including landscaping. Williamson County, including Brentwood, Franklin, and College Grove, has not adopted that requirement.
Licensed trades handle lighting, water feature plumbing, and gas fire features. Ask for a license number, proof of liability, and workers’ compensation insurance, then verify the license on the Board’s website.
Permit rules for grading, drainage, retaining walls, and pools vary by city and county, so before you hire a landscape contractor in Nashville, confirm they’re well-versed in these requirements and can handle permit details, as well as HOA and municipal coordination.
Craftsmanship and Experience With Local Materials
Landscape Solutions was founded in 2009, beginning as a boutique firm specializing in beautifying yards and hardscape installations. We have since grown into a team of more than 25 designers, builders, and craftspeople with hundreds of completed projects under our belts. We are recognized for our ecological design principles and knowledge of native plantings. Our crews use industry-certified installation methods, premium products, and locally sourced artisanal hardscape elements to create stunning outdoor living areas that act as an extension of the home. We work closely with our clients to understand their goals and how they want to use their outdoor space, then deliver hand-drawn designs that become project blueprints.
When choosing among local materials for a project, we consider the property, the home’s architecture, and the family’s lifestyle at home.
| Material | Best for | Worth knowing |
| Tennessee fieldstone | Rustic walls, garden borders, fireplace facades | Warm and organic; irregular shapes require skilled fitting |
| Limestone | Foundations, steps, pathways, wall caps | Locally quarried; softer than granite so it weathers with age |
| Tennessee river rock | Dry creek beds, ponds, drainage | Excellent natural drainage; loose stone needs solid edging |
| Clay brick pavers | Classic patios and pathways | Timeless regional look; needs a well-prepared base |
| Decomposed granite or crushed gravel | Permeable paths, drives, informal patios | Drains well; needs edging and occasional top-up |
| Tennessee flagstone | Upscale patios, entryways, pool decks | Refined and premium priced; finish matters near pools |
| Granite and large boulders | Focal points, structural steps, luxury edging | Extremely durable; heavy, so placement needs equipment |
| Architectural limestone and custom masonry | Hand-dressed blocks, ashlar walls | Highest labor and material cost |
| Porcelain pavers | Contemporary hardscapes | Stain- and scratch-resistant; manufactured, not native stone |
An experienced design-build team should walk you through the benefits and potential drawbacks of every material type so there are no unwelcome surprises down the road.
Cliff Jones, founding leader here at Landscape Solutions, notes, “The right materials do more than make a landscape look beautiful. They need to fit the property, complement the design, perform well over time, and align with the client’s investment. Our job is to help homeowners understand the options and make informed decisions before construction begins.”
What to Look For in a Quality Landscape Design-Build Portfolio
A strong portfolio shows range, conceptualization, problem-solving, and design expertise. Look for different project types, their scale, styles, and proof of engineering capacity.
At Landscape Solutions, our portfolio is more than a collection of images. Each project reads like a case study and includes the vision, a detailed design outline, design features, and multiple high-resolution photographs. We encourage you to browse the full gallery on our website for inspiration and to compare our work with your vision and property. Start with the At Home Resort, then Sunset Views, A Courtyard for Entertaining, Blank Slate Reimagined, and more.
Communication and Project Management
Landscapers in Nashville vary by size, experience, scope, and levels of expertise, especially in permitting, engineering capacity, and horticultural know-how. When evaluating options for your project, request a consultation where you can discuss your goals, vision, and budget, and they can walk you through their process from start to final inspection. At Landscape Solutions, every project follows a seven-phase process, so you know what to expect. This is our format:
- Consultation: An initial meeting to view your space and discuss your vision and budget.
- Agreement: A fee covers a property survey and starts the design work. Be skeptical of companies offering free, generic services in this regard, as accurate information is vital and not something a genuinely specialized company glosses over.
- Design Plan: A schematic plan with a detailed 2D design and ballpark pricing.
- Proposal: Exact pricing and a deposit to secure your place on the install schedule.
- Installation: Your vision becomes a reality.
- Final Walkthrough: Together we conduct a final inspection to ensure your project is completed as expected.
- Maintenance: We ensure your property looks its best, from season to season.
Choosing a Landscaping Partner for the Long Term
The best landscaping company for Nashville homeowners will welcome questions about licensing, materials, process, and experience. If you get pushback here, you have your answer and can move on to the next contender on your shortlist.
Landscape Solutions has been designing and building extraordinary outdoor spaces for close to 20 years. To partner with the pros, schedule a consultation today.