Landscaping & Lawn Care

Garden Maintenance in District of Columbia

Q: A landscaper removed a tree from my yard and accidentally damaged my irrigation system. Who pays?

The landscaper — damaging your existing systems during their work is their liability. Document the damage immediately with photos and get a repair quote from an irrigation company. Present the bill to the landscaper. Their general liability insurance should cover it. This is why you verify insurance before anyone starts work.

Q: My sod was installed and half of it died within 2 weeks. Is this my fault for not watering enough?

Possibly — sod requires very frequent watering (2–3x daily) for the first 2–4 weeks. But a good landscaper should give you a specific watering schedule in writing and install sod that was freshly cut (within 24 hours). If they used old or stressed sod, or didn't communicate watering requirements, that's on them. Document the dead areas and have a conversation before the ground gets hard.

Q: I'm getting quotes from $3,000 to $18,000 for a basic backyard cleanup and landscaping project. How do I compare?

Break down each quote into: design/planning, plant materials (ask for specific plant list with sizes), soil amendment, labor, irrigation work, and any grading or drainage included. Very low quotes often skip soil prep or use small plant sizes that take years to fill in. Verify if the contractor has a landscape contractor license (required in most states for contracts over a certain dollar amount).

Q: My new plants all died after 6 months. Does the landscaper have any responsibility?

Most landscape contractors offer a 90-day plant warranty — some offer up to 1 year. Check your contract. Beyond the warranty period, plant death from disease or owner care issues is typically not covered. However, plants that die within the warranty period from root disease or installation problems (planted too deep, wrong drainage) should be replaced at no charge.

Q: Do I need permits for a large landscaping project?

Likely yes for retaining walls over 2–4 feet, significant grading changes, irrigation systems (in some municipalities), and work near property lines. Unpermitted retaining walls can be ordered to be removed by your city. Ask your landscaper to pull any required permits — if they're reluctant, that's a red flag.

Find Garden Maintenance in District of Columbia. Explore qualified locations and request matching with independent local providers.

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Overview

Explore Garden Maintenance across District of Columbia and narrow the request to providers serving your city and ZIP code.

Garden Maintenance needs across District of Columbia vary by climate, housing type, local requirements, travel distance, and material or equipment availability. The launch directory prioritizes cities with at least 100,000 residents and counties with at least 50,000 residents, then evaluates ZIP pages using local population data.

Local project guide

Planning Garden Maintenance in District of Columbia

Project scope depends on the property, visible condition, access, materials, timing, and the exact work requested. Include the symptoms, history, and questions you want an inspection or assessment to answer.

What to look for

Visible damage or declining performance
A recurring issue that prior work did not resolve
A planned installation, replacement, or inspection

What affects the scope

Property type and affected area
Existing materials or equipment
Access, timing, and desired outcome

Before requesting help

Photograph the affected area when helpful
Gather model, material, or age information
Describe the problem and preferred timing clearly

Micro-services

Landscaping & Lawn Care services

5 types

Lawn Mowing Tree Trimming Garden Maintenance Irrigation System Installation Snow Removal

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Key benefits

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Good to know

How landscaping & lawn care works

Our Landscaping & Lawn Care network covers all 50 states plus DC. Choose your state, city and ZIP code to see a precise local estimate and available specialists.

Next step

Choose a city or county in District of Columbia

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Cities

Choose a city to continue to its ZIP codes and available neighborhoods.

Washington274 ZIP codes

Naval Anacost Annex1 ZIP code

Washington Navy Yard5 ZIP codes

Parcel Return Service29 ZIP codes

North Pole1 ZIP code

Common questions

Frequently asked questions in DC

I paid a landscaper to fix my drainage problem and my yard is still flooding. What now?

Drainage solutions require proper grading calculations and sometimes French drain engineering. If the problem persists after a repair, request a written explanation of why their solution failed and what they'll do to correct it. A reputable landscaper should stand behind drainage work — it either solves the problem or it doesn't.

A landscaper removed a tree from my yard and accidentally damaged my irrigation system. Who pays?

My sod was installed and half of it died within 2 weeks. Is this my fault for not watering enough?

I'm getting quotes from $3,000 to $18,000 for a basic backyard cleanup and landscaping project. How do I compare?

My new plants all died after 6 months. Does the landscaper have any responsibility?

Do I need permits for a large landscaping project?

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Estimated range

$420–$540*

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* Prices shown are approximate estimates only. Final charges may vary based on property size, condition, materials, and an on-site assessment. See our terms & conditions.

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