Can a General Contractor Do Landscaping?

When transforming your outdoor appearance, deciding whether to hire a general contractor or a specialized landscaper can be challenging. The answer is obvious: a general contractor can do landscaping, but it depends on the scope of the project and the contractor’s experience.

They are known for their expertise in construction and managing large-scale projects. Some general contractors have landscaping experience or hire specialized subcontractors to estimate landscaping to meet project requirements.

Understanding the Roles of General Contractor and Landscaper 

Know the difference between a general contractor and a landscaper

General contractor

A general contractor supervises a construction activity and oversees a group of specialists with different expertise, such as plumbing, electric or electrical work, and carpentry. He oversees the organization and the supervision of all the activities to ensure that the project is fully delivered on time and within budget and complies with all the needed standards.

Landscaper

A landscaper specializes in designing and installing outdoor spaces, managing everything concerning the aesthetic and functional use of land: planting trees and shrubs, creating hardscaping, laying sod, installing irrigation systems, and building garden features like retaining walls or patios. 

General Contractor’s Expertise in Landscaping

A general contractor will assemble diverse expertise on-site when landscaping includes construction or complex elements. Some of these areas of expertise are:

Hardscaping

Other than plant-related elements, the installation of landscapes could also refer to patios, walkways, retaining walls, and all other outdoor features like fire pits or kitchen installations. It has enough comparison in construction skills and working with stone, brick, wood, and concrete materials.

General contractors are well-equipped for Hardscaping because it involves applying several techniques in more or less the same manner as other constructions, such as foundations or buildings.

Simple Planting

Lawn installation is another area where a general contractor can enter, but he is not specialized in plant care or maintenance; he can give over the process of laying sod, seeding a lawn, or installing grass in new construction projects. He can also handle these basic planting tasks. For example, planting trees, shrubs, or flowers in specific areas is a relatively simple task that doesn’t require specialized plant knowledge.

Site Preparation and Grading

Sometimes, hardscaping projects require grading the site to prepare the land for planting or perhaps landscaping. This includes grading the terrain, leveling surfaces, or handling water flow.  

General contractors are experienced in site preparation for construction projects but can apply this knowledge to help with hardscaping projects. This is especially true of areas that require massive equipment, such as heavy machinery, to grade or level an area.

Building Outdoor Structures

General contractors have skills in building exterior structures. Examples include gazebos, pergolas, fences, decks, and outdoor kitchens. To meet the client’s expectations and keep the outdoor structure within budget, it’s better to get exterior design cost calculations done before the installation to ensure that all the elements fit with the project’s financial plan. 

Their work combines knowledge of materials, structural integrity, and safety standards. A general contractor builds these structures while working on a large landscape site.

Coordinating Sub-Contractors for Landscaping

General contractors have a high qualification in managing diverse teams and subcontractors; therefore, they are well suited in instances where the landscaping project will involve the assistance of many professionals in landscaping who carry out more complex jobs like irrigation installation, landscape design, or tree care. They can ensure that all project parts are made within time and by the proper standards.

Limitation of A General Contractor

General contractors have experience in some landscapes, yet not all are suitable for the specific specialty.

Landscape Design

Landscaping design shall mean a layout that integrates functional and aesthetic elements, such as garden beds, water features, pathways, and outdoor living areas. Designing an aesthetically pleasing landscape suitable for its environment requires specialized knowledge of plant type, soil conditions, and design principles-the usual general contractor’s stock-in-trade.

Plant Selection and Care

The right choice of plant for the environment is essential for thriving. A general contractor must learn to choose plants according to their soil type, climate, and water requirements. Landscaping specialists are horticultural trained to select the proper plant for a sustainable and low-maintenance landscape.

Irrigation System

Therefore, a suitable irrigation system is installed after understanding water flow, pressure, and different plant needs. A GC may install simple irrigation systems, while a landscaping specialist can design and install an advanced water-efficient system fit for the landscape’s conditions.

Lawn Care and Maintenance

Lawn is another area where general contractors are not up to the mark. A healthy lawn must be mowed and aerated, fertilizers, weed killers, or pest control. A landscaper has been trained to look after lawns and gardens to make them look alive throughout the year. GCs need to be equipped to provide such services and are stronger on major one-time landscaping projects.

General Contractor vs Landscaper: Primary Elements of Landscaping

This table provides an overview of the different roles that general contractors and landscapers may have, which points out areas where either may do better on a landscaping project.

Landscaping Elements	Role of General Contractor	Role of Landscaping Specialists
Landscaping	General contractors are well-suited to manage and install inorganic features: patios, walkways, retaining walls, and outdoor kitchens.	Landscaping specialists typically are not landscaping specialists, but may be involved with design elements that interface with plants.
Lawn Maintenance and Care	General contractors can manage the installation, seeding, and occasional lawn care for a lawn as part of an enormous scope of work.	Landscaping specialists are better positioned for maintenance, fertilization, and high-tech grass treatments.
Management of Many Sub-Contractors	General contractors effectively manage diversified subcontractors and project elements such as landscaping work.	Landscaping experts will perform individual tasks such as planting or installing irrigation, but a general contractor can oversee all these.
Planting and Plant Care	General contractors are likelier to require more knowledge in selecting and caring for plants and trees.	Landscaping professionals have vast experience in gardening and can choose the most appropriate vegetation for your climatic condition and type of soil.
Complicated Landscape Design	General contractors can achieve designs, but they must usually acquire the knowledge to design complex, plant-based designs.	Landscaping architects or designers are trained to design detailed, aesthetic, and functional landscape designs.
Irrigation System	General contractors can install simple irrigation systems, but they excel when they need advanced knowledge or knowledge of a customized system.	Landscaping professionals design and implement high-tech, water-efficient irrigation systems that fit your landscape’s needs.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care	General contractors typically do not offer maintenance for plants and gardens.	Landscaping professionals often know the local regulations regarding zoning and environmental concerns about landscapes.
Simple Landscaping Jobs	General contractors typically can handle a simple project such as sod installation or tree or shrub planting, or even basic garden beds.	For more elaborate planting schemes or design layouts, landscapers may be required for their horticultural knowledge.
Integrated Construction	General construction contractors are the best for managing landscaping jobs as part of an integrated building project, ensuring work well mixes with other building work.	A landscape designer will manage the planting and aesthetics, while the contractor ensures all these pieces fit well into other construction.
Managing Multiple Elements	General contracting companies handle various aspects of a project and can handle landscaping and construction work simultaneously.	Landscaping subcontractors specialize in certain areas of landscaping. Examples include designing landscaping, planting, and irrigation. Local regulations
Knowledge of Local Regulations	Building codes and permits are within the general contractor’s knowledge. However, landscape regulations will depend on the specific needs of the client’s area.	Landscaping professionals usually know the area’s zoning and environmental laws governing landscaping work.

Conclusion 

A general contractor can do landscaping, but their talents may not be as widely ranging as a professional landscaper’s, for instance, in planting, design, and horticulture. A general contractor is an excellent small job or hardscaping fit, installing a patio or retaining wall. For planting, garden design, and other maintenance, you may want to hire a landscaper specializing in that sort of thing.

A general contractor and a landscaper can help your project get done most efficiently and effectively. A general contractor is incredibly valuable to a homeowner who simply incorporates some landscaping as part of a much larger construction project, as it would ensure that the project runs efficiently and on schedule.