With your funds strictly budgeted, you only have two real choices and one far-fetched, to forgo landscaping or DIY or haggle till your throat dries out. If a contractor is within budget, then by all means hire one. Just make certain that you're getting a professional landscape artist or garden designer to draft your project. More often than not, an ideal contractor is one that will stick to your plans yet still manages to incorporate the necessary installations like well-defined drainage system and proper electrical connections without disrupting your blue print.

Everyone knows that hiring someone to fix your garden, lawn or backyard will costs----a lot. Be it a landscape or swimming pool contractor, be prepared to cough up some serious dough. However, one must be familiar with the saying that not all that glitters is gold. Take this as a friendly reminder. If you were presented with two contractors, one providing a ludicrously expensive quotation while the other offering a service that is bizarrely cheap---dirt cheap, that is. If these are your only options, I suggest you look for another batch of prospective contractors. Also, you may want to consider the following before signing a landscape designer or contractor.

One: Experience counts. A veteran or a novice? Generally, individuals would hire the former when it comes to experience. Though there are a select few that may prove otherwise. Small family owned businesses that line your streets---these establishments thrive due to patronage and loyalty from the residents of the place where they operate. Locals prefer them over huge companies for they offer 'personalized' service---something that conglomerates tend to look pass at.

Two: Background. When hiring a contractor try to get referrals or recommendations. Make some phone calls. Try to know what the company really is. Visit their office, talk to the management, or if you can, get hold of the owner. After your conversation with the representative, trust your gut. If it tells you to back off, then look for a new contractor. Most of the time your gut tells you what your mind cannot reason out. But don' be fooled by mere appearance. One may be sporting tattoos all over his body but he treats the customers as professional and courteous as possible. Don't just look at the clothes, look into the attitude as well.

Three: Documents. Ask for certifications. Are they licensed? Bonded? Insured? Are they accredited by any prominent organization? Can they provide you with prof of such? When dealing with a company, talk is cheap. They can talk all they want and claim all the titles in the industry. But if they cannot deliver, this will spell their downfall. For every answer, ask them if they have documents or character references to corroborate the same. Take a closer look on their portfolio. Their past projects. How was the result?

Four: Haggle. Having a landscape artist is not cheap. That's why you have to know how to haggle in order to bring the price the down. You'll be needing all the help you can get. Though be moderate when haggling. You might scare the contractor away.

Five: Put Everything in Writing. All that transpired prior to and during the negotiation must be in writing, particularly the amount agreed upon, the quantity materials and the duration of the project. If the contractor made a guarantee, same must be put int to writing as well. You don't want to leave any detail, right?

These are just a few of the tips when getting a landscape contractor. The Internet is overflowing of useful tips with regard the topic at hand. Make sure that you use your resources wisely.