Avoid These Mistakes When Hiring a Landscaping Company in Mechanicsburg, PA & Camp Hill, PA

If you’re planning on hiring a landscaping company in Mechanicsburg and Camp Hill, PA, you will want a team that understands how structural features and thoughtful plantings work together to support a cohesive outdoor space. You’re trusting them to design and build with precision, care, and long-term results in mind.

Related: From Walkways to Paver Patios: Landscape Design Ideas for Camp Hill and Mechanicsburg, PA Homes

Hiring a Landscaping Company Without a Design Process

A professional outdoor space should start with a thoughtful plan. If a landscaping company skips the design phase or downplays its importance, that’s a sign to reconsider. Without a solid plan from a landscape designer, even a well-constructed patio or retaining wall can feel out of place. You need someone who sees the entire layout, from how the patio will connect to the walkways, how the planting beds will soften the lines of a fireplace or outdoor kitchen, to how the space will look and feel throughout the seasons.

A proper process gives you clarity. It means knowing where lighting should go before wires get run and understanding how shade structures or natural stone features will integrate with the contours of your backyard. Without a designer guiding the process, you’re left with disjointed ideas instead of a space that flows.

Choosing a Landscaping Company That Prioritizes Speed Over Quality

Quick timelines sound appealing, but quality takes time; especially when you’re constructing patios, installing planting beds, or building outdoor fireplaces. If a company promises to be in and out without walking you through materials, grading, drainage, or planting choices for our region, it’s likely cutting corners.

In our area, your outdoor space has to stand up to hot summers, freezing winters, and everything in between. That means using materials that hold up to seasonal shifts and constructing features with long-term durability in mind. Pavers need the right base. Retaining walls need proper engineering. Trees and plantings need to be installed with attention to sun, wind, and water patterns. When a landscaping company focuses more on speed than on how well the space functions in the years ahead, the result is often short-lived.

Related: Seasonal Projects Local Landscapers Handle in Hampden Township, PA

Failing to Ask About Plant Knowledge and Regional Expertise

A landscaping company that understands our local conditions will offer plantings that thrive here. Not everything you see in a magazine or online fits the hardiness zone we live in. If you're not working with a team that takes soil conditions, light exposure, and seasonal color into account, you could end up with planting beds that struggle from the start.

The best results come from experience—knowing when to install evergreens for privacy, where to place ornamental grasses for texture, and how to layer annuals and perennials for continuous interest. Without this insight, even the most attractive design can fall flat as seasons change.

Overlooking the Importance of Proper Grading and Drainage

It’s easy to focus on the surface, such as a paver pattern, a layout of a pergola, or the variety of blooms to have planted. But beneath every successful landscape is a foundation that directs water away from structures and toward the right outlets. Drainage isn’t the most glamorous part of the process, but it’s essential.

If a landscaping company doesn’t address grading, stormwater movement, or soil compaction, it puts your space at risk for pooling, erosion, or foundation damage. You need a team that anticipates these issues from the beginning, and not one that deals with them after a storm hits. Drainage should be designed into the project from day one, especially when constructing driveways, building patios, or installing large planting beds.

Ignoring the Long-Term Use of the Space

Any landscaping company can install a patio or build a wall. But not every team considers how that space will actually be used. You need someone asking the right questions—will this space host large gatherings or quiet mornings? Should the lighting highlight specific features or extend the use of the space after dusk? Will an outdoor kitchen benefit from a nearby seating wall or overhead structure?

When the use of the space isn’t considered during design and construction, you may end up with features that look fine but fall short in everyday life. A landscape designer will help you consider how to move through the space, where to find shade during summer months, and how natural stone surfaces can bring visual interest and function together.

Not Checking a Landscaping Company’s Construction Capabilities

A well-built landscape involves structural integrity. The retaining walls need the right footings. The pavers need jointing sand that holds up over time. The outdoor fireplace should anchor the space without looking like an afterthought. If the landscaping company you’re considering can’t explain how they build, what materials they use, or how long each phase of the construction will take, you could be in for surprises.

Look for a team that can speak confidently about the steps involved in constructing patios, building walkways, and integrating features like lighting and plantings into the space. A clear process leads to better results and fewer frustrations.

Related: Why Regular Planting Care Is Essential for a Thriving Landscape in Monroe Township, PA