How to choose a landscaping company in Georgetown, Texas
Most Georgetown homeowners hire a landscaping company in one of three modes: recurring lawn maintenance (weekly or bi-weekly mow/edge/blow), seasonal heavy-lift work (spring cleanup, mulch refresh, fall leaf removal, oak wilt-aware tree pruning), or a design-and-install project (irrigation overhaul, bed redesign, hardscape, full landscape replacement). The criteria for picking each are different. This guide pairs with our Georgetown landscaping services overview.
License and insurance verification
Maintenance-only landscaping is unlicensed in Texas, but several adjacent activities are not:
- Irrigation — design, install, or repair of in-ground sprinklers requires a TCEQ Irrigator or Irrigation Technician license. Verify at tceq.texas.gov.
- Pesticide application — commercial application of herbicides, fertilizers above certain rates, or any pesticide in a residential setting requires a Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) commercial applicator license. Verify at texasagriculture.gov.
- Tree work in oak-wilt-prone Williamson County should be performed by an ISA-certified arborist, especially during the high-risk pruning window of February through July.
Always ask for a current certificate of liability insurance (mowers, blowers, and string trimmers throw debris regularly — broken windows are a routine claim). Workers' compensation coverage is technically optional in Texas but a meaningful differentiator for any company sending crews onto your property.
What a good written scope looks like
- Visit cadence (weekly / bi-weekly) by season
- Tasks included on every visit (mow, edge, blow) named explicitly
- Tasks excluded or billed separately (bed weeding, mulch, seasonal color, fertilization, pre-emergent)
- Treatment of HOA architectural review on any change requiring approval
- Communication policy for missed visits, weather delays, holidays, and reschedules
- What happens to clippings (mulched in place vs bagged vs hauled)
Questions to ask before you sign
- Are you familiar with the City of Georgetown watering schedule and current restriction stage? Will you adjust irrigation accordingly without my prompting?
- How do you handle bed weeding — is it included, or billed separately?
- What products do you use for fertilization and weed control? Are they pet- and pollinator-safe?
- Do you carry an ISA-certified arborist for tree pruning, or do you subcontract it?
- How do you handle oak wilt risk during the February–July high-risk window?
Red flags
- "We do irrigation too" without a TCEQ license number on hand
- Pesticide application without a TDA commercial applicator card
- Year-round flat-rate pricing with no allowance for seasonal load (spring leaf-up vs January dormancy)
- Pruning oaks in May or June without a tree-paint protocol
- Vague pricing on extras with no per-yard or per-bag rates
Local context
Sun City homes generally use the smallest landscape budget in Georgetown — lots are smaller, water restrictions are honored religiously, and the HOA enforces front-yard standards strictly. Wolf Ranch and Santa Rita Ranch homes are larger and benefit from companies that can rotate seasonal color and refresh mulch on schedule. Berry Creek lots have mature tree canopy that needs proper pruning, leaf cleanup, and a relationship with a certified arborist for any structural work. Older central Georgetown lots near the Square sometimes have legacy live oaks — do not let any contractor prune those during oak wilt season without a written protocol.
FAQ
What is the right cadence for fertilization in Georgetown?
For Bermuda or Zoysia: pre-emergent in late February, slow-release nitrogen in April and again in June, no fertilizer in deep summer heat, optional fall feed in October. For St. Augustine: similar timing but with closer attention to fungal pressure (gray leaf spot is a common July problem).
How can I tell if my irrigation system needs an audit?
Brown patches that don't respond to additional water, runoff into the street, head-to-head spacing inconsistencies, or a water bill that climbs faster than your usage explains are all signs. A licensed irrigator will run a system audit, document head pressure and coverage, and recommend specific fixes.
What is the right approach to oak wilt prevention?
Avoid pruning oaks between February 1 and July 1 except in emergencies. If pruning is unavoidable, paint cuts immediately with pruning sealer to prevent the sap-feeding beetles from carrying spores. Have a certified arborist inspect any oak with crown thinning or rapid leaf browning — early identification matters.
Next step: Compare verified Georgetown landscapers in the directory below, get two or three written maintenance-plan bids that match your visit cadence and inclusion list, and verify any irrigation or pesticide-application work is performed under the right license.