So you have been saving pictures you find online or in a catalog for months, or maybe even years, and now you are browsing the internet trying to decide who to hire. How on earth are you supposed to make a decision? You may have talked to several contractors, why was the one contractor's estimate so high priced? And the other is so low you wonder how they could possibly do it for that budget? What about finding a contractor in the middle somewhere?

Stick around and read on. We'll offer some pointers on things you can do to double check and make sure you are hiring a respectable trustworthy contractor. ​

The above pointers are our best effort to give you all the things that you should consider in the process of hiring a landscape company. Our goal is to do our best to provide you with the information you need to know and consider, and the possible consequences of those choices, and then stand back and give you the freedom to make your decision. No pressure. So many people find this process overwhelming, others just call their buddy's friend who does landscaping and have them come over and do the project, and still others simply hire the lowest bid.

We've run into situations where the homeowner got 3 different bids on a project, one of them being ours. The lowest bid was literally 10 times less than ours. That homeowner later confided in us that as he considered these different bids, he decided there is no way possible that the lowest bid could accomplish his goal. (It would not even have covered 1/4 of the material costs, let alone the labor and equipment costs.)

This particular homeowner had had some experience in hiring contractors, he'd done it before, and understood what happens when something is "too good to be true" For instance, just a few blocks away, another homeowner had hired a company to do a large backyard project. That second homeowner spent 6 digits on a large outdoor living space project with this first company. But... 2 years later problems began surfacing. They brought in an expert from the product manufacturer, and discovered the entire project was failing due to improper construction. This homowner ended up spending 3 times what he originally had with the lower priced company to remove all the incorrectly installed product, and re-install his dream outdoor living space. Today, over ten years later, that outdoor living space is still functioning as intended and is more beautiful than ever. 

I just went off on that storytelling venture, simply to try to offer information and perspective as what can happen in the real world. The information is yours to digest and choose a way forward for your project. We understand, we are not a good fit for every customer, and every project. And that's ok. But regardless, we still want you to succeed with your vision for your backyard, and want to protect all of you from expensive regrets. 

Good luck with your project, and as always, we are always available to discuss and answer any questions you may have. You can easily message us on our Facebook page as well if you'd rather.

​Cheers!

Searching for a landscaper for your project at your Altoona, State College or Bedford home? Tussey Landscaping is a design/build firm equipped to do so with award winning designs and the artistic touch inspired by people who love what they do. All of our work is backed by Tussey Landscaping's guarantee. We are a full service company with our roots in landscaping offering you a complete list of services for your one of a kind Outdoor Living Space. Are you looking for a landscaper in the  State College, Altoona, Bedford, or Johnstown PA area? All of us here at Tussey landscaping love what we do and we guarantee that you will be happy with the products and services we provide.  

Having an outdoor space that looks and feels comfortable is very important. This investment shows to your family and friends that you enjoy spending time outdoors with them. It also adds style and beauty to your home and increases the value of your property. If you live in the Altoona, State College or Bedford PA area allow us to show you how we can improve the look and functionality of any space.

INNOVATIVE APPROACH
Our experienced team has specialized training and expertise needed to complete all kinds of landscaping projects. From the basic project to the most complex, we strive to find the most innovative and efficient way to bring our clients only the best.  Call us to find out more about any of our following services:

  •  Residential landscaping
  •  Custom designs
  •  Landscape lighting
  •  Retaining walls and patios
  •  Mulching and bed cleanups
  •  Advice and excellent service
  •  Landscape Beds & Gardens

Our landscaping company in services Altoona, State College or Bedford PA and surrounding areas. We will give new life to your landscaping. We have a variety of techniques and tools that will expedite and beautify any job 

 OUR TRAINED AND RELIABLE TEAM
The crews here at Tussey Landscaping know what it takes to get your landscaping and gardens looking great. We are approaching 30 years of experience, and we pride ourselves on impeccable attention to detail. We realize how important these details are. We don't cut corners ensuring that every job is done right the first time.

Count on Tussey Landscaping to start and finish on time, complete the job properly, and leave your Altoona, State College or Bedford PA residence looking great. We realize that your time and your property is very valuable and we guarantee we will also treat it that way.  You can depend on Tussey Landscaping's professional team to bring to your property the beauty, care, respect, and professionalism it deserves!

It is challenging to wade through the many details of doing or redoing the landscaping on your Altoona, State College, or Bedford property. Where do you start when choosing a landscape contractor? How do you choose the right landscaper for your project? How do you know who to trust to bring you the quality and expertise you want? Below are few points to think through as you make your decision. Hopefully these can help and turn your dreams and inspirations into a reality for your property.

Finding the best solution to all these questions starts with choosing the right Altoona, State College, or Bedford landscaper. 




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• Make sure your landscaper is experienced. When scrolling through websites, check to see if the pictures in a landscapers portfolio are theirs and not a picture taken off the web. 
• Check out a potential landscaper's work either in person or online. In person is always better. Ask for referrals. If time allows get permission to visit projects completed by the contractor. 
• Make sure your landscaper has done projects before that are similar to the project you have in mind. Dealing with a contractor that does not have the experience, equipment, or artistic ability to complete your project professionally is a sure recipe for disappointment. 
• Does your potential landscape designer understand your vision? Does his experience allow him to give suggestions and pointers that help improve the project? 
• Does the company stand behind their work? No matter how well done any landscape may eventually need some adjustments. Check out the Tussey Warranty. We stand behind our work. 
• Last of all, remember the "The Bitterness of Poor Quality remains Long after the Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten."

​Water features are the jewel of the backyard! Or we should say, can be to jewel of the backyard. When improperly built, unfortunately that is not the case. 

​Have you or one of your friends ever dealt with a poorly built water feature? Did you make a sizable investment into what you were hoping would beautify your backyard, only to be disappointed by a cantankerous non-functioning eyesore? Unfortunately every year we are called in to people’s homes where they tried to install a water feature through an inexperienced contractor, and long story short, they now have a disaster in their backyard. It is too bad, as these people that tried to go cheap, now end up spending much more to fix the problems and get it installed right.
 
As the 2015 Top Frog Award recipient, no one is more qualified or has more experience in water features than Tussey Landscaping. The Top Frog Award is awarded to the top Certified Aquascape Contractor and includes contractors worldwide. In 2015 Tussey was the top CAC. We have decades of experience, which allows us to design and create the best water features that require the least maintenance, which means you get maximum enjoyment.
 
This project shown above was constructed by a major landscaping company in State College Pa. It took an entire summer for them to complete, was costly, and was installed incorrectly on many points.
 

• No biological filtration, which in turn caused uncontrollable horrible water conditions
• Improper pumps and plumbing causing high energy consumption
• Poor quality construction, loose unsafe boulders causing hazards
• Improper Lighting
• Inferior artistic quality

 
We always feel bad for these folks this happens to. Tussey Landscaping was called in to advise, and we identified all the problem areas and considered options with the homeowner. Tussey installed the necessary biological filtration, removed the unsightly plumbing mess and installed the proper pumps and plumbing, and rebuilt the majority of the stream to create a more natural mountain stream look. We also installed 5 yr warranty LED underwater lighting for that 5 star resort ambiance.
 
Above you can see the finished results. Check out the difference! While we did not entirely rebuild the whole pond, we installed what was necessary to provide crystal clear water conditions and make it actually enjoyable. For Tussey to install an entire project of the same size, would take 5-6 working days, not all summer.
 
5 Things to Consider Before Making a Decision:

• Does your contractor have the experience and knowledge necessary to build water features?
• Does your contractor stand behind his work? Ask to see other projects they’ve done and ask their clients what their experience was like working with the company.
• Does your contractor have the artistic talent and ability to satisfy your expectations?
• Will the water feature your contractor is building have the necessary Aquascape System biological filtration?
• Is your contractor certified and trained in water features? Tussey Landscaping is a Certified Aquascape Contractor (CAC) for nearly 20 years.