Best Landscaping-gardening in Seattle, WA — 26 Vetted Contractors

It depends on the tree. Under Seattle's 2023 Tree Protection Ordinance, trees designated Exceptional (based on size/species) or located in an Environmentally Critical Area require a permit from the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) before removal, even on private property. Smaller trees on standard lots often don't require a permit, but the size thresholds are specific — check SDCI's tree rules or ask your landscaper to verify before cutting anything down, since unpermitted removal of a protected tree can carry fines in the thousands.

For a typical Seattle lot, weekly or biweekly mowing plus basic edging runs $150-$350 per visit depending on lot size and slope, or $200-$450/month on a maintenance contract that also includes moss treatment and leaf cleanup. Prices run higher on steep or heavily wooded lots where access and debris volume are bigger factors. Get quotes that specify exactly what's included — moss treatment and fall leaf removal are frequently billed separately from basic mowing.

Moss treatment products kill existing moss but don't fix the underlying cause, which in Seattle is almost always shade, poor drainage, and acidic clay soil. Moss returns within a season unless the landscaper also addresses drainage (grading, aeration, French drains) and, where possible, canopy thinning to get more sun to the lawn. If your quote only includes a one-time moss-kill spray, ask what's being done to prevent recurrence.

In Washington, landscapers operate under general contractor registration through the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), not a landscaping-specific license. You can verify any company's UBI number, bond status, insurance, and any filed complaints for free using L&I's contractor lookup tool before signing anything — this takes about two minutes and is worth doing for any project over a few hundred dollars.

Possibly. Seattle Public Utilities runs the RainWise program, which offers rebates covering 30-100% of the cost of rain gardens and cisterns for homeowners in eligible combined-sewer drainage basins, mostly in central and north Seattle. Eligibility and rebate amount depend on your address, so check your property against SPU's RainWise map before budgeting for the project — an experienced local landscaper should already know whether your address qualifies.

Fall, typically September through November, is considered the best window by most Pacific Northwest horticulture guidance including Washington State University Extension, because the wet season ahead lets root systems establish before summer heat stress. Spring planting works too but requires more supplemental watering through the first dry summer. Avoid planting in the peak of a July-August dry spell unless you're committed to consistent irrigation.

Walls under 4 feet in height generally don't require a permit, but anything taller, or any wall that supports a surcharge (like a driveway or structure above it), needs a permit and engineered plans through Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI). Given how many Seattle lots are sloped, this comes up often — ask your contractor to confirm wall height and permit requirements before signing a contract, since redoing an unpermitted wall later is expensive.