Gardening in Albuquerque: Hiring and Watering Guide

Choose the work before choosing a gardener

Walk the garden and mark the plants you want to keep. Photograph the beds, access gates and areas needing attention. Give each provider the same list of tasks, including whether you want hand weeding, pruning, planting, mulch placement or debris hauling. Ask the provider to identify unfamiliar plants before removing them.

For recurring care, agree on the tasks for each visit and the work that needs separate approval. Request a visit record describing completed work, irrigation changes and plant concerns. For a one-time cleanup, define the finish: which beds the gardener will clear, which plants will remain and where the gardener will take the debris.

Compare itemized quotes and responsibility

Request written quotes for your property and compare the same tasks, materials and hauling. Ask each provider to separate labor, plants, mulch and irrigation materials. Confirm whether the provider charges by the hour, visit or project, whether a minimum applies, and how you will approve extra work. For hourly work, agree on a spending limit.

Ask for proof of liability insurance, identify who will work on site, and agree on responsibility for damage to plants or irrigation equipment. Request plant names, quantities, sizes and locations before purchase. Discuss substitutions and decide who will handle watering after installation.

For a rebate conversion, ask the provider to retain material receipts and prepare an itemized zero-balance invoice. The Water Authority requires purchase receipts or the contractor's itemized paid invoice at the final inspection. [1]

Include an irrigation check in the visit

Ask the gardener to run the irrigation zones with you present, look for broken heads and visible leaks, and check whether spray reaches the sidewalk or a neighboring yard. Decide whether the gardener will make adjustments, quote repairs or refer the work to another provider. Request a record of controller settings before and after changes.

The Water Authority prohibits water flowing or spraying from a property onto the public right-of-way or adjacent property. Its water-waste rule covers anyone within the service area, including people who do not use utility-supplied water. It also treats spray irrigation from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 1 through October 31, as water waste. [2]

The Water Authority's Water by the Numbers program recommends watering twice a week in September and October, then once a week in November. Customers choose their watering days rather than following a mandatory day-of-week schedule. Ask your gardener to explain the settings for your plants; the published frequency guidance does not specify irrigation run times. [3]

Plan rebate turf removal before work begins

For the Water Authority's xeriscape conversion rebate, confirm that the utility supplies your irrigation water and that you have qualifying high-water-use turf with an operating spray irrigation system. Prepare a landscape plan, submit the online application and arrange the initial inspection. Wait for the official Notice to Proceed before the provider starts turf removal. [1]

Include the program requirements in the work agreement: qualifying plants must cover at least 50 percent of the rebate area at maturity, existing sprinklers must convert to drip or bubbler irrigation, and soil between plants needs at least 3 inches of mulch. Ask the provider to show mature plant coverage on the plan before you approve materials. [1]

The program lists a maximum rebate of $3 per square foot of qualifying turf conversion, subject to available funds and its terms. After approval, you have six months to complete the project; you may apply for an extension if funds remain available. Keep the required receipts or contractor invoice for the final inspection. The utility applies approved rebates as water-bill credits. [1]

Check credentials before approving garden sprays

New Mexico Department of Agriculture identifies anyone applying pesticides for hire, including general-use pesticides, as a commercial applicator. It identifies employees who apply pesticides as commercial operators or technicians. Ask who will perform the application and request the applicable credentials before accepting a treatment add-on. [4]

Match certification to the proposed work. Category 3B covers pesticide use to control weeds in ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers and turf. Category 3A covers pest treatments in those settings, including treatments for plant diseases and invertebrates. Ask for the product name, target problem and treatment area, then confirm that the provider's certification covers that work. [5]

Water Authority seasonal watering guidance

Match the agreement to your garden job

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph the work areas and mark plants the gardener must keep.
2. Give each provider the same task list and request an itemized quote.
3. Agree on hauling, material purchases and approval for extra work.
4. Ask for liability insurance information and identify the people working on site.
5. Arrange an irrigation walkthrough and request a record of controller changes.
6. For rebate work, include approval, inspections and receipt collection in the project agreement.
7. For pesticide treatment, identify the applicator and check credentials for the proposed work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start removing grass while my rebate application is pending?

Wait for the Water Authority's official Notice to Proceed. The utility excludes projects that have started or finished. Ask your provider to make the turf-removal date conditional on approval. [1]

Does the watering guidance require particular days?

Water by the Numbers lets customers choose their watering days and gives seasonal frequency guidance. Within the Water Authority service area, the separate water-waste rule prohibits spray irrigation from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. between April 1 and October 31. That time restriction applies to spray irrigation. [2] [3]

Does a gardener need pesticide credentials for an ordinary weed spray?

NMDA includes general-use pesticides in its commercial applicator definition for paid application. For ornamental and turf weed treatment, ask about category 3B certification and the credentials of the person doing the application. [4] [5]

How should I compare gardening prices?

Compare quotes for the same beds and tasks. Ask each provider to separate labor, materials and hauling, identify minimum charges, and explain how you approve extra work. For recurring visits, agree on included tasks before comparing the visit price.