Landscaper phone screen questions
Landscaping hiring peaks in early spring, when every company is hiring the same people. The screen confirms equipment experience, comfort with heat and long days, the driving, and whether the candidate will stay through the season.
Eight questions, and what to listen for
Ask them in this order. The first two sort the pool; the middle ones show judgment; the last ones settle logistics before anyone books an interview.
- 1
Tell me about your landscaping experience: maintenance, installs, irrigation, or hardscape?
Listen for: Type of work and how many seasons. Maintenance and install crews need different skills.
- 2
Which equipment have you used: zero-turn mowers, string trimmers, blowers, skid steers, or trenchers?
Listen for: Named equipment. Zero-turn and skid steer experience are worth noting.
- 3
Do you have a valid driver's license, and have you towed a trailer?
Listen for: Yes, and backing a trailer is a real skill. Crew leads need both.
- 4
How do you work safely around mowers and trimmers, especially near people and traffic?
Listen for: PPE, checking for debris, discharge direction, watching for people and cars. Habits, not slogans.
- 5
Are you comfortable working outdoors in summer heat and rain, and doing heavy lifting up to 60 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation?
Listen for: A plain yes or a stated limit. Do not probe for reasons.
- 6
How do you make sure a property looks right before the crew leaves?
Listen for: A walk-through, clean edges, blowing off walks, checking the client's notes. Pride in the finished job matters.
- 7
Are early starts, long spring days, and some Saturdays workable?
Listen for: A direct answer. Spring is when overtime happens.
- 8
Are you looking for the full season through November, and when could you start?
Listen for: A clear yes and a date. Mid-season quits are the main cost.
Red flags on the call
- No experience with basic power equipment and no interest in learning
- Unsafe habits around mowers or trimmers
- Only available for a few weeks when the role is seasonal
- Early starts not workable
Keep it short
Five questions, four to six minutes. Landscaper candidates are usually applying to several jobs at once; a screen they can finish between shifts gets finished. Save the deeper questions for the interview, where the candidate has already answered these once.
Ask whether the candidate can perform an essential task with or without reasonable accommodation; do not ask about disability or medical history. Avoid age, family, religion, national origin and other protected characteristics. See the EEOC's hiring-question guidance.
Run this exact screen for every landscaper who applies
Create a role in PhoneScreen with these five questions, share the link, and every candidate gets the same screen the moment they call. You read the scorecards. First 10 screens are free.
- 1Tell me about your landscaping experience: maintenance, installs, irrigation, or hardscape?
- 2Which equipment have you used?
- 3Do you have a valid driver's license, and have you towed a trailer?
- 4Can you work outdoors in heat and do heavy lifting through a full day, with or without reasonable accommodation?
- 5Are you looking for the full season, and when could you start?
Common questions
Do landscapers need a pesticide license? +
Applying pesticides or herbicides for hire generally requires a state applicator license or working under a licensed applicator, and the rules vary by state. Mowing and planting do not. If the role includes spraying, add a question about the license and verify it with your state's agriculture department.
Do crew members driving a truck and trailer need a CDL? +
Usually not. Most landscape trucks and trailers fall under the federal 26,001-pound combined weight threshold for a CDL, but larger combinations can cross it. Check your heaviest rig and your state's rules.
Screening for construction companies · More roles: construction laborer, forklift operator, caregiver, CDL truck driver, line cook, restaurant server · Why the same questions for everyone