Is hiring a landscaper actually worth it, or is DIY always better long-term?

I've been doing landscaping work for a while now, and honestly the question I hear most from homeowners is: "Should I just do it myself?"

DIY has its appeal — you save money upfront, you learn a lot, and there's real satisfaction in it. But I've also seen plenty of DIY projects that ended up costing more to fix than if they'd hired someone from the start.

That said, I don't think it's black and white. Some things are totally DIY-able. Others (grading, drainage, large tree work) can go sideways fast.

Curious what people here actually think:

• Have you had a DIY project go wrong?
• Or hired a landscaper and regretted it?
• What's the sweet spot — what's worth hiring out vs. doing yourself?

No wrong answers, genuinely want to hear honest experiences 👇