Top Landscaping Contractors in Joliet, Illinois Ranked

Transforming your outdoor space in Joliet requires a blend of creative vision and practical expertise. Landscaping contractors are the professionals who bring that vision to life, managing everything from initial design and plant selection to the installation of patios, drainage systems, and ongoing maintenance. A well-executed landscape design not only boosts your home's curb appeal and functionality but can also increase its overall value. This guide will help you understand the process, typical services, and investment involved, empowering you to find the right local expert for your project.

Ross & Jack's Landscaping Inc

chicago

Ross & Jack's Landscaping Inc is a family-owned landscaping company based in Elmhurst, Illinois, serving Chicago and surrounding towns. Since 1975, they have offered comprehensive landscaping services including landscape design, installation, grounds maintenance, lawn care, sod installation, drainage solutions, and hardscaping such as retaining walls and brick paving. Their expertise includes digital landscape design layouts to help clients visualize projects before installation, as well as specialized drainage solutions like dry wells to manage water issues effectively. The company focuses on creating functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living spaces that enhance property value.

5.0

157 Reviews

Paul's Outdoor Living

chicago

Paul's Outdoor Living is a landscape design and landscaping company based in Chicago, IL. They create outdoor spaces that combine beauty with durability, focusing on low-maintenance and no-maintenance landscaping solutions. Their work emphasizes detailed design and craftsmanship to meet the needs of homeowners seeking stylish and practical outdoor environments.

5.0

124 Reviews

Platinum Patio and Pavers

1125 Candlenut Dr, Naperville, IL 60540

Platinum Patio and Pavers is a landscaping and hardscaping contractor based in Chicago, IL. They specialize in creating outdoor living spaces, including outdoor kitchens with various countertop options such as natural stone and engineered quartz. The company also installs paver sidewalks and entryways that enhance curb appeal and functionality. Their services focus on integrating natural-looking pavers into landscapes to improve garden aesthetics and home entrances.

5.0

115 Reviews

Junior's Landscaping Inc

831 Dennis Dr, Bensenville, IL 60106

Junior's Landscaping Inc is a landscaping and hardscaping company based in Chicago, IL. They provide services including landscape design, lawn seeding and blanketing, spring cleanup with mulching, and the installation of paver patios and retaining walls. The team handles project permitting and cleanup, ensuring a smooth process from design to completion. Junior's Landscaping Inc is known for transforming outdoor spaces to enhance curb appeal and functionality.

5.0

98 Reviews

Chino's Tree Care & Landscaping Inc.

chicago

Chino's Tree Care & Landscaping Inc. is a full-service tree care and landscaping company based in Chicago, IL. They provide tree pruning, removal, and stump grinding services to maintain safe and healthy outdoor spaces. The company also specializes in fence installation and high-quality paver patio hardscaping, enhancing both security and outdoor living areas. Serving Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will, and McHenry counties, they emphasize safety with experienced crews and proper equipment. Their team handles projects with care to meet structural and building code requirements.

4.9

240 Reviews

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What Does a Landscaping Contractor Do?

A landscaping contractor, often called a landscape designer or installer, is your project manager for the outdoors. They handle the complete transformation of your yard, moving beyond simple lawn mowing to encompass design, hardscaping, softscaping, and complex installations. Their role is to assess your property, understand your goals-whether for entertainment, relaxation, or solving issues like poor drainage-and then execute a plan that combines aesthetics with durability. In Joliet, with its distinct seasons, a good contractor will also plan for year-round interest and resilience ^{1 2}.

The Standard Landscaping Project Process

Working with a professional landscape company typically follows a structured path from concept to completion. Understanding this workflow can help set clear expectations for your project in Joliet.

Initial Consultation & Site Visit The process begins with a detailed discussion of your needs, budget, and vision for curb appeal or functionality. The contractor will assess your existing landscape, evaluating soil conditions, drainage patterns, sun exposure, and any potential challenges unique to your property ^{1 2}.

Design & Proposal Based on the consultation, the contractor creates a visual plan. This may include sketches, digital renderings, or detailed drawings. The accompanying proposal outlines the project scope, material selections, a realistic timeline, and a comprehensive pricing breakdown ^{1 3}.

Material Selection This collaborative phase involves choosing all elements: plants, trees, shrubs, hardscape materials like pavers or natural stone, lighting fixtures, and mulch types. Your contractor should guide you toward options that suit Joliet's climate and your maintenance preferences ¹.

Permitting (If Needed) For substantial additions like large decks, extensive patios, or significant grading and drainage work, your landscaper may need to pull permits from the City of Joliet to ensure the work meets local building codes ⁴.

Installation & Execution This is the construction phase. Crews will handle site preparation, which may include demolition, grading, and soil amendment. They then proceed with hardscaping (building structures), followed by softscaping (planting), and finally, installing any irrigation or lighting systems ^{1 3}.

Final Walkthrough & Maintenance Plan Once installation is complete, a final walkthrough ensures you are satisfied with every detail. Many contractors will also propose an ongoing maintenance plan to protect your investment, covering services like seasonal cleanups, pruning, and system checks ^{1 4}.

Common Landscaping Services in Joliet

Landscape professionals in the area offer a wide range of services to address different homeowner needs, from routine upkeep to complete yard overhauls.

Lawn Care & Maintenance

For many homeowners, this is the foundation. Regular maintenance includes weekly or bi-weekly mowing, edging, fertilization, weed control, and leaf removal. This service keeps your property looking neat and healthy throughout the growing season. Costs for ongoing lawn care in Joliet typically range from $100 to $200 or more per month, depending on the size of your yard and the specific services required ^{1 4}.

Softscaping (Planting & Garden Beds)

Softscaping refers to the living, horticultural elements of your landscape. This includes designing and installing new garden beds, planting trees and shrubs for privacy or shade, adding seasonal color with flowers, and applying mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. These costs are often integrated into a larger project but can also be standalone services ^{1 3}.

Hardscaping (Patios, Walkways, & Walls)

Hardscaping involves the non-living, structural features. This is where functionality meets form. Popular projects in Joliet include paver patios, stone walkways, retaining walls to manage sloped yards, and outdoor kitchens. These features define spaces and add significant value. Due to material and labor intensity, hardscaping represents a major part of project budgets, with significant patio or wall projects often ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 or more ^{1 5 3}.

Drainage Solutions & Grading

Proper water management is critical in Illinois. Poor drainage can lead to foundation issues, muddy lawns, and eroded beds. Landscaping contractors solve these problems by installing French drains, dry creek beds, catch basins, or by regrading the land to slope away from your home. Solving drainage issues is a specialized service, with system installations typically costing between $1,500 and $11,000, while grading projects can range from $650 to $3,600 ^{5 3}.

Irrigation System Installation

An automated sprinkler system ensures your lawn and plantings receive consistent, efficient water, which is especially valuable during hot Joliet summers. Installing a new in-ground irrigation system is a common add-on to a landscape redesign, with an average cost in the range of $2,400 to $4,200 for a standard residential property ³.

Understanding Landscaping Costs in Joliet

The investment for landscape work varies widely based on project scope, materials, and property size. Most contractors price projects in one of three ways: a fixed project bid, a cost-per-square-foot estimate, or an hourly rate for smaller tasks.

For full design and installation projects, a common benchmark is $4 to $12 per square foot of landscaped area ^{1 2}. This means a comprehensive redesign of a 1,000-square-foot yard could range from $4,000 to $12,000. For major designs involving extensive hardscaping and mature plantings, total project costs often fall between $3,000 and $15,000+ ^{5 6}.

Labor rates for landscape professionals in the Joliet area are typically in the range of $50 to $100 per hour for tasks like planting, mulch installation, or minor repairs ^{5 6}. It's important to note that complex jobs involving patios, drainage, or retaining walls can add thousands to the overall cost due to the skilled labor and materials required ¹.

A Sample Project: Front Yard Curb Appeal Makeover

Let's consider a common request: refreshing a Joliet home's front yard for better curb appeal. The scope might include removing old, overgrown foundation plantings, adding new mulch beds, installing a few attractive shrubs, laying a small paver walkway from the driveway to the front steps, and laying new sod in worn areas.

The process would follow the standard workflow: consultation, a simple design, demolition of old beds, grading and soil preparation, installation of the paver walkway and bed edging, planting the new shrubs, laying the sod, and finally, applying a fresh layer of mulch. For a project of this scale, homeowners can expect an estimated cost in the range of $2,000 to $5,000 or more, with the final price heavily influenced by the length of the walkway and the total area of new sod ^{5 3 7 8}.

Choosing the Right Contractor for Your Needs

With an understanding of the services and costs, selecting the right partner is your final step. Look for licensed and insured professionals with a portfolio of completed projects in Joliet. Read reviews and ask for references to gauge reliability and quality of work. Ensure they provide a detailed, written contract that outlines the project timeline, payment schedule, material specifications, and warranty information. A trustworthy contractor will communicate clearly, answer all your questions, and help you navigate the process from your initial idea to enjoying your transformed outdoor living space.

Frequently asked questions

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