The 6 Best Landscape Design & Build Companies in Greater Chicago

Whether you’re hiring your first landscape design and installation professional or you’ve worked with one or more landscaping companies in the past but were unhappy, finding a business that you can count on to bring fresh ideas, follow through on promises, and do amazing work may feel overwhelming.

After all, the number of landscape design and build companies in the Greater Chicago area is vast. You might be wondering how to compare all of your options and how to choose the best one for your needs.

We understand that. The last thing you want to do is research many businesses and then be dissatisfied with your decision or the results. No one wants to waste time or money when trying to create a custom space they can enjoy for years to come in their yards.

What you do want is to feel confident in the choice you made, not stressed.

We’d like to help. Take a look at our list of some of the best landscaping companies in the Suburban Chicago area.

The 6 Best Landscaping Companies in Greater Chicago

If you’ve searched online for “best landscaping companies near me,” you may have found a list of those closest to you, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are the best.

To aid your search, here are the companies that will likely come up first when you search for landscape design and build companies in the Greater Chicago area. They are the most respected in the region, and we’ve compiled some helpful information for your comparison exercise.

1. CB Conlin

Barry Conlin founded C.B. Conlin Landscapes in Naperville, Illinois, in 1985. He started the business in his home, but then expanded in 1987 by purchasing a property in south Naperville. Today, the company has seven professional team members and 25 seasonal laborers that offer an array of residential and commercial services in Chicago’s western suburbs.

2. Hursthouse Landscape

Hursthouse Landscape, based in Chicago’s western suburbs in Bolingbrook, Illinois, began in 1990. Owner Bob Hursthouse got a degree in plant and soil sciences with a landscape designer specialization from Southern Illinois University. For most of its history, the company with approximately $31 million in annual revenue, has focused on design/build/installation, but it recently added a maintenance division.

3. Hartman Landscape

Hartman Landscape opened its doors in 1989 and has offices in Mokena and Peotone, Illinois. They are a full-service company providing maintenance, design, installation, fertilization, tree care, hardscapes, lighting, and snow removal services. A fairly large business, its annual revenue is at around $28 million.

4. Chalet

Chalet has been serving the North Shore since 1917 with landscape and nursery services. The company also offers indoor plants, firewood, home decor, pet care, and gardening products. At one point in its history, the company even sold sailboats. At approximately $30 million in revenue, it’s one of the larger landscaping companies in the industry. The company focuses on residential customers, with 60% of its business being maintenance, 35% design/build/installation, and 5% lawn care and fertilization.

5. Mariani

Mariani Landscape, based in Lake Bluff, Illinois, and serving Chicago’s North Shore, is the largest privately owned residential landscape company in the U.S. Its revenue was $54 million in 2019. It offers maintenance and design/build services with 60% of its business focusing on maintenance and the other 40% on design/build/installation.

6. KD Landscape

As you compare landscape design and build companies in the Greater Chicago area, we hope you’ll also consider KD Landscape in your search. We started our business in 1999 with the goal of providing responsive landscape design, build, and installation services to the Chicagoland community.

These differentiators are what set us apart from the competition.

Our Boutique Focus

Some of our landscape design and installation competitors are very large businesses.

We may not be as large, but we’re big enough to have the capabilities to tackle very custom, nuanced landscape designs.

We also prefer to remain at a size that enables us to spend more time focusing on every job versus treating each project like it’s on a production line. More time means we can be more responsive, addressing all of our clients' concerns and questions.

Our Installation Team Takes Pride in Quality Work

We firmly believe that when we take care of our team members, they take better care of our customers. That’s why our average team member tenure is around 15 years.

They see the creativity that goes into the landscape design process and are excited to make those visions realities in our customers’ landscapes. They take pride in the challenge, knowing what they build will last.

Also, in a climate like Chicagoland, many landscape businesses can’t keep their employees year-round. Because we offer a full array of services, including snow removal, we’re able to keep our employees year-round, which they appreciate. That keeps them learning and growing with us. Happy employees always translates to happier customers.

Focus on Customer Education

When you dream about your landscape and what you want it to be, it can be hard to describe what you’re looking for. And that’s before you even factor in your different landscape conditions and challenges.

Our employees are trained to answer your questions and help you understand how you can make your idea a reality. We can explain all the nuances that go into creating an outdoor kitchen, for instance -- from proper plumbing to electrical work to ensuring there are concrete footings under larger structures for extra support and security. This highlights how safe, stable, and creatively unique these projects turn out to be.

We know our customers are highly educated and, as such, we know continued education is important. We make the time to thoroughly explain our landscape designs and the installation process. Laying the groundwork helps set up the right expectations and makes you feel comfortable every step of the way.

Maintaining this level of employee training and customer education elevates our quality control and customer service, which we feel is important in every single landscape design job.

Choosing the Best Landscaping Company For You

Doing the research on which landscaping companies in Greater Chicago could be a good fit for your project is an important step.

You want to build a partnership with a business you can trust to listen to your ideas and provide you with great insight, ideas, excellent design, quality installation, and attention.

When you’re searching for the best landscape designers for your home, we want to be at the top of your list. And we want you to get what you’re after: the most envied landscape on the block.

You get to relax in your yard, enjoying your space like everyday is a vacation day when you make an informed, well-researched decision.

Ready to learn why KD Landscape could be your choice for professional landscape design and installation in Greater Chicago? We’d love to learn more about you. Get started today with a free consultation. Together, we can prepare a custom plan that is perfect for you and your space.