Best 5 Landscaping Companies in Ela, IL

DIY Options vs. Professional Services

Although many homeowners have basic lawn maintenance knowledge, landscaping needs more advanced skills. Completing a full-scale landscaping project requires heavy equipment and intense labor. Adding more complex elements, such as a fire pit or irrigation system, requires construction and machinery expertise.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) landscaping works for smaller projects, such as removing overgrown plants or adding a flower bed. However, you should consider hiring a professional landscaping company if you’re doing a total yard overhaul or don’t have basic lawn expertise.

Hiring a landscape designer or architect helps prevent you from making expensive mistakes. Professionals have the skills and know-how to elevate your outdoor living space, recommend cost-effective upgrades, and help you develop a plan for long-term maintenance.

Factors To Consider When Choosing an Ela Landscaping Company

Look for a landscaping company that offers the services you need within your budget. Also ensure that your provider has a good reputation. Keep the following considerations in mind when shopping for landscaping contractors.

Services Offered

Different landscaping companies serve different lawn needs. Some focus on services that help with the health and maintenance of your yard, such as fertilizing, controlling weeds, mulching, pruning, and mowing. These companies often also provide pest management and tree cutting services.

Plan to hire a full-service landscaper if you're adding new outdoor elements (such as a fire pit) or planning a revamp of your entire yard. These providers specialize in outdoor designs and upgrades, such as gardening, adding hardscapes, and landscaping rock projects. They can also help install fire pits, retaining walls, sprinkler or irrigation systems, and other architectural elements. Some even provide lawn maintenance services.

Licensing and Experience

Most landscapers have advanced training and certifications in various areas, such as outdoor design, horticulture, and lawn maintenance. Companies should possess the appropriate licenses from the Ela city government. The company may have the following certified staff members:

• Certified fertilization or pesticide specialists
• Licensed arborists
• Licensed horticulture specialists
• Licensed or certified landscaping designers or architects

It may also hold certifications from professional organizations, including the National Association of Landscape Professionals and the Professional Landcare Network. These certifications are an added bonus, but not mandatory. Your landscaper should be fully insured and bonded. Most providers have liability insurance to protect against bodily injury or property damage. Ask to see an insurance certificate or insurance numbers to verify a company's coverage.

Reputation and Reviews

Try to find a contractor who has a good reputation and positive customer reviews. You can read both negative and positive reviews on third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau to get a feel for how a company treats its customers. You want to avoid providers that have frequent mentions of unreliable customer service, delayed projects, or poor project results, or that have generally poor reviews.

Work Portfolio

Most landscaping and maintenance companies will have before and after photos of past projects to showcase their work to potential customers. Ask to see your provider's portfolio. You can specifically ask to see other projects similar to yours, to see how yours might look and even get some inspiration.

Sustainability Practices

Ask your landscaper about their sustainability practices, including waste management, eco-friendly material options, and water conservation. Your provider can explain its own sustainability practices and offer recommendations for sustainable maintenance, such as how to reduce cost, waste, and water consumption. When planting vegetation, the company should select native area plants, such as swamp milkweed, wild columbine, and cup-plant. Any work they complete shouldn't affect your existing vegetation.

Cost

We recommend requesting multiple quotes from different companies—this lets you compare rates and services and may even help you negotiate a better price. Many companies offer free consultations to review your outdoor space, talk about project plans, and provide recommendations. Your detailed quote will include information about various project expenses, such as materials and labor.

Landscaping Costs in Ela

Landscaping in Ela generally costs between $28 and $42 per hour. These figures depend on things such as project type and size. Bigger projects, such as resodding, will cost more than simple lawn tasks like gardening or mowing. Pricing will vary based on your chosen materials. For a large yard, your provider might charge by the acre. Larger projects necessitate more labor, which will increase the total cost. The table below shows the average cost of common landscaping projects:

Landscaping Service	Average Cost
Deck	$12,598 - $16,797
Landscaping Design	$2,125 - $2,834
Landscaping LandGrading	$426 - $2,556
Landscaping Mulch	$26 - $128
Planting FlowerBeds	$85 - $1,704
Planting Trees	$223 - $372
Sodding	$43 - $51
Swimming Pool	$32,372 - $85,190