Best 5 Landscaping Companies in Oswego, IL

DIY Options vs. Professional Services

Although many homeowners have basic lawn maintenance knowledge, landscaping necessitates more advanced skills. Full-scale landscaping projects require intense labor and heavy equipment. More complex elements, such as irrigation systems or fire pits, require construction and machinery expertise.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) landscaping can be good for smaller projects, such as adding a flower bed or removing overgrown plants. However, you should hire a professional landscaper if you’re completing a yard overhaul or lack basic lawn expertise.

Hiring a landscape designer or architect helps prevent you from making costly mistakes. These professionals have the knowledge and skills to elevate your outdoor space, recommend cost-effective upgrades, and help develop a plan for long-term maintenance.

Factors To Consider When Choosing an Oswego Landscaping Company

Choosing the right landscaper depends on several factors, such as your service needs, your budget, and the company’s experience. Keep the following considerations in mind when shopping for landscaping contractors.

Services Offered

Consider your lawn's needs when choosing a landscaping provider. Some providers offer lawn care services—such as fertilizing, mulching, controlling weeds, pruning, and mowing—to help improve your yard health and maintenance. These companies often also offer pest control and tree clearing services.

You need a full-service landscaper for full-yard revamps or to install elements such as retaining walls, sprinkler or irrigation systems, or fire pits. These providers specialize in outdoor designs and upgrades, including gardening, landscaping rock projects, and adding hardscapes. Some offer lawn maintenance services in addition to architectural and design services.

Licensing and Experience

Most landscapers are trained and certified in areas like horticulture, outdoor design, and lawn maintenance. Your provider should have the appropriate licenses from the Oswego city government. It may also employ the following certified professionals:

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

It might also hold certifications from professional organizations, including the Professional Landcare Network and the National Association of Landscape Professionals. These certifications are an added bonus, but not mandatory. Ask to see a certificate of insurance or a company's insurance numbers before beginning a project. All landscapers should be insured and bonded. Contractors usually have liability insurance for protection against property damage or bodily injury.

Reputation and Reviews

We recommend using third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau to get an idea of a company's reputation and customer experience. Stay away from companies with largely negative reviews or frequent mentions of poor project results, unreliable customer service, or delayed projects. Try to select a company with positive customer ratings.

Work Portfolio

Most landscaping and maintenance companies have before and after photos of previous projects to demonstrate the quality of their work. Request 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

Sustainability is important to consider during and after a landscaping project. Ask your provider about its best practices for water conservation, eco-friendly material options, and waste management; you might also ask for maintenance recommendations. Landscapers should use native plants (such as swamp milkweed, wild columbine, and cup-plant) when planting new vegetation, and they shouldn't allow their work to affect your existing vegetation.

Cost

We recommend requesting quotes from multiple companies—this allows you to compare services and cost and can even help you negotiate a better price. Many providers offer free consultations to review your outdoor space, discuss project plans, and make recommendations. Your detailed quote should include information about various project costs, such as labor and materials.

Landscaping Costs in Oswego

In Oswego, you can expect to spend approximately $30–$45 for landscaping, depending on project size and type. Significant yard work such as resodding will be more expensive than simpler tasks like gardening and mowing. Bigger projects require more labor, which will increase the final cost. Depending on your yard's size, your provider might charge by the acre. The price will also be affected by the materials you choose. Here's the average cost of different landscaping services:

Landscaping Service	Average Cost
Deck	$12,806 - $17,075
Landscaping Design	$2,248 - $2,997
Landscaping LandGrading	$433 - $2,599
Landscaping Mulch	$26 - $130
Planting FlowerBeds	$87 - $1,733
Planting Trees	$227 - $379
Sodding	$43 - $52
Swimming Pool	$32,924 - $86,643