Best 5 Landscaping Companies in Rockford, 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. More complex elements, such as fire put or irrigation systems, require construction and machinery expertise.

You can DIY some landscaping projects, such as adding flower beds or removing overgrown plants. However, if you lack the needed lawn expertise or if you're planning a total yard overhaul, consider hiring a landscaping contractor.

Professional landscape architects and designers have the skill set to elevate your outdoor space and the expertise to create a long-term maintenance plan. A local professional can identify the most cost-effective upgrades, and one who also offers lawn care services can enhance your yard health. Hiring a professional also prevents you from making costly mistakes.

Factors To Consider When Choosing an Rockford Landscaping Company

Experience and reputation are important considerations when hiring a landscaper, but you also want to ensure that your provider offers the services you need at a reasonable price. Keep the following considerations in mind when hiring a landscaping contractor.

Services Offered

Consider your landscaping needs before choosing a company. Some companies offer lawn care services—such as mulching, mowing, pruning, controlling weeds, and fertilizing—to improve your yard health and maintenance. These companies often also provide pest control and tree removal services.

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

Licensing and Experience

Most landscape contractors have advanced training and certifications in various areas, such as horticulture, outdoor design, and lawn maintenance. Companies should possess the appropriate licenses from the Rockford city government. It 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 might also hold certifications from professional organizations, such as the Professional Landcare Network and the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Although these certifications aren’t mandatory, they’re an added bonus. Landscapers normally have liability insurance for protection against property damage or bodily injury. Any contractor you hire should be fully insured and bonded. Make sure to request a certificate of insurance or insurance numbers to confirm coverage.

Reputation and Reviews

Find a contractor with good customer reviews. You can look at third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau to verify that a company has a good reputation and provides a positive customer experience. Avoid companies with largely negative reviews, including reviews that frequently mention unreliable customer service, delayed projects, or poor project results.

Work Portfolio

Most landscaping and maintenance companies have before and after photos of previous projects to demonstrate the quality of their work. Ask to see the company's portfolio. You can specifically ask for photos of projects similar to yours, to see how yours might look and even get some inspiration.

Sustainability Practices

Sustainability is an important consideration during and after landscaping work. Ask your provider about its best practices for water conservation, eco-friendly material options, and waste management; you might also ask for maintenance recommendations. Landscaping providers should choose native plant life (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 provide recommendations. Your detailed quote should include information about various project expenses, such as materials and labor.

Landscaping Costs in Rockford

Generally, landscaping costs $26–$39 per hour in Rockford. These costs vary based on project type and size. Less complicated work, such as gardening or mowing, will be less expensive than a larger project like resodding. Bigger projects require more labor, which increases the total cost. Depending on the size of your yard, the company might charge by the acre. The cost will also be influenced by the materials you choose. Here's the average cost of landscaping by project type:

Landscaping Service	Average Cost
Deck	$12,608 - $16,811
Landscaping Design	$1,957 - $2,610
Landscaping LandGrading	$416 - $2,496
Landscaping Mulch	$25 - $125
Planting FlowerBeds	$83 - $1,664
Planting Trees	$218 - $364
Sodding	$42 - $50
Swimming Pool	$31,615 - $83,198