Working with Dawn and Jess was a great experience. Due to uncontrollable weather conditions, our…read moreproject was delayed a few months. During this time we decided to make some additional changes, sending them several e-mails. They responded quickly with patience, understanding and great suggestions and insights. The crew was attentive to detail and considerate of our property. Once the project was completed, we had some additional questions. Dawn responded every time! While we found a few other companies that were less expensive, remember the old adage, "you get what you pay for!" Rooted is well worth the investment!

Rooted Outdoor Living is amazing; I have used them the past 2 seasons and couldn't be happier with…read moretheir work. Dependable, efficient and everything is cleaned up when the job is complete. Dawn, the owner is a pleasure to work with and has wonderful ideas to give your home outdoor beauty!

After living in my new construction house, my wife and I decided that it was finally time to get a…read morebackyard patio. All we saw was a bare backyard with a lot of green grass with some weeds. We did have some "wants" on our list which included a natural gas firepit, natural gas line for grill, seating for ~6-8 people, and enough room for entertain with some food, drinks, and a nice place to relax. From the start to the finish, Grant and Power was completely different than the other companies. Other locations just met you outside, what you wanted, and how big. Then we got a quote. However, when I contacted Grant and Powers, they started out with an email with some essential information like their insurance, a pamphlet and other information to get us started. We talked about what we were looking and then waited for our appointment Our appointment was different. Instead of going outside and talking about size... Gene sat us down to talk to us. He wanted to know what we wanted, what we were looking for and what we wanted to spend. We told him about how we were going to use the space and what we wanted and gave him our budget. Afterwards we talked about modern trends and what designs are in/out, how we wanted to place everything. Then off he went with the rest of the team to start designing it after a small down payment. He asked about budget and we talked about how much it might cost, but of course, the final bill could vary depending on the design. A few weeks later, we had another appointment where he showed us the design and it was amazing. They really sat down and listened to what we wanted because it looked amazing. The budget was completely out of our range.. granted, we knew our budget was on the low side of things, but they were willing to work with us to make this affordable. Finally, our day arrived. We got a call the night before that they were arriving in the morning to get started. During the process, the team were good...i would give them a 4.5/5 for a few minor things.They did talk to us a few times but I wish we were updated better. They were good about protecting our lawn even though some areas did suffer. Luckily (For us and them), our backyard had nothing out there. It was just bare land with green-ish grass. From start to finish, they were done in a week. We waited an extra day for another group of guys to show up to set up the firepit and show us how to use it. They were in and out fairly quickly. In the end, we got a beautiful patio. One section to entertain/eat. The other area is for the firepit and grill. Due to the design, they both feel separate from each other. We did find some minor damages that the team did not let me know or Gene. But he is going out of his way to making it right and I appreciate it. Ive had some neighbors stop by to marvel at the patio. Overall, if I were to ever move away, I would go back to this company to design a beautiful space again. I would completely recommend this company if you are looking for the same.

We had our backyard patio redone by G & P. After meeting with Shawn to discuss the design, he had…read morea beautiful mockup made up for us before the work began. Scheduling was easy, they got right to work. When there were issues, Shawn was in touch immediately and the issues were resolved often before we even realized they existed. The patio and retaining wall are gorgeous! The steps out to the yard, and the stoop from the house are a HUGE improvement over what we had before, and all done for a very reasonable price, especially since we did shop around. Needless to say, we love our new backyard and hubby even says he now has room for more grills! We have no complaints; the workmanship, value, and communication were all outstanding.

We contacted Hope's Landscaping in July 2018 for an on-site consultation. We had an aging deck…read morethat was getting little use and wanted to know what was possible if we were to replace it with a brick paver patio. They promptly set up a visit and Ernie came out and checked out the area. A day later, he came back with a vision for what was possible (we literally had no idea what to do and were relying on the opinions of contractors). He explained what would fit the space best, what sorts of things would detract from the space, and the best "bang for our buck." He was open with his pricing, laying out all the details of what was included, discounts, etc. We decided to go with them to: 1) Remove the deck 2) Remove two older raised garden beds 3) Remove an area of pea gravel separating the raised garden beds and deck. 4) Create a two-tiered patio, with curving edges, that steps down to a built-in fire pit and a half-moon style stairs leading up to the adjacent sun room. 5) Put in garden beds edging the patio with custom plants. 6) Finish the area with sod. What followed is the only "less than 5 star" part of my review. We were told a start date of August 25, contingent upon rain and other projects; we completely understood. Late August came and for a couple weeks the communication about the project progress came to a standstill. It took about 3 weeks of voicemails and emails to finally get a response and explanation about the delay (health issues with crew members and some weather delays). I expressed my concern about simply improving communication and from that point forward, we had no issues with the office folk, Ernie, or anyone at Hope's. I think it was simply that they were overwhelmed at the time. Because of the delays, our project ran into a winter "pause." The deck was torn out late fall in 2018, and then in April, the work on the space truly began. One thing that we were VERY impressed with was the thoughtfulness each and every day by the work crew as they packed up to leave. They would pick up the area, organize any tools or bricks, blow off the patio, etc., just to make it "look nice" until the next day, even if the area wasn't even close to being ready for use. When the project got close to being done, Ernie met with us regularly again to discuss the garden beds, finishing the project, and other details. We were given a list of plants to choose for the garden beds (custom listed and appropriate for the shadiness of the areas), and Ernie was receptive to my wanting to create (on my own) a small in-ground strawberry garden (in the pictures, this is the rectangle of bare dirt not covered by the new sod--Ernie gave his opinion on the size and placement of that bed so as to not detract from the appeal of the patio and other beds). All-in-all, we would hands-down recommend Hope's Landscaping, especially if you "lack creative vision" like we did. Ernie has a talent for creating a project FOR YOU and FOR YOUR SPACE.

Ernie came out on time. Work was done professionally and expeditiously. Communication was…read moreoutstanding. I would hire them again. (they graded, laid sod and made planting beds in our back yard after we had a pool removed and deck replaced)

Nick and his team installed a French Drane to help with flooding in our backyard. They were very…read moreprofessional and helpful. I highly recommend them.

I have been with them for the better part of 15 years or more. Great landscaping and lawn…read moremaintenance. 5 star rating. I would give them more stars if there were any to be had. Good value for the work always on time. Great for the buck.

Denise created a landscape plan for Highland Elementary School's Habitat garden. It takes into…read moreconsideration the best sites for each plant, providing food and shelter for wildlife, year-round visual appeal, and ease of maintenance. We will be implementing it in the spring (2017) and I can't wait to see it after a year or two, I'm confident it will be beautiful! I would highly recommend Denise to anyone who wants a native garden that will be gorgeous and low-maintenance. She's the best!

From the owner: Good-Natured Landscapes LLC is a design company only, featuring native plants and other…read moreenvironmentally friendly practices. This has been our speciality since 2005.

We solicited bids from four firms to help refresh our paver patio. The work required power washing,…read morereseting many of the stones that settled over time, adding new sand, sealing the sand and stones. Of the four bids, three aligned and were within 10%. The fourth was much higher than the three and was quickly discounted as the outlier. When Keith came out to my home, his expertise was clear. Keith listened to my needs, shared his ideas, showed pictures, and quoted accordingly. Keith promised a clean and professional result and Morlock delivered on that promise. In short, I am very happy with my patio. The pavers look nearly new and when water hits the patio, the water beads off the surface and runs away from the house. The surface is not slippery at all. The provided images don't do the actual work justice. If you live in their service area, call Morlock Landscape & Design. Once Keith puts eyes on your project and get talking, you too will be sold on Morlock's expertise.

From the owner: Over 30 Years of Landscape, Design & Maintenance Experience Including:Design and installation or…read morerepair of brick/stone retaining walls, paver patios and drivewaysBeautiful & unique landscape design ideasExpert landscape accent lightingDrainage solutionsWeekly lawn & landscape maintenanceFertilizing/aeration/dethatchingMulch delivery and installationTree and shrub pruning or removalSprinkler system installation, start up and repair

Spotting the glowing review of Naper's hair guru, Niki Moon (along with a host of other very happy…read morecustomers), I zeroed in on this landscaping business over the winter. I didn't even bother contacting anyone else. I was so set on Matt doing my space that I emailed him in January, making sure that I would be near the top of his list. Understanding that they're a boutique sized design company, I knew that wait times could pile up in a hurry, so I did not drag my feet to contact him. --I wanted my house on his radar before he was slammed with inquiries! I was lying in bed at night, obsessing about my yard in December so no way was I going to procrastinate getting on his schedule. I couldn't afford to lose sleep all summer as I waited my turn! FYI: Don't be afraid to contact him about small projects. I have a fairly small front yard and was initially worried that he wouldn't want to take on a smaller scale project, but he assured me that size wouldn't deter him. The benefit of emailing him well before spring was that I heard back from him immediately. If the glowing reviews hadn't already sealed the deal, his personable responses certainly did. I could tell immediately that he was someone I would enjoy working with. My gut feeling was not wrong. I have had multiple projects running back-to-back and have been dealing with a plethora of people. Matt and his crew were the most professional and most enjoyable people (by far) to work with. And my yard.... my yard is gorgeous. I can't believe what an impact even a small space can make! I'm so happy with every detail of my dealings with him and his crew that I'm hiring him next year for my backyard. And yes, I'll probably start talking to him about it over the winter. After all, patience is not my virtue.

We had been putting off a landscaping makeover for about a year and finally decided to call Escapes…read morefor a consultation. Matt came out and truly wowed us with his knowledge! After careful planning, he made our vision a reality and transformed our "hidden" house into welcoming home with beautiful plants that are easy to maintain. Matt and Randy were honest, timely, and extremely polite. We would recommend them to anyone who is looking revamp their landscaping!

I have used their services many times over the last few years. After trying a number of other…read morelandscape architects, I continue to return to this company. Bob has the ability to take your vision and make it a reality. Landscaping can get expensive and my yard is a multi-year project, but that's okay. It helps, since I am so close to the Morton Arboretum, to go and get ideas, so I can have a better picture of how bushes and plants will look years after they are planted. Lighting is essential and too much can get really tacky. I'm sure you, too, have neighbors who think their solar lights that change colors are attractive ~ especially next to their front door. You have GOT to be kidding me. The work crews are wonderful and get great pleasure out of seeing you, the homeowner, sooooooooooo happy. They do their best to leave your yard as clean and neat as possible at the end of each work day. They park out of your way and allow you to continue to live your normal schedule. My yard has become an oasis and it is truly a joy that family and friends, and all the critters, can come and enjoy the quiet, beautiful, peaceful setting that I get to call "home".

I'd like you to know, Hursthouse is as good as it gets…read more Hursthouse is known for it's creative landscape and hardscape architecture design. They listen to hear what you want for your lifestyle environment and they work to achieve that perfect synergy in design that also works with your home. Their experienced team of seasoned professionals make it a joy to work with them! Candice

We recently completed a full landscape and hardscape project, including a permeable paver walkway…read moreand the results exceeded every expectation. From start to finish, the craftsmanship and attention to detail were outstanding. The paver installation is precise and beautifully aligned, thoughtfully executed, and the lighting design we installed completely transformed our home at night. The warm uplighting and pathway lights create both elegance and safety, highlighting architectural details and landscaping in a way that feels high-end and intentional. What impressed me most was the professionalism, communication, and pride in workmanship. Every detail mattered -- and it shows. Our home now looks polished, cohesive, and elevated. If you are looking for a contractor who delivers quality, precision, and true curb appeal transformation, I highly recommend them.

When we bought the house a few years ago, there was just an old small concrete slab patio, and most…read moreof the backyard was wet/muddy for most of the spring so we hardly even spent time back there. Last year we decided it was time to upgrade and found Daniel based on other reviews. He and his team installed french drains and a new patio with seat walls, lighting, and an amazing gas fire pit. Daniel and his team were right on time every day, ready to go. They worked through one of the rainiest springs we've had in a while... but they still showed up and did a great job. We went from completely wasted backyard space to having an amazing place to hang out and have friends and family over.

Review is based upon customer service not the work performed since we never made it that far. I'm…read moresure they do 5 star work, but here is my story. Jim is the consummate professional. He showed up to evaluate a remodel for our front yard. Jim is very smooth and highly professional and very knowledgeable. He did his evaluation of our front yard on September 6 and said he would get back to us with plans and an estimate in a week or so. After no word for several weeks we reached out to his office and they responded by saying someone would be in contact for a presentation. That was September 22. Still heard nothing back. In Early December, we called back to his office. Didn't get a live person but left a message stating if they were not interested in our project just let us know so we could move on. Well now its January and still no response. I'm sure he does great work because I've seen his projects and completed work. It is high quality and beautiful. I suspect our project wasn't big enough for Jim or wouldn't generate enough revenue for him. And that's ok, but have the decency to get back to us and tell us. This is a quote from their web site: Jim Rose began his landscape experience as a young man working on his parent's patio at the age of 17. Jim realized quickly he had what it took for quality craftsmanship and detailed design. He went on to earn a degree from Eastern Illinois University in Science. During his college years, he continued to do small landscape projects using the skills he learned while working in the industry. His attention to detail and quality workmanship were evident even during those early years. With much prayer and thoughtful encouragement from his family, he chose to try his hand at self-employment in the Green Industry. It makes Jim seem like the all-American guy. But I guess for some reason he chose to never respond back to us. Thankfully, we have choices and I guess we will look for someone else who is interested in us little people. Funny thing, we were actually prepared to spend a lot of money to redo the entire front of our home.

It's been almost 2 months since our front yard was transformed by Jim and his crew and it has…read morealready brought so much joy to our lives. We moved to the suburbs about 3 years ago and I am pretty useless when it comes to anything close to landscaping having spent all my life in big city high rises. We live on the Dupage river now so if there was anything we would have wanted to spend money on, it would have been the back yard but my frequent annoyance with our driveway and my incorrect assumption:) that it would be a smaller project lead us to Jim Rose. We went with Jim even after paying another company $2500 in design fees as in the end it boils down to your comfort level and Jim's confidence, flexibility, creativity and easy going personality won us over. It started with the design and budget. We tried to negotiate into our ball park and in the end we ended up spending 6% over our budget mostly because we changed our mind on something or did not account for certain items such as light fixtures and sprinklers. The job included a complete transformation of our front yard, removal of concrete (an external gut job)new pavers, expansion of driveway, a new custom mailbox, lighting upgrade, sod, a front paver patio, new plants/trees, sprinklers .... The Works. All this cost us a fortune and Jim was honest and upfront that his services are not cheap. Our main surprise was that the personable small business approach underscores how big an operation he is running. JR has most of the workers on payroll so there is very little subcontracting hence getting people to come over to address any of our concerns was painless. Jim was extremely responsive and we interacted via text and phone calls. Our front yard is now the centerpiece of our neighborhood and almost all the neighbors have stopped by completing us on a beautiful job. If you are like us with very few creative ideas-about what you want and looking to put your faith in a reputable company that takes pride in their work then Jim Rose is your guy. I have posted some before and after pics that certainly don't do full justice to this art work given my bad picture taking abilities on my phone. Also, apologies for the long review but i hope that it can help someone who is about to spend 10's of thousands of dollars and picking the right company is the most important decision in this process..