Get Quotes from Top Lawn Care Companies in Chicago, IL

How Long Have You Been in the Lawn Care Business in Chicago?

Home improvement scams are a common occurrence in Chicago and other parts of the State of Illinois. As a matter of fact, in 2021, home improvement scam complaints were number one on the list of top ten complaints received by the Illinois Attorney General's Office. As a result, the Illinois Attorney General's Office has encouraged citizens across the state to be vigilant and ask necessary questions before hiring any home improvement contractor in the city.

When searching for a lawn care company in Chicago, a very important question to ask the company's representative is how long they have been in business. Homeowners must understand that it is safer to go for lawn care companies that have been in the lawn care business for a longer period. This is because lawn care companies that have built a reputation for themselves through years of practice are less likely to engage in any activity, particularly fraudulent activities that can tarnish their reputation. Also, these lawn care companies are more likely to hire experienced and competent landscapers to deliver services than new lawn care companies. With experienced and reputable lawn care providers, you do not have to worry about anyone violating local rules and regulations guiding lawn care in the city.

In addition, experienced landscapers and lawn care providers are usually conversant with the native grasses, trees, shrubs, and garden plants in your locality. Some native Chicago grasses and garden plants commonly found in lawns across the city include:

• Wild bergamot
• Northern sea oats
• Indian grass
• Big bluestem
• Oakleaf hydrangea
• Black Cherry
• Garden Phlox
• Foxglove beardtongue
• Elderberry bush
• Butterfly weed
• Pale purple cornflower
• Wild quinine
• Dense blazing star
• Red Columbine

After confirming how long a lawn care company has been operating in the city, homeowners should check the company's business history, as well as customer reviews on their services online, via platforms such as the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review.

Do You Hold Any Professional Qualifications Relevant to Lawn Care?

Making sure your preferred lawn care contractor has obtained relevant professional qualifications that qualify them to do your job will not only help you avoid poor services but will also help you avoid penalties that may result from a violation of any local or state ordinance governing lawn care in Chicago. For instance, lawn care companies that intend to offer landscape services alongside lawn care must first obtain a general contractor license from the Chicago Department of Buildings. Operating as a landscape contractor without first obtaining a general contractor license attracts fines of up to $5,000 in fines, per offense. The Chicago Department of Buildings issues five different categories of general contractor licenses to interested persons, namely:

• Class A licenses: Holders of this license can bid for any type of project as there are no monetary limitations on the value of project they can execute
• Class B licenses: Holders of this class of general contractor licenses cannot bid for projects that are worth more than $10,000,000
• Class C license: Class C license holders are limited to projects with a value of no more than $5,000,000 per project
• Class D license: This class of general contractor license has a monetary value limit of $2,000,000 per single contract project
• Class E license: Individuals that possess a Class E license cannot undertake projects that are valued at more than $500,000

For more information concerning general contractor licensing requirements and processes, interested persons can contact the Chicago Department of Buildings at (312) 744-3449. Before hiring anyone that claims to offer both lawn care and landscape services, you should confirm whether the contractor possesses a valid license by accessing the Chicago Department of Building's List of Licensed General Contractors online or by calling the department at (312) 744-3449.

Even though it is only lawn care companies that wish to offer landscape services that are mandatorily required to obtain a general contractor license, homeowners must understand there are other state regulations lawn care companies must comply with. For example, per the requirements of the Illinois lawn care products application and notice act, lawn care providers must obtain an applicator certificate from the Illinois Department of Agriculture before they can apply lawn care products to lawns. Interested persons can contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture at (217) 785-2427 for more information on the Illinois lawn care products application and notice act, as well as the procedure and requirements for obtaining an applicator certificate.

Likewise, if the lawn care company also intends to apply restricted-use pesticides on any lawns in Chicago, the lawn care company may also be required to complete a competency examination and receive a commercial applicator license.

This applicator licensing is handled by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and it is required by individuals who use or supervise the use of pesticides classified for General or Restricted Use for compensation. To obtain a commercial applicator license, interested persons must do the following:

• Pass the 100-question General Standards exam or Aerial General Standards exam with a score of 70 or more
• Pass one or more 50-question Category exams with a score of 35 or more. Note that the category an applicant can choose from is dependent on the sites where the company uses pesticides.
• Receive and complete a license application form from the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
• Return the completed license application form with the appropriate fee to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Applicants must submit a certificate of insurance with proper coverage alongside the completed form

Lawn care providers who wish to obtain a commercial applicator license can contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture at (217) 785-2427 for more information on the licensing procedure and requirements.

Besides an applicator certificate, a commercial applicator license, or any other category of license issued by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, lawn care providers who operate in Chicago may also obtain voluntary certifications in fields like organic farming, landscaping, arboriculture and other niche areas from organizations like:

• The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association
• The Illinois Green Industry Association
• The International Society of Arboriculture
• The National Association of Landscape Professionals
• The Professional Grounds Management Society

If your preferred lawn care company is claiming to be certified by any of the aforementioned organizations, it is your responsibility to request proof of certification and double-check with the appropriate organization.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Lawn Care Companies in the City?

The cost of a lawn care service in Chicago typically varies from one homeowner to another due to factors like:

• The location of the lawn to be worked on
• The size of the lawn to be worked on
• The nature and type of service the client needs
• The current condition of the lawn
• The type of equipment and tools required for the job
• The amount of labor required to complete the job
• The time of the year
• The frequency of the required lawn care services

While these factors can affect what a homeowner will pay for lawn care service, it is important to note that, when and how the payment will be made is often determined by the lawn care company. As a result, homeowners are advised to find out the type of bullying structure their preferred lawn care company intends to use during the project execution period. Most lawn care companies in Chicago utilize any of the following billing structures:

• Hourly Structure: this involves the lawn care contractor billing for the amount of time spent carrying out the requested lawn care service. These are called billable hours, and in Chicago, hourly rates can range from $30 to $90 per hour. However, as the scope of the work expands, homeowners should expect hourly rates to rise.
• Per Square Foot: In this case, the lawn contractor bills the client for each square foot of lawn area worked on and the price can range between $4 - $12
• Per Visit/Per Project: In this case, the lawn care contractor charges a fixed price for each service that will be received. Note that this rate may vary depending on the nature of the work being performed. Lawn care companies can charge anywhere between $40 to $1,000 per visit/project.

Given the fact that so many factors can influence the cost of a lawn care service, Chicago homeowners are advised to always obtain and compare quotations from at least three different lawn care companies in the city before signing any agreement. On the one hand, this will help the homeowner identify and avoid those contractors that intend to charge more than is required for the service, and on the other hand, it will help the homeowner get a fair price for the service.

Lawn care contractors in Chicago earn an average wage of $35,900 every year. The list below compares the average wages earned by these contractors per hour against the average hourly wages of lawn care contractors in other parts of Illinois and also in other locations across the United States:

What Is Included in Your Lawn Care Program?

A lawn care program is a treatment and maintenance plan that a lawn care company uses to improve a client's lawn over time. It generally includes the list of lawn care activities to be performed and the time and manner in which they will be performed. Some activities included in a lawn care program includes lawn fertilization, aeration, soil testing and amendments, grub control, seeding, mowing, and dethatching.

Before hiring a lawn care company in Chicago, it is always crucial to discuss what will be included in your lawn care program, and make sure they are clearly stated in the lawn care contract before the contractor commences work on your lawn. This is particularly important because many dishonest lawn care contractors in the city make promises they never keep. Also, there are unscrupulous lawn care companies who offer you inexpensive lawn care programs so that you can sign up for their services, despite knowing that you will be needing a more intensive and expensive lawn care program.

Most lawn care companies in Chicago offer two main types of lawn care programs, namely:

• Standard Lawn Care Services: in this case, the lawn care contractor provides different lawn care maintenance services to keep the lawn in a good condition. Some of the services will include lawn mowing, edging, trimming, and grass and leaf blowing. While these services can help protect your lawn from deteriorating, they may not be enough because it does not pay adequate attention to improving the health of the soil, grasses, trees, shrubs, and other plants.
• Full-Service Lawn Maintenance: here, the contractor offers services that improve soil health, reduce turf disease, and impact the growth of plants. Full-service lawn maintenance also includes services such as:
  • Aeration and Lawn Overseeding
  • Mulch Installation
  • Tree Trimming and Pruning
  • Lawn Fertilization
  • Leaf Removal
  • Seasonal Pruning
  • Pre- and Post-Emergent Weed Control
  • Mowing, Edging and Trimming
  • Lawn Disease Remediation

Cost estimates of lawn care services commonly included in Chicago lawn care programs are provided below:

Do You Provide Organic Lawn Care Services?

Most lawn care companies in Chicago do not consider organic lawn services as merely an alternative to the use of chemicals but as a more viable and environmentally friendly method of managing a lawn. As such, most lawn care companies in the city utilize materials derived from plants, animals, minerals, or other natural substances to improve soil fertility and water retention. Compared to the use of chemicals, these materials are less likely to expose your children and pets to hazards associated with chemical lawn care services. Other benefits of using organic lawn care include:

• It improves root growth
• It makes your soil healthier
• It makes the soil lighter so that air can easily flow to plant roots
• It allows plants to retain water
• There is zero risk of over-application
• It reduces soil and water pollution
• It makes your soil less vulnerable to pests and diseases
• It assists the photosynthesis process
• It saves you money in the long run

It is always a good idea to ask a lawn care company in Chicago if they provide organic lawn care services before hiring them. To be sure, request a list of previous clients who have received organic lawn services from the lawn care company in the past, as well as their contact information. Call the people on the list to get a first-hand account of the lawn care company's experience and expertise in providing organic lawn care services.

Do You Offer a Warranty for Plants Installed?

Although most lawn care companies in Chicago offer some type of warranty for plants installed on a client's lawn, it is always in your best interest to confirm whether the lawn care company you wish to hire offers a plant warranty or not.

A plant warranty is a statement of assurance that plants will be replaced if they do not thrive and flourish within a specified period. While most lawn care companies in the city are willing to offer this type of warranty, it is important to note that the terms and scope of plant warranties vary from one lawn care company to another. As such, you should always find out the terms and scope of plant warranties used by your preferred lawn care company before signing an agreement with them.

Most lawn care companies in the city offer a one-year plant warranty from the date the work was completed, provided full payment is made upon completion of the project. This type of warranty shall cover one-time installation including the identical plant and all labor necessary to install the plant. However, plant warranties offered by lawn care companies in Chicago will not cover areas like:

• Damage caused by lack of proper plant care and maintenance on the part of the client
• Damage caused by animals, including client's pets
• Damage caused by natural disasters and acts of vandalism

Finally, most lawn care companies include conditions that must be met for a warranty to remain valid. These conditions generally include strict adherence to watering schedules, mowing schedules and acceptable mowing height, and fertilization requirements needed to support and sustain plant growth.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Lawn Care Companies in the City?

The City of Chicago does not require lawn care contractors to carry insurance policies before they can operate in the city. However, if a lawn care contractor wishes to obtain a general contractor license which is required to operate as a landscaper in the city, such a person must provide proof of insurance to the Chicago Department of Buildings before the requested license is issued. This insurance coverage must be obtained from an insurer licensed to do business in the state of Illinois, and the required coverage varies depending on the type of license being applied for. Nonetheless, for bodily injury and property damage, this coverage typically ranges from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 per occurrence.

Even though there are no occupation specific-insurance requirements for lawn care companies in Chicago, homeowners should avoid hiring any lawn care company that does not have an active insurance policy. Hiring someone that is not insured to maintain your lawn can expose you to a lot of out-of-pocket expenses and other liabilities that may result from accidents or other unforeseen circumstances. For example, if your contractor does not have insurance coverage and an injury occurs while completing your project, you may be held liable for any financial responsibility associated with the injury, and if you refuse, the victim may take you to court.

The odds that an injury will occur while completing your project are considerably high because lawn care providers and landscapers are frequently exposed to machines, chemicals, and severe weather conditions. As a matter of fact, at least 100 people are killed every year, while engaging in lawn care and landscape-related activities.

You should always confirm the insurance status of any lawn care contractor that you intend to hire in Chicago before concluding your hiring arrangements with them. You can confirm a contractor's insurance status by requesting copies of their insurance certificate and contacting the insurer that issued this document to validate it. You can also contact the Chicago Department of Buildings at (312) 744-3449 to get more information on its insurance requirements for general contractors that operate in the city.