Chicago Landscape Design & Build
A Chicago landscaping company that designs, builds and maintains city gardens, yards and hardscape — 25+ years, six-time Best of Chicago winner, based in Lincoln Park.
Landscape design built for Chicago yards and gardens
Chicago yards are not suburban yards. A standard city lot gives you 25 feet of width, a garage eating the back third, a three-flat next door throwing shade over half of what’s left, and an alley that decides how much material can physically reach the site.
Add heavy clay soil that holds water, freeze-thaw cycles that heave poorly bedded pavers within two winters, and parkway rules that govern what you can plant between the sidewalk and the curb. Designing well inside those constraints is a different skill from designing on an open half-acre. It is the only kind of landscape design we have done for 25 years.
We start with the core decisions
Get these right and the planting design takes care of itself. Get them wrong and you are rebuilding in three years.
- Water. Where it goes when the gutters dump into a yard that already drains slowly.
- Light. Which plants actually perform in four hours of filtered light, not the eight the tag claims.
- Access. How a pallet of stone reaches the back of the lot without cutting through the neighbour’s gangway.
- Grade. Whether it can be adjusted at all, or whether the answer is a low retaining wall and steps.
- Soil. How much of the clay has to come out before anything worth planting will establish.
Our design-build process
Design and construction are handled in house, so nobody is coordinating between a designer who drew it and a contractor who has never seen the drawing.
1
Consultation & site assessment
We walk the property with you, take measurements, note sun and shade through the day, check drainage and soil, and talk through how you actually want to use the space. Free, and roughly an hour.
2
Concept design
A first-pass layout showing the structure of the space: where hardscape goes, where planting beds go, sightlines, circulation, screening. This is the stage to move things around.
3
Planting plan & 3D rendering
Species, sizes, quantities and seasonal sequence, plus 3D renderings so you see the finished space before anything is ordered.
4
Materials & budget sign-off
Stone, pavers, edging, lighting fixtures, irrigation spec, plant sizes — real samples and a line-item budget. Nothing is ordered until you approve it.
5
Installation
Grading and drainage first, then hardscape, then irrigation, then planting, then lighting — in that order, because doing it out of order means digging up finished work.
6
Irrigation & lighting commissioning
Zones tuned, controller programmed, fixtures aimed after dark, and a walkthrough so you know how everything runs.
7
Seasonal maintenance — optional
Spring cleanup, seasonal colour rotations, pruning, irrigation start-up and winterisation. About half our design clients keep us on; there is no obligation to.
Steps & timelines vary based on project scope.
Contact Botanical Concepts Chicago for a full plan.
What we design and build
We are a full-service landscaping company, which means one contract covers the drawing, the digging and the planting.
Planting design & garden beds
Layered perennial borders, native and adapted species, four-season interest, shade gardens for north-facing lots, privacy screening, specimen trees and multi-stem understory. Plans specify size at installation and mature spread.
Hardscape: patios, walkways, walls
Bluestone and limestone patios, clay and concrete pavers, permeable paving, brick walkways, stone steps, seat and retaining walls, masonry and repair. We build base depth for freeze-thaw, not for day one.
Grading, drainage & yard drainage
Regrading, French drains, dry wells, downspout redirection, permeable base systems and catch basins. On clay-heavy city lots this is the difference between a garden and a bog.
Irrigation systems
Zoned drip and spray designed around the actual planting plan rather than a generic grid — smart controllers, rain sensors, backflow prevention, seasonal start-up and winterization.
Landscape lighting
Low-voltage path lighting, uplighting, downlighting from trees, step and wall washing, and fixtures integrated into hardscape. Designed for how the space is used after dark.
Seasonal color & containers
Spring, summer, autumn and winter container rotations for entries, stoops, courtyards and terraces — the same program we run on rooftops, scaled to grade level.
Landscape architecture & permit-ready plans
Scaled, permit-ready drawings and coordination with the City of Chicago, working with licensed landscape architects and engineers where a project requires stamped plans. Parkway trees and public-way work included.
Rooftop decks & terraces
Most Chicago properties eventually need work above grade too. Our rooftop deck design and build service covers structure, permits and construction.
Chicago neighborhoods we serve
We are based in Lincoln Park and work throughout the city and the near suburbs.
- Lincoln Park
- Lakeview
- Bucktown
- Wicker Park
- River North
- West Loop
- Gold Coast
- Lincoln Square
- Ravenswood
- Old Town
- Roscoe Village
- Logan Square
- Streeterville
- West Town
Not on the list? Call us anyway — if we can get material to the site, we can usually help.
Recent Chicago landscape projects
Why Chicago homeowners choose Botanical Concepts
25+
Years in Chicago
Not a national franchise with a Chicago branch. One city, one climate, one set of building rules, learned properly.
6x
Best of Chicago
Six consecutive wins for Design & Build Landscape. No competitor in the top of the search results shows a single award.
4.8
Google rating
Real reviews from real Chicago clients, not a number we invented for a badge.
1
Team, design to build
The person who drew the plan is accountable for how it gets built. No handoff, no finger-pointing, no second markup.
3
Disciplines under one roof
Grade-level landscape, hardscape and masonry, and rooftop decks. Most Chicago properties eventually need at least two.
4
Family-owned, Lincoln Park
Based on West Dickens Avenue. You are talking to the people doing the work.
Chicago landscape design FAQ
How does the landscape design process work?
The design process typically starts with an initial consultation to discuss your project’s requirements and objectives. This is followed by the development of a concept plan, then a detailed master plan including a spatial layout, planting plan, and possibly other elements like lighting and irrigation plans. At Botanical Concepts, we can help you with everything from concept and design to installation.
What services do landscape designers offer?
Landscape designers may offer design-only services, design-build services (including overseeing plant purchase and installation), or full-service options that encompass design, build, and ongoing maintenance. At Botanical Concepts, we provide full-service landscape design.
What should I expect throughout the design process?
During the consultation, we’ll cover the process from start to finish, including feature selection, material choices, construction, payment, and final walkthrough. We’ll cover as much detail as possible in your planning stages, and your project manager will be available to help answer any questions you have throughout the process.
How do I stay within my budget?
We’ll discuss your budget during our initial consultation, allowing us to recommend cost-effective solutions and materials that align with your financial plan.
Can I see examples of your past work?
Yes, we have several examples of our landscape design work in our online portfolio. Check them out here.
How much does landscape design cost in Chicago?
Chicago landscape projects typically range from around $5,000 for a front yard planting refresh to $80,000 or more for a full design–build with hardscape, drainage, irrigation and lighting. Patio and hardscape work generally runs $30 to $70 per square foot depending on material and site access. We give you a line-item budget before anything is ordered.
How long does a landscape project take from design to installation?
Most Chicago residential landscape projects run six to ten weeks from first consultation to completion. Design and rendering take three to five weeks, materials ordering one to two weeks, and installation one to four weeks depending on scope. Projects with significant hardscape, drainage or permit work take longer.
Do you offer ongoing landscape maintenance?
Yes. We offer seasonal maintenance programs covering spring cleanup, pruning, seasonal color rotations, irrigation start-up and winterization. About half of our design clients keep us on for maintenance, but it is optional — the design and installation stand on their own.
Local Family-Owned Business
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Book a free landscape consultation
An hour on site. We walk the property, talk through what you want, flag anything structural or drainage-related that will affect the budget, and tell you honestly what is realistic for what you want to spend.
Prefer to talk? (773) 404-5707 · info@botanicalconceptschicago.com
Serving Chicago and the near North Shore from Lincoln Park.