I think we would give 2.5 stars if we could, since the overall experience/product felt about…read moreaverage. We hired The NL Group in April 2021 to build a backyard patio and hired them again in September 2021 to construct a side yard paver path (photo #1) + front entry paver path (photo #2) - in all, we spent around $37k with NL Group. In both cases, landscaping and other tasks were also completed. Prior to kicking off the project, the communication and design were amazing - we loved the YouTube video they sent us to give a real feel of what things would look like. Unfortunately, we've had several issues arise since then. The paver stones in the front and backyard were supposed to be exact matches - however, while they matched the color they used a different, textured tile (photo #3) in the front + side that didn't match our back pavers, which are smooth. This isn't a huge deal since they are separate areas, but they were unaware of it until we pointed it out to them - it made us uneasy about what other items might be overlooked. On our front door pavers and large limestone pieces, there was some type of adhesive that dripped/leaked and didn't clean it up well - so it stained an area of the paver. When we mentioned it to them, they didn't address it but told us to buy an acid to remove the adhesive. We had to go through 3 acids/cleaners before we were able to get the majority of the stain removed. The large limestone pieces by our front door continually have efflorescence that does not go away with different acids and a pressure washer - not ideal for pieces that are supposed to be beautiful for the front door entrance. Possibly most concerning is the polymeric sand that goes between the pavers to prevent water getting under the pavers and keeps things sealed - it has already completely washed away in several places (photos 4, 5, 6, 7). This resulted in moss/grasses/weeds growing on the patio's seams between paver bricks (photo 8). There are also areas where the pavers appear to have 'sunk' or shifted (photo 9) since rainwater can now get under the pavers and wash away the fine granular sands that are in the sub-base of the pavers. On our side path, our initial quote didn't include the need for a retaining wall to hold up or raise the side path. However, when they began construction, they told us we would need a small retaining wall (photo 1). Kudus to them, they did not charge us for the stones of the retaining wall because they recognized it was their error, but we had to chose from extra supplies they had left over from different projects. So were unable to pick materials without absorbing a big additional cost. Another overlooked aspect on their part... The landscaping initially looking AMAZING after installation, but within a few months things looked concerning. They came back once (at our expense) and replaced several of the plants/trees that didn't survive and we were told they didn't realize how much clay was in our soil - if they did realize we had sub-par soil and high amounts of clay, they would have done it differently the first time. We even paid to have 3 cubic yards of new, better soil used, while they removed the 'bad' soil. When the crews arrived to do the fixes, the workers told me they brought 2 cubic yards of new soil, even though we paid for 3 cubic yards. Nonetheless, even the replacement plants have not thrived in the areas new soil was used. While doing this replacement of plants, it was decided some of the dead plants/trees (photo with no number) should be replaced with other plants that do well in 'bad' soils. Upon completing this, they told us the new plants came with a bill of $200. At no point did anyone ever tell us the plants that were under warranty would be replaced with plants that cost us MORE money. We refused to pay this. We've had to replace/relocate several of the plants/flowers/bushes ourselves. I would have been inclined to trust the professional landscapers when they said we just had bad soil - but we have had success when we've relocated plants ourselves and followed the directions of our local garden centers. In talking with our local garden centers, we realized several of the plants they planted didn't make sense for the locations in which they were planted (plants that thrive in sun being located in high shade areas under the deck, plants that don't like wet soils in low spots where water pools, incorrect sized plants for spaces, etc.). Photo 10 shows a plant located under the deck, where the left side with blue circle get light - plant looks fine. But the right half of photo 10 with red circle shows where the house blocks sun and it has almost zero foliage. We tried to follow-up on the issues we've experienced, especially with the landscaping, as most garden centers provide a 1-year warranty on perennials/trees but it was not priority for them to make things right. We were told to give plants/trees time to grow and mature, but not many pieces improved.

I highly recommend NL Group. We hired them to install a new large patio and it is gorgeous. They…read moreare professional, hard working, and talented. The entire team went above and beyond and my real estate agent friend told us that our project added value to the house! Our hardscape job and Belgard pavers look so high end. Thank you again!

These guys do great work and my yard never looked so good, Jessi is very nice, courteous and…read moreaccomodating !!

They were here today and beat my expectations all around. Professional, showed-up when they said…read morethey would, great pricing and great job. Highly recommend.

Never responded to my inquiry so we didn't use. Can't comment on quality. Small business that…read moreapparently is overwhelmed with calls for business!

Always shows up and does a good job quickly. Love that I can pay online and have a receipt. Been…read moreusing them for 12 years now.

Pat and his team were wonderful to work with. I filled out a estimate request last weekend and the…read morework is already done (less than a week later)! Fast and efficient communication and service. I didn't even get to take before and after photos. I have never used a landscaping service before but I thought the price was incredibly affordable. They did 3 small tree/plant removal projects for me and offered a discount for paying in cash. Would highly recommend Pat and his team to anyone needing landscaping support.

I wanted to remove a 50x10 foot stretch of grass to make a garden and flower bed. I called many…read morecompanies for quotes and to see if they owned a sod cutter to remove such a large area. Patrick came out for the estimate, owned all the equipment, was very reasonable with pricing, finished the project within 2 weeks from the quote and even threw in extra top soil. The edge was straight and perfectly ready for landscape edging without any extra work. I would highly recommend Pat and his crew for any lawn care, design and gardening projects. Very good experience.

I had Irrigation Guys come out and certify my RPZ valve on my residential irrigation system…read more They were prompt, reasonably priced and quick in the service.

Gary from Irrigation Guys came out and completely refreshed my old, unmaintained sprinkler system…read more He solved a multitude of issues in a timely and efficient manner. I got 2 quotes prior and Irrigation Guys responded the fastest and offered the best value. Couldn't be happier.

We have had these guys for years now and couldn't be happier. They do a great job and are very…read moredependable. Anything we need done they step up and do the job. Recommend them for all your lawn/yard needs.

From the owner: Two Guys Lawn Care offers a wide variety of lawn care services in the Cary, IL area. Whether you…read moreneed snow removal or trees trimmed, we can help. Call now!

FIRST: LOVE THESE GUYS!!!…read more I have had issues with landscapers in the past. They start off good, then services start slipping and then the excuses or "additional costs" come around to bite. The first time I talked to Sal, he understood what I was going through. He said 9 out of 10 landscapers are just running weekend operations whereas he runs a 7 day operation with multiple crews. My lawn looks GREAT. They just finished my Spring Cleaning and what a difference it makes when you have crews that know their job and are good at what they do. Thank you Sal for the work your crews do every week!!

We recently used Mistretta landscaping for a new patio and redo the landscaping of our front & back…read morelawns. We could not be happier with the outcome. Sal, the owner gave us great ideas on how to really make the most of the plants and flowers to enhance the look of our house. The crew was efficient & did a really good job over the course of a couple of days. They will definitely be our go to company for any landscaping needs in the future

Garrett, Archadio and Team Blade Runners, almost 3 months after and we are still on our hands and…read moreknees praising and at awe of you guys' top-notch, superb work! Never in our wildest dreams have we thought of ever making our outdoor living oasis vision come to life. That's right...OUTDOOR LIVING! It's the perfect gift that keeps on giving. We play host all the time now and the praises from everyone from kids to adults alike just never ends! Our experience with Blade Runners was first rate! Waited 11 years before finally pulling the plug and deciding on a contractor/landscaper and we truly cannot be any happier of our choice. Garrett's design background and top of the line 3D computer program were truly an exceptional asset to the entire experience. He is visionary, professional, flexible and most of all compassionate. He has a creative mind for design, strict standards for work quality, and stands behind his work. He took our ideas and mixed them with his to transform ordinary into extraordinary. He worked with us to find a solution for our back yard that fit within our vision and we couldn't be happier with the results. While he definitely has stylistic leanings that he favors, he listened to what we liked and didn't like and his choices were always spot on. We felt we could trust him completely and he proved us right every step of the way. He helped us conceive the designs, offered many new ideas, helped us select materials and plants, and executed with an eye for detail. He was open to our feedback along the way and made adjustments with ease. He included several benefits beyond our agreed scope - including foot rest on the bar that we would never have thought of ourselves - at no additional charge. His crew was also very attentive to detail, both in terms of making sure the foundation items are sound (drainage, soil condition/preparation) as well as the final aesthetic look (border design, plant/trees placement). Always early to arrive on site, professional and respectful of our family and property which is very important to us. They always cleaned up after themselves at the end of the day. Our empty oddly sloped backyard lot became an amazing outdoor entertaining area. Everyone who has seen it absolutely adores and loves it! We are very happy with the workmanship and end product. Garrett and team Blade Runners cared about their work and made sure the work as well as the maintenance was in tip-top shape. The end result was exceptional just as promised...even after the job was complete, Garrett still kept coming by to check up on how things are holding up making sure our satisfaction has been met and then some. Evident from his Instagram posts from past clients, he was not only after our business but a life-long friendship that you will hardly ever find in a hired professional. He even made us a very nice video of the entire process, the before and after, beginning to end using his awesome drone so that we would have an aerial view of the entire project. I cannot recommend Blade Runners highly enough. Thanks, Blade Runners and your fantastic team. We absolutely adore (and everyone else whom has stepped foot on) our backyard! I will continue to use them on future projects and as long as I own my home!

From the owner: Blade Runners Services LLC provides hardscape construction, landscape design, landscape…read moreinstallation, outdoor living spaces, and snow removal to Lake and McHenry County, IL.