Unless you are looking for trouble, dont hire this company. He tries to lure you in saying they are so good and so very busy, 8-10 weeks behind, then will never give you even the estimated date of the start of project. He asks for 50% deposit and then its impossible to get a hold of him, he will give you a run around and wont answer the phone. He gave a good presentation, but started the job 2 months after it was supposed to start at the end of December only after we asked deposit to be returned. Before starting, he was demanding for another 40% of money and then was trying to tell us to keep the last 10% and he wont do the sod. He is not a businessman, he is a crook. He obviously doesnt manage his time or money well. Once he has deposit, he is gone in the wind. He also didn't use any of the materials that he showed in his presentation, brochure or estimate. He promised to take care of the village permits and didn't even apply for them. Then he was saying that its says in his "contract" which is just an estimate with some small print on the back that its customer's responsibility to get the permits and that the job can get postponed to spring (after paying him deposit in August) and that he needs another 40% just to start the job. I am glad we recorded his whole presentation and took pictures of the digging, so we have proof that he didn't do what he promised. Then his father showed up to collect the balance, was insulting and stated that he will come at night and "make a mess" of the property. This is not the person you want to have anything to do with. If you choose to hire him, DO NOT PREPAY his services or you will regret it. We issued no trespassing notices for both him and his father after all the threats. If you look through reviews, you will spot easily that some are fake, using the same words or out of state CA residents commenting on landscaping company in Illinois. The owner also doesn't do any of the work himself, he just drives a big truck and brags about his big boat. Immature and lazy who thinks he should be paid for BMW while selling you Dodge Neon. read more

I was recommended to Ware Landscaping by a neighbor, so I didn't do my due diligence and read the reviews, but I am now sorry I did not. I was assured that Ware would be the best person for my job. I specifically asked Mike on the phone if he would do gutters, which he said he would. I specifically highlighted to him that one of the sides of our house is really tall and would require specialty equipment as we didn't have ladders tall enough. He said they would do it. This was October. Every week they said it would get done, it was never done. I called, they didn't answer the phone. I sent emails, I got one word emails. I feel I am pretty fair, I just wanted an idea of when it would get done and I wanted them to show up when they said they would. They even sent out a manager, Tim, and I walked him item by item around the yard, and he said "Of course, that's exactly what we will do." When I showed him the gutters he said, "we don't normally do gutters" and I was like, I have a signed contract that says you will do gutters, so you best get them done. It is now December and the work was done yesterday and it was done so poorly. None of the items Tim and I discussed were completed, the high gutters weren't touched. I spent A LOT of money on a yearly contract and I just want my money back at this point, because if they can't even hold their bargain on a fall cleanup, how can I possibly trust they will complete all the other items on the list. I've called a lawyer friend to start proceedings at small claims court because at this point, I have no faith I will ever hear from Mike again or receive my money back for the shoddy work. Plus, I spent tons of money on flowers that they razed to the ground. I want to weep. Stay far far away from these people. read more

We recently bought a new house and were starting the process of selling our old house. For the new house the sump pump was set up to discharge in to the yard a few feet from the house. The sump pump seemed to always run every hour or so. I wanted to get as much water away from the house as possible as I do not want to deal with a flooded basement ever. Ware landscaping installed a full drainage system for my house. They connected all my roof down spouts and my sump pump discharge to underground drainage pipes and tied them to the storm line running behind my property to move as much water away from my house as possible. Needless to say a few months later and all the rain we've had this summer so far, I've noticed a huge change in how often my sump pump kicks off since we are now moving a majority of the water away from my new house and its foundation. At the same time as we were getting the drainage improved at our new house, Ware Landscaping helped me with preparing my old house for sale. They installed some new bushes around the house, mulch and new sod to clean up the landscaping beds. They completed all the yard work at my old house in one day and just in time for pictures! It would have taken me all summer for the work they completed. Also, (and I understand the housing market was crazy late spring/ early summer) but my old house had a record number of showing that first weekend and it sold in a day. Ware Landscaping is great! We are having them come back to complete some more work at our new house in preparation for a new fence for our yard and a walkway from the back garage door to the driveway. You can't go wrong with their work, thank you! read more

We had a yard drainage project scheduled with Ware in August of 2017 that did not go as planned. We had a few issues and, most frustrating to us, we had much difficulty getting a hold of Michael during the time all this was going on despite the many calls over multiple days to the office. As I understand, it was a very busy time for him. At the conclusion of the project, we did not feel we received proper explanation/apology/remedy. We were just happy to have everything done so we moved on until, months later, I posted a review documenting our experience. Shortly after posting my review we were contacted by Michael himself, who apologized for our experience and said he didn't realize we were left with such a bad taste in our mouths. It is possible that my many phone calls and messages during the original project did not make their way to him, which is why he was unaware just how unhappy we were. Michael offered up some suggestions to remedy the situation, and personally came out to reevaluate our yard the same day, since I mentioned that although the main problem had been the lack of communication, we were also somewhat disappointed with the performance with the drainage itself. He made it clear that he was interested in doing whatever he could to remedy the situation. The following day Michael had a team out to further improve upon our yard drainage. It seems that miscommunication is what caused our original project to be a bit rocky but once Michael got personally involved, he did indeed do whatever he could to make our overall experience with Ware better. read more

My wife and I contacted Ware Landscaping for a quote to remedy a drainage issue we had on the side of our house. We had a very rainy spring and early summer, and our new large capacity gutters and downspouts, together with our sump pump pipe had significantly increased the amount of water volume coursing through our mulch bed, and side yard, creating a watery mess, with more mud than grass, including the side walk, creating a slipping hazard. I had tried various home remedies with only limited success. In essence we needed to get a large amount of water as far away from the house as possible. Mike came out quickly to give us a quote to tie in the sump pump PVC pipe to the downspouts underground, and route it to the city storm sewer. Fortunately we live on a corner, with an opening easily accessible. In Naperville, it is possible to tie in to the storm sewer underground with a permit. We also contracted with Ware to replace the damaged grass with shade tolerant sod, which we needed due to significant mature tree canopy. Mike's team got to work on September 3rd, and did a fantastic job. It was a large team, and they worked efficiently to get the job done in one day. They cleaned everything up, and the side yard looks better than ever. The shade tolerant sod is taking very well, and at his advice, we did reduce the canopy somewhat. We plan to have Ware replace the rest of the front yard sod next spring. Mike is easy to work with, honest, and charges a fair price. This wasn't cheap work, but good work doesn't come cheap. John and Noreen Stauffer read more

Ware Landscaping exceeded our expectations and revitalized our backyard. After years of erosion had pitched the paver patio toward the house and magnolia scale ruined several trees in our backyard and covered the pavers in black soot, we were unsure how to make our backyard habitable again on a limited budget. After several quotes from other landscaping companies (some 3x higher), Ware Landscaping convinced us that they could transform our backyard for a fraction of the price by resetting, cleaning and sealing our existing patio. While skeptical at first, our old patio stones (15+yrs old) now look brand new and we no longer have pooling water next to the house. In addition to removing the diseased magnolia trees and grinding the stumps, Ware Landscaping planted beautiful hydrangeas and lilacs in their place, giving our backyard a completely different, yet equally serene feel that is infinitely more manageable and at a lower cost. Our experience working with everyone at Ware - from the Owners to the Workers was pleasurable, empathetic to our desires and efficient. We can't recommend Ware Landscaping enough. read more

It is time to share my complete satisfaction with the December 2015 Fall cleanup! A team of WARE LANDSCAPING workers arrived to my door and the team leader shared what the plan was to be that a.m. It was apparent that they were in continuous contact with Mike Ware via cell phone as they worked that day. It is even better summed up through reporting from the neighbors immediately behind my home. This neighbor and his visitor went out of their way to tell me what a great job the men did and how hard they worked toward the results. The Ware Landscape team spent significant time to give the grounds a great grooming. It is important to note that the yard had become so unsightly during the Fall season. There are many very old trees losing their branches. We had been hit by several severe storms that blew down hundreds of different sizes! No doubt that this assignment was a challenge to their workday. It is apparent that this company takes pride in doing a fine job. It was all good and I am not someone easily pleased. read more

We had problems in our backyard with ponding after heavy snows or rains. It killed the lawn and compacted the soil so that new lawn wouldn't take. I called Ware Landscaping and asked for a plan with a quote. Mike came out in a couple of days, explained a whole plan to me and provided a solid proposal. Two weeks later, Mike and his crew came out, removed all of the lawn in my backyard, installed about 150 of French drain, tied all my downspouts into the drains, and sodded the entire yard. It looks great and I already have received many compliments. I haven't had that big rain yet to totally test the drainage, but the rains we have had showed no signs of standing water afterward. And, the entire job, from the day the crew arrived to when they left after cleaning up the yard perfectly, was 3 1/2 days. I will write back if there is any problem after a big storm, but I don't expect that I will need to do that. Throughout the process, Mike and the Ware team were very professional and responsive. read more

We had a serious drainage problem in our back yard due to compacted clay soil and poor grading. The Ware team installed 120+ feet of french drain (high octane drain tile, the good stuff!) along with 9 catch basins and 4 downspouts tied into the system. Over 200 feet of pipe total tied into the storm sewer all permitted and approved by the village. The crew did amazing work, all crew members were incredibly hard working and professional. They far exceeded my expectations. The price was also very good! Sometimes people dont realize how much actually goes into this kind of work and they can't understand the price tag, I assure you this is not a DIY project. I highly recommend hiring Mike and his team if you have drainage issues on your property. I am a huge lawn nerd so I can not wait until next summer when I no longer have panic attacks every time I see a heavy thunderstorm on the radar. Its hard to keep a beautiful lawn when its constantly soaked! read more

The crew at Ware Landscaping did a fantastic job of preparing for, leveling and installing sod on a portion of our lot which was once full of invasive bushes, tree stumps, ground cover and various piles of wood, etc. It took three full days and more than 5 truckloads to remove everything and prepare the ground for the installation of sod. Throughout the process, great care was taken to protect our existing trees and every day before leaving workers would tidy up the job site and driveway. When it came time to lay the sod, Charlie and Jesus worked with us to determine the exact location where our flower beds would be positioned. Our once overgrown back yard was transformed into a beautiful lawn. Working with Mike and his crew was a great experience from beginning to end and I would recommend Ware Landscaping to anyone looking for quality landscaping work! I'll include some photos of the work finished project. read more

I had major flooding ever since the new home behind me was built. I interviewed 7 other companies before finding Ware Landscaping. The larger rains that our area had been experiencing caused so much flooding, it took me 13 hours with a 2" gas pump to get all the water out of my backyard and save my basement from flooding. Mike Ware (owner) came out, looked at my flooding pictures which I included below and explained his product, procedures,guarantees, and cost. Greg was the foreman along with his crew, and everyday they informed me what was going to be done that day. They were very polite, hardworking, and left my yard clean and organized everyday. I included final pictures of the yard. I am so happy with the solution Ware Landscape used to solve my flooding issues. LET IT RAIN!! read more

I am so happy my friend referred me to Ware Landscaping! I was getting water in my basement every time there was more than a light rain. I had waterproofing done and there were multiple places I would still get water. Michael came out, knew how to fix my drainage problem and the crew did an amazing job in my yard! Looked better than before they started. It has been over 2 years and I have only had a small amount of water once! They even came out and adjusted the drains for me after that so I'm confident my basement will now always be dry! No more standing water in my yard and a dry basement. Could not be happier! Wonderful job, great service, highly recommend Ware Landscaping read more

Ware Landscaping and Snow Removal exemplifies incredible customer service and quality work for a very fair and reasonable price! They do what is asked of them, and back up all promises they make in a timely fashion, a tough feat in an industry so dictated by the whims of Mother Nature. There is no other company I would trust with my snow removal business in the Chicagoland area. The quality of their architectural landscaping is second to none, whether it's business or residential, they have the expertise to get it done beautifully! I look forward to continue doing business with them for many years!! read more

Highly Recommend Ware Landscaping! I had a persistent flooding issue in my backyard, and I couldn't be more impressed with their service. They were attentive, friendly and genuinely helpful. They took the time to listen to my concerns, assess the situation thoroughly, and explain the best situations in a way that was easy to understand. Throughout the entire process, Charlie and his team were professional and respectful of my property. They went above and beyond to ensure that everything was done right. I highly recommend, Ware Landscaping to anyone dealing with drainage issues. read more

Very happy with Ware's design, service, and execution. We had a bad flooding/standing water situation in our back yard and side of the house, which would pool up and flood even after a small rainfall. Ware designed and installed a drainage solution that works very well - even after a heavy rain, for a few days, very little to no pooling. They did a thorough, high quality job. We've noticed even the snow goes away faster than neighboring yards due to the drainage system carrying away the melting snow. Highly recommend Ware Landscaping, and will hire them again. read more

Ware Landscaping just finished a large drainage project for us. Mike was great in explaining the system and the layout of the project. And the installation team is fantastic! These guys are hard workers indeed! Their attention to detail is awesome - from putting the drainage system in place, to removing the grass and grading the yard, to laying new sod. Thanks also to Greg and Wendy for keeping us updated on the schedule and timely communications. We may now be the only homeowners in Wheaton wishing for a huge amount of rain! Highly recommend Ware Landscaping. read more

We hired Mike and Ware Landscaping to put Christmas lights on our home. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!! His team did a great job putting them up and taking them down. They were courteous and respectful of our home and of the amount of noise they made up on the roof. My two infant children slept through the whole thing! We were so happy with Mike that we also hired him to do our landscaping work. It was a big job and he was wonderful with suggestions and offing advice on what kind of plants and drainage to use. We could not be any happier. THANKS WARE LANDSCAPING!!! read more

A section of my backyard was flooding with heavy rains and getting worse in the last few years. I contracted with Mike at Ware Landscaping to have a drainage system installed. His very efficient crew dug the yard and installed drains and within three days had installed sod over the entire yard. It looks beautiful and it is so reassuring to know I won't have standing water in my yard anymore. Mike was so great to work with and he couldn't have a better or more hardworking crew. I highly recommend Ware to anyone who needs a drainage system installed. read more

Above and Beyond; I've never written a yelp review but this past winter compels me to spread the word. I own a storefront business that requires a clear parking lot and void of any snow or slick spots for my customers. This year was my first year using Ware Landscaping and my only regret is that I should have made the switch sooner. My neighbors kept asking me how I got my lot plowed and salted so quickly when their other services all failed. I happily recommend Ware Landscaping to my neighbors and the yelp universe. read more