Professional Landscaping Services in Evanston, IL
Create an outdoor space that looks better, works better, and feels like a natural extension of your home.
Shelly’s Landscape Contractors, Inc. provides professional landscape design, landscape installation, maintenance, hardscaping, brick paving, and outdoor lighting for homeowners throughout Evanston and Chicago’s North Shore.
Based in nearby Northbrook, our family-owned landscaping company has served the North Shore since 1955. Call
(847) 291-1824 to request a consultation and put decades of local landscaping experience to work for your property.
An Experienced Evanston Landscaping Company
Your yard should add beauty, comfort, and value to your home. It should also fit the way you want to spend time outside.
Shelly’s Landscape helps Evanston homeowners improve front yards, backyards, gardens, patios, walkways, planting beds, outdoor gathering spaces, and complete residential landscapes. Whether you need help fixing an overgrown yard or planning a complete outdoor renovation, our team can guide your project from the first conversation through installation.
Evanston is known for distinctive architecture, tree-lined streets, established neighborhoods, and lakefront homes. These properties often require a thoughtful approach that respects the home’s character, mature trees, available space, drainage, sunlight, and the homeowner’s long-term goals.
Our designers listen to your ideas, study your property, and create a practical plan that fits your home, style, priorities, and budget.
Complete Landscaping Services for Evanston Homeowners
You should not have to coordinate several companies to improve one outdoor space. Shelly’s Landscape offers the design, installation, construction, lighting, and maintenance services needed to complete your project.
Custom Landscape Design
A successful landscape starts with a clear plan.
Our landscape designers work with you to understand what you like, what is not working, and how you want to use your property. We consider plant selection, seasonal color, privacy, shade, traffic patterns, outdoor seating, lighting, drainage, and future maintenance.
- Front yard curb appeal improvements
- Backyard landscape renovations
- New garden and planting-bed layouts
- Privacy plantings and screening
- Foundation plantings
- Shade-tolerant plant selections
- Seasonal color
- Walkways and garden paths
- Patio and outdoor living layouts
- Low-voltage landscape lighting
- Lawn, sod, and planting areas
Shelly’s Landscape’s design staff offers 75 years of combined experience. The typical initial consultation and design process takes approximately two to three weeks, depending on project requirements.
Landscape Installation
Once your design is approved, our installation team brings it to life.
We prepare the site, improve planting areas, install selected plant materials, complete hardscape features, and make sure each part of the landscape works together. Our team sources plant materials from wholesale growers in northeastern Illinois and selects plants suited to the region and the project.
- Trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental plants
- New landscape beds
- Sod and lawn renovation
- Mulch installation
- Landscape edging
- Privacy screening
- Garden paths
- Landscape renovations
- Plant replacement and replanting
- Complete front and backyard transformations
We can renovate one section of your yard or redesign the entire property.
Lawn and Landscape Maintenance
A professionally designed yard needs consistent care to stay healthy and attractive.
Shelly’s Landscape offers customized maintenance programs for Evanston properties. Your service plan can be based on your property’s size, plantings, turf, seasonal needs, and the level of care you prefer.
- Lawn mowing and edging
- Mulching
- Shrub and hedge trimming
- Plant and tree pruning
- Garden-bed maintenance
- Weed control
- Fertilization
- Lawn seeding
- Replanting
- Seasonal landscape improvements
- Property cleanups
Our crews focus on the details homeowners notice, including clean edges, properly shaped shrubs, maintained planting beds, healthy turf, and an orderly appearance.
Hardscapes, Patios and Brick Paving
A well-designed patio or walkway gives you more usable outdoor space and helps connect different areas of your property.
Shelly’s Landscape designs and installs hardscape features that complement your home and surrounding landscaping. Materials, patterns, borders, dimensions, and colors can be selected to match your property’s architecture and your personal taste.
- Brick paver patios
- Natural stone patios
- Front walkways
- Garden paths
- Steps
- Retaining walls
- Seating areas
- Outdoor entertaining spaces
- Fire features
- Outdoor kitchen areas
- Driveway and entry improvements
Professional hardscaping can improve curb appeal, provide more room for entertaining, reduce difficult lawn areas, and help manage grading or erosion concerns.
Landscape Lighting
Professional landscape lighting lets you enjoy your property after sunset while improving visibility around patios, walkways, steps, entrances, and driveways.
Shelly’s Landscape designs, installs, maintains, and repairs low-voltage outdoor lighting systems.
- Path lighting
- Patio lighting
- Deck lighting
- Garden lighting
- Accent lighting
- Architectural lighting
- Walkway lighting
- Driveway lighting
Fixtures can be positioned to highlight landscaping and architectural features without making the yard look overlit.
Landscaping Ideas for Evanston Homes
Explore practical ways to improve curb appeal, create more outdoor living space, update an older yard, and keep your property looking its best throughout the year.
Residential Landscaping Design Ideas
Create a polished first impression with layered planting beds, healthy lawns, shade-friendly plants, seasonal color, and walkways that complement the architecture of your Evanston home.
Hardscaping Features for Outdoor Living
Add function and long-term value with a brick paver patio, natural stone walkway, retaining wall, built-in seating, fire feature, or covered outdoor gathering area designed for Midwest weather.
Backyard Transformations and Outdoor Spaces
Turn an underused backyard into a comfortable place for dining, relaxing, entertaining, and spending time with family. A coordinated design can combine patios, planting beds, privacy screening, lighting, and lawn areas.
Seasonal Landscaping Maintenance
Keep your landscape healthy and orderly with spring cleanups, mulching, pruning, bed maintenance, lawn care, seasonal planting, fall cleanup, and ongoing attention throughout the growing season.
Landscaping Designed for Evanston Properties
No two Evanston yards are exactly alike.
Some properties have large lawns and mature planting beds. Others have smaller city lots where every square foot must serve a purpose. Many established homes have mature trees, shaded areas, older walkways, drainage concerns, or landscaping that has grown beyond its original design.
Our team can help you solve common landscaping concerns such as:
- Overgrown shrubs blocking windows or walkways
- Planting beds that lack color or structure
- Grass that struggles in shaded areas
- Poorly placed plants that have outgrown the space
- Cracked or outdated patios and walkways
- Yards that do not offer enough privacy
- Outdoor spaces that are difficult to use
- Dark entrances, paths, or patios
- Landscapes that require too much maintenance
- Front yards that lack curb appeal
We create solutions around the property you already have. That may mean preserving mature plants, replacing unsuccessful materials, opening crowded areas, adding privacy, improving circulation, or creating a simpler maintenance plan.
Protecting Evanston’s Trees and Established Landscapes
Evanston places a strong emphasis on protecting its urban forest. Exterior projects located within 25 feet of a public or private tree may require a tree-preservation permit under current city rules.
This makes early planning important.
Our landscape design process considers existing trunks, branches, roots, shade patterns, planting conditions, and the relationship between new landscape features and mature trees. Thoughtful planning can help protect established trees while creating a more usable and attractive yard.
Homeowners should confirm current permit requirements with the City of Evanston before beginning work that could affect a protected tree.
Why Evanston Homeowners Choose Shelly’s Landscape
Serving the North Shore Since 1955
Shelly Dubofsky started the company in 1955 with a manual mower and hand trimmers. The business has grown into a full-service, family-owned landscape company serving Evanston and communities throughout Chicago’s North Shore.
One Company From Design Through Maintenance
Our team can design your landscape, install plants and hardscapes, add lighting, and provide continued maintenance. You receive a coordinated plan instead of disconnected work from several contractors.
Local Experience
We understand the growing conditions, weather, mature landscapes, and property styles found throughout the North Shore.
Customized Plans
We do not use the same design for every property. Your recommendations are based on your home, yard, lifestyle, preferences, and budget.
Proven Customer Satisfaction
Customer reviews frequently mention professional service, practical ideas, responsiveness, quality installation, drainage knowledge, and support throughout the design and installation process.
Plant Installation Guarantee
Plant materials purchased and installed by Shelly’s Landscape include a full one-year guarantee from the installation date, subject to the company’s terms and care requirements.
Registered to Work in Evanston
The City of Evanston lists Shelly’s Landscape Contractors as a registered landscaping contractor.
Our Evanston Landscaping Process
1. Schedule a Consultation
Tell us what you want to change, what concerns you have, and how you would like to use the space.
2. Property Evaluation
We evaluate the existing lawn, beds, plants, trees, hardscapes, lighting, grading, sunlight, and access.
3. Design and Recommendations
Our team prepares recommendations based on your goals, style, property, and budget. Larger projects may include a complete design, plant palette, and written proposal.
4. Review the Plan
We explain the recommendations and make sure the design fits your expectations before installation begins.
5. Professional Installation
Our crews complete the approved work with attention to layout, preparation, planting, construction, and cleanup.
6. Continued Care
We provide plant-care guidance and can discuss ongoing landscape maintenance to help protect your investment.
Landscaping Services Near You in Evanston
Shelly’s Landscape serves homeowners throughout Evanston, including properties near Central Street, Ridge Avenue, Main Street, Dempster Street, Sheridan Road, downtown Evanston, Northwestern University, and the lakefront.
We also serve nearby North Shore communities, including Wilmette, Skokie, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Glenview, Morton Grove, Northfield, Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Bannockburn, Buffalo Grove, Golf, Lake Forest, Long Grove, and Riverwoods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping in Evanston
Does Shelly’s Landscape provide landscaping services in Evanston?
Yes. Evanston is part of Shelly’s Landscape’s established North Shore service area. The company is also listed by the City of Evanston as a registered landscaping contractor. Call (847) 291-1824 to discuss your property and service needs.
What landscaping services do you offer in Evanston?
We offer landscape design, landscape installation, lawn and landscape maintenance, planting, sod, seeding, mulching, pruning, hardscapes, patios, walkways, retaining walls, brick paving, and landscape lighting.
Can you redesign an existing yard?
Yes. We can update an individual planting bed, renovate an overgrown landscape, replace unsuccessful plants, redesign a front yard, or develop a complete plan for the entire property.
Can you help me choose plants for a shady Evanston yard?
Yes. Our designers consider sunlight, soil, mature trees, available space, visual preferences, and maintenance expectations when recommending plants. Shelly’s Landscape sources plant materials from wholesale growers in northeastern Illinois.
Do you install patios and walkways?
Yes. We design and install brick, stone, and paver patios, walkways, steps, retaining walls, and other hardscape features.
Do you provide ongoing lawn maintenance?
Yes. Customized maintenance plans may include mowing, edging, pruning, trimming, mulching, weed control, fertilizing, seeding, replanting, and planting-bed care.
How long does the landscape design process take?
The initial consultation and design process takes approximately two to three weeks on average. Timing can vary based on the project’s size and complexity.
Are new plants guaranteed?
Plants supplied and installed by Shelly’s Landscape include a full one-year guarantee from the installation date, subject to the company’s contract and care requirements.
Do I need an Evanston tree-preservation permit?
A permit may be required when exterior work will take place within 25 feet of a private or public tree, including its trunk, roots, or branches. Homeowners should verify current requirements with the City of Evanston before work begins.
How do I request a landscaping estimate?
Call Shelly’s Landscape at (847) 291-1824 or complete the website contact form. Provide your Evanston address, contact information, and a brief description of the work you are considering.
Improve Your Evanston Yard With a Landscaping Company You Can Trust
Whether you want a more welcoming front yard, a private backyard, a new patio, healthier plantings, professional landscape lighting, or dependable maintenance, Shelly’s Landscape is ready to help.
Put a North Shore landscaping company with experience dating back to 1955 to work for your Evanston property.
Call
(847) 291-1824 today to request your landscaping consultation.
