The Best Landscape Architects in Bloomington, IL
We graded 10 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 1,972 Google reviews of 20 top-rated landscape architects nationwide; 10 of them in Bloomington, IL. Updated November 1, 2026.
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Best landscape architects in Bloomington for retaining walls
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Brookside LandscapesHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Retaining walls”:Stars on this job 55%5.00★Number of such jobs 25%7Overall Experts Score 20%98Job match= 93Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.84★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.93
Bellas LandscapingHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Retaining walls”:Stars on this job 55%5.00★Number of such jobs 25%4Overall Experts Score 20%90Job match= 84Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.84★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.84Job match = this company’s ★ on reviews Google tagged “Retaining walls” (shrunk toward the category average when there are few), how many such jobs it has done, and its overall Experts Score.
What customers said about retaining walls
Brookside LandscapesI’ve had the opportunity to work with them on both personal and commercial projects, and they have been top-notch every time. From the initial design and planning through the final execution, their attention to detail, professionalism, and quality of work really stand out. They communicate well, follow through, and…
Bellas LandscapingBellas Landscaping was efficient, knowledgeable and friendly. The company started when they had anticipated which was very helpful. They went out of their way to be sure I was satisfied with the project!
Brookside LandscapesBrookside was great for our total backyard renovation. Colin and Elmer took great care to make sure everything was how we wanted and made sure to adjust with us on the little things along the way.
Brookside LandscapesDerek provided amazing designs and provided pictures of what the finished project would look like. We are visual decision makers so this was a huge help. And the Harrison provided the project management and Jacob drove the project from beginning to completion. It was a transformation of our property and their…
Brookside LandscapesI will only recommend one place for landscaping, and that is Brookside! My patio is out of this world beautiful! Plus, my flowers are stunning around my whole property. Colin is an amazing project manager, and he patiently answered every question I had. And, I ask a lot of questions! Elmer is a very hard worker and…
Brookside LandscapesFrom working through concepts with Eric to executing these plans with our foreman, Robbie, we had an amazing experience with the Brookside team! In just 4 weeks, they built a retaining & 3 seating walls (and a fire pit), laid pavers out our basement walkout, and installed landscaping & lighting around our entire…
Overall ratings
Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of landscape architects).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. | FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20. | ★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps. | Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews). |
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| 1 |  Shovel & Spade LandscapingBloomington, IL | A 99How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%99+58.1Reliability 26%98+25.6Value 15%100+15.2Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 99Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAA– | 4.99 | — |
| 2 | Brookside LandscapesBloomington, IL | A 98How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%99+58.1Reliability 26%97+25.3Value 15%97+14.8Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 98Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAA– | 4.99 | — |
| 3 |  Chizmar LandscapingBloomington, IL | A 95How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%97+56.9Reliability 26%94+24.5Value 15%92+14Craft & service penalty97−0.3Experts Score= 95Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAA– | 5.00 | — |
| 4 |  Prairie View Landscaping & Lawn Care Inc.Bloomington, IL | A 95How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%95+55.8Reliability 26%94+24.5Value 15%100+15.2Craft & service penalty98−0.2Experts Score= 95Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAA– | 4.93 | — |
| 5 |  Hedgewood Lawn ServicesBloomington, IL | A 93How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%93+54.6Reliability 26%94+24.5Value 15%93+14.2Experts Score= 93Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA–AA– | 4.96 | — |
| 6 | Bellas LandscapingBloomington, IL | A 90How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%92+50.2Reliability 24%88+21.3Value 14%95+13.4Replies to reviews 7%74+5.2Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 90Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAAB | 4.87 | — |
| 7 |  Legacy OutdoorBloomington, IL | A 88How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%91+53.4Reliability 26%89+23.2Value 15%100+15.2Craft & service penalty57−4.3Experts Score= 88Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AACAA– | 4.91 | — |
| 8 |  Reinhart Landscaping & SnowBloomington, IL | A 86How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%90+49.1Reliability 24%85+20.6Value 14%80+11.3Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Craft & service penalty75−2.5Experts Score= 86Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AABAAA | 4.88 | — |
| 9 |  AE Landscape Borders BloomingtonBloomington, IL | A 85How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%87+47.5Reliability 24%92+22.3Value 14%63+8.9Replies to reviews 7%93+6.6Experts Score= 85Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA–BAA | 4.88 | — |
| 10 |  Changing Seasons Landscape and Landscape IncBloomington, IL | B 62How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%61+33.3Reliability 24%44+10.7Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%66+4.7Craft & service penalty99−0.1Momentum penalty98−0.2Experts Score= 62Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BCAAAB | 4.65 | — |
What jobs cost
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this. | TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range). | High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this. | FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”. |
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Landscape Architects in Bloomington, IL at a glance
How the 10 landscape architects we rated in Bloomington, IL compare, and what customers praise most.
Experts Score grades
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
- Grade A990%
- Grade B110%
- Grade C00%
- Grade D00%
- Grade F00%
Google ratings
Average stars per company.
- 4.90★ and up660%
- 4.80–4.89★330%
- 4.60–4.79★110%
- Below 4.60★00%
What customers praise
Share of Google review highlights.
- Quality34222%
- Professionalism36223%
- Responsiveness31420%
- Punctuality27518%
- Value26917%
Was the price fair?
All price verdicts left with reviews.
- Great price11430%
- Reasonable22560%
- Overpriced185%
- Not sure185%
Price verdicts by year
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
How we grade
Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.
Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.
Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.
Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.
Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.