Serving the Fox Valley
Planting That Thrives
Trees, shrubs, perennials and beds — chosen for this climate, planted correctly, and arranged to look better every year.
The Living Half of the Yard
Right Plant, Right Place
Softscape is everything in the landscape that grows: trees, shrubs, perennials, ground cover and the beds they live in. Done well, it is what makes a property feel finished — and it only works when the plant matches the light, soil and space it is given.
We plant for northern Illinois conditions, so what goes in the ground stays healthy instead of becoming next year’s removal. Plant installations are backed for a year — and if you would like us to keep the property looking sharp, we handle the maintenance side too: mowing, spring and fall cleanups, mulch and edging.
Plants, mulch and soil come from Kane County Landscape Materials in Elburn, which stocks nine kinds of mulch and a range of soils and composts, so beds get the right material rather than whatever is on the truck.
What We Plant
Softscape Services
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Trees & Shrubs
Shade, screening and structure — selected for mature size and planted at the right depth, which is where most tree problems start.
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Perennials & Seasonal Color
Beds that come back stronger each season, with color planned across spring, summer and fall.
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Planting Beds & Mulch
Clean edges, healthy soil and proper mulch depth — the difference between a bed that thrives and one that fights you.
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Bed Refreshes
Overgrown or tired beds cut back, reshaped and replanted without starting from zero.
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Weeding & Edging
Beds kept clean and edges kept sharp — the small maintenance that keeps plantings looking deliberate.
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Planting Design
Planting plans built into our 3D landscape designs, so the right plant lands in the right place from day one.
Why HLM
Planted To Last
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Licensed & Insured
HLM is a licensed, insured Illinois contractor. Every job is built to the same standard, whether it is a planting bed or a full backyard.
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Our Own Crews
The work is done by HLM crews, start to finish. You never coordinate a second contractor or wonder who is showing up.
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Planted For The Site
Every plant is chosen for the light, soil and space it will live in, so it settles in instead of becoming next year’s removal.
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You'll Know When We're Coming
We text you the crew’s ETA on work mornings. No contractor’s window, no waiting around.
Common Questions
Softscape Questions
Will you work with plants I already have?
Yes. Healthy existing plants are an asset — we would rather relocate and build around what is working than tear everything out.
Do new plantings come with care instructions?
We walk you through watering and care for everything we install, in plain terms. Most new plantings fail from watering habits, not from the plant.
Can you just refresh the mulch and edges?
Absolutely. A clean edge and fresh mulch is one of the fastest ways to make a property look cared for, and it is a normal small job for us.
What mulch do you use?
It comes from Kane County Landscape Materials in Elburn, which carries nine varieties. We recommend one based on the beds, the plants and the look you want, and we top it up as part of seasonal maintenance.