With tree-lined neighborhoods, vibrant cultural offerings, and abundant green spaces, Joliet has something for everyone.

The climate is dramatic, with steamy summers, frigid winters, and enough rain and humidity to make growing plants a breeze (provided you pick the right plants!).

Landscape design can make the most of what Joliet has to offer. Be it providing cool shade to escape the summer heat, creating flexible spaces for indoor-outdoor living, or cutting back on yard work while boosting curb appeal, Yardzen has done it all for our Joliet clients.

Whatever your landscape vision may be, Yardzen is ready to make it a reality, working with you to craft a landscape design that achieves the look, feel, and function you are dreaming of, then connecting you with a vetted contractor from the Yardzen’s Pro Network to get your design built.

Joliet landscapes follow the classic American landscape archetype: abundant lawns, specimen trees, and foundation planting dominated by structural shrubs. Big trees are common (and welcome!), as are vertical evergreen accents used to frame doors, windows, and path entrances. Some landscapes nod to the regional prairie landscape with accents of tall perennial flowers.

Joliet landscape designs frequently feature amenities for outdoor living, from kitchens and dining areas, to lounge spaces for entertaining friends, to outdoor theaters for family movie nights. Being a family-friendly community, recreational spaces like play areas and sports courts are another common feature.

Shade is a top priority in Joliet landscapes. For many, existing trees do the trick. For others, pergolas, shade sails, or new shade trees are go-to strategies to keep outdoor spaces cool and comfortable. When equipped with weather-proof coverings, pergolas also offer shelter from rain.

No matter where you live, native plants are an excellent choice for your landscape. As lovers of the local climate, native plants typically require fewer inputs of water, fertilizer, and maintenance than species introduced from elsewhere. With natives, you’ll get great plant performance with less expense and fuss.

At the same time, native plants offer unbeatable habitat value for local wildlife, and help designed landscapes feel connected to the broader regional landscape.

Looking for a few natives to get you started? Oakleaf hydrangea, Foxglove beardstongue, butterfly weed, blue false indigo, and pale purple coneflower are all fabulous natives. A drift of switch grass will ramp up the prairie vibes, and black cherry and sweetgum trees will both offer lovely seasonal color.

Climate tolerance is the primary concern when selecting plants for a Joliet landscape. Plants must tolerate the peak of summer heat and the depth of winter cold. Natives are a safe bet, having evolved to thrive in the local climate.

Don’t forget to consider winter interest. Look for plants that bloom late in the fall and early in the spring. Incorporate trees and shrubs with colorful or architectural branches. Be considerate with placement of evergreens such that they can command the scene when other plants are in winter dormancy.

Now! Any time of year is great to begin work on a landscape project.

When possible, we suggest utilizing the winter to work through the design phase - this sets you up to get on contractors’ books early in the build season, so you can have your design installed and ready to enjoy in time for summer.

If winter has passed, don’t worry, it’s never too late in the year to begin work on a landscape design project.