Landscaping in Champaign and Douglas Counties

Landscaping for yards in Douglas and Champaign counties

Landscaping at Russel’s Mowing and Services means the planted parts of a yard: flower beds, shrub arrangements, planting and the mulch that finishes them off. The business is based in Villa Grove, and the team works across Douglas County and Champaign County, Illinois.

The work is practical. It starts with the yard as it is, the beds already there, the trees, the shade and sun, and the way the house sits on the lot, and it plans the planting around that. The photo on this page is one of the business’s own jobs: a fresh ring of dark mulch around a tree, with hostas planted in it, and the crew’s truck and trailer parked behind.

Who landscaping is for

Landscaping work fits many kinds of properties in the two counties:

• Small-town lots where a front bed or a ring around a shade tree changes how the yard looks from the street.
• Subdivision lots in Champaign County with builder-grade foundation beds that have turned thin, overgrown or bare.
• Older yards with beds that have lost their edges or shrubs that have outgrown their spot.
• Rural properties among the prairie farmland, where a few beds near the house give a wide lawn some shape.
• Rental properties where the owner needs beds that stay tidy and simple to keep up between tenants.
• Households that are too busy for bed work, or that can’t do the digging and lifting themselves.

If the property is in Douglas County or Champaign County, it is worth calling or texting to check whether it is on the route.

What landscaping work includes

Every yard is different, so a landscaping job is shaped around the property. The work falls into a few plain parts.

Flower beds

• Laying out new beds, or reshaping existing ones so they have clean, simple lines.
• Clearing out old growth, weeds and debris from beds that have gotten away.
• Planting flowers and perennials suited to the spot, whether it is full sun or shade under a tree.

Shrub arrangements

• Planning where shrubs go along a foundation, fence line or bed, with room for them to grow.
• Planting new shrubs at the right depth and spacing.
• Working existing shrubs into the arrangement where they still fit the space.

Planting

• Flowers, shrubs and small trees set at the right depth and spacing for the plant.
• Spacing that allows for the plant’s mature size, so the bed doesn’t crowd itself in a few years.

Mulch

• Fresh mulch spread evenly in beds and around trees to finish the job.
• Rings around trees, like the one in the photo, which also keep mowers and trimmers back from the trunk.

The details of each job, including which plants go where, are talked through before the work is quoted.

Landscaping advice for Central Illinois yards

The following is general guidance for this part of the state, not a set of promises about any one job. It can help when you are thinking about what a bed or planting should look like.

Know the soil

Much of Champaign County and Douglas County sits on heavy, dark prairie silt-loam. It is fertile, but it holds water and can pack down hard. As a rule:

• Avoid planting too deep. Shrubs and trees should sit with the top of the root ball, where the roots flare out from the trunk, at or just above the soil surface.
• Avoid working soil when it is soaking wet, which can leave it compacted and cloddy.
• Loosen the soil in the planting hole so roots can spread out, rather than circling in a tight pocket.

Match the plant to the spot

Sun and shade matter more than almost anything else in a bed. As a general rule, shade-tolerant plants such as hostas do well under mature trees, while most flowering shrubs and many perennials need several hours of direct sun. Looking at how the light moves across the yard through the day is a good first step before choosing plants.

Timing in Central Illinois

• Spring is a common time for new beds and planting, once the soil has dried out enough to work.
• Early fall is also a good window for shrubs and perennials, since cooler air and warm soil help roots settle.
• Midsummer plantings can work, but they need steady watering through heat and dry spells.

New plantings of any kind need regular water through their first season while the roots establish.

Mulch the right way

Mulch helps beds hold moisture, keeps weeds down and gives a finished look. As a general rule in Central Illinois:

• Spread mulch 2 to 3 inches deep.
• Keep it pulled back from tree trunks and shrub stems, rather than piled up against them. Mulch mounded against a trunk holds moisture against the bark and can lead to rot and pest problems.
• Top up beds as the old mulch breaks down, instead of adding thick new layers on top every year.

The mulch installation page covers that service on its own.

Keeping beds in shape through the year

A new bed looks its sharpest on the day it is finished. Keeping it that way is mostly a matter of small, regular jobs. As a general rule for Central Illinois beds:

• Pull weeds while they are small, especially in late spring, before deep roots take hold.
• Keep bed edges clear so lawn grass doesn’t creep into the bed along the border.
• Cut back spent perennials in late fall or early spring, though some gardeners leave seed heads standing over winter.
• Clear leaves out of beds after leaf drop so they don’t mat down over plant crowns through the winter.
• Check shrubs each year for dead or crossing branches and for growth crowding a walkway, window or neighboring plant.

Beds that get this kind of light attention through the season usually need far less work when spring comes around again.

Getting ready for a landscaping project

A little thought before the first conversation makes it easier to plan the work and quote it accurately. Some things worth doing:

• Walk the yard at different times of day and note which beds get morning sun, afternoon sun or mostly shade.
• Mark the shrubs, perennials and trees you want to keep, and any that have outgrown their place.
• Watch where water goes after heavy rain, since beds in low spots or under downspouts need plants that handle wet feet.
• Think about upkeep, because a bed of annuals needs more attention each year than one built around shrubs and perennials.
• Call 811 a few days before digging new beds in Illinois so buried lines are marked.

Photos of the beds as they are now can also help when talking a job through by phone or text.

What to ask when you call

• What would the bed look like in a few years, once the plants reach their mature size?
• Which plants suit the sun and shade in this part of the yard?
• Is old growth, sod or weeds removed as part of the job?
• Does the project include mulch to finish the beds?
• When in the year is the best time to plant for this yard?

How landscaping is quoted

Landscaping is quoted per project, because the size of the beds, the number of plants and the amount of prep work vary so much from yard to yard. The quote depends on the yard and the work involved, and it is confirmed once the job has been looked at or talked through.

Services that pair with landscaping

A landscaping project often touches other parts of the yard. A few services that go with it:

• Mulch installation gives beds and tree rings a fresh layer without new planting.
• Planting adds flowers, shrubs or small trees to beds that are already in good shape.
• Hardscaping covers patios, walkways, retaining walls, rock beds and stone edging, as explained on the hardscaping page.
• Small tree trimming cuts back low limbs and overgrowth on small and young trees near beds.

In winter, the business also offers holiday lighting once the growing season is over. Ask about the details when you call.

Where the team does landscaping work

Russel’s Mowing and Services works across Douglas County and Champaign County. The two counties take in prairie farmland, small towns, and the larger cities and subdivisions of Champaign County. If your address is anywhere in either county, call or text to check whether it is on the route.

Getting a quote

For a landscaping project, call or text (217) 729-1112 for a quote. You can also use the quote form on the contact page. Share the address and a little about the beds or planting you have in mind, so the job can be talked through before the quote is given.