Landscape Design in Gilman, IL — Built Around Your Property, Not a Template
Your neighbors have a landscape. You want yours to look like yours. Jon Harkins has 16 years designing custom landscapes across Iroquois and Kankakee counties — tailored to central Illinois soil, climate, and the way you actually use your outdoor space.
You Paid for a Design That Could Belong to Anyone
Most landscaping companies work from a short list of familiar plants, standard layouts, and whatever materials are easiest to source. The result looks fine — but it looks like every other yard on the street.
Then there's the Illinois problem: plants chosen from a generic catalog, installed without consideration for Iroquois County's soil composition, frost depth, or drainage patterns. They look great in spring. By fall, you're wondering what went wrong.
A Process Built Around Your Property — Not a Shortcut Around It
Every landscape design starts from scratch. Here's what that actually looks like, from the first conversation to finished installation.
Property Walk & Discovery
Jon visits your property, walks every corner, evaluates soil conditions, drainage, sun exposure, and existing plantings. He listens to what you want — and what you want to avoid.
Custom Design Plan
Based on the site visit, Jon develops a design tailored to your property's character — plant selection, layout, hardscape coordination, and lighting integration. No templates, no shortcuts.
Installation by the Designer
Jon installs what he designed. There's no handoff to a crew that wasn't part of the planning — the person who designed your landscape is the one who builds it.
Ongoing Care & Relationship
Your landscape was built to be maintained. Jon offers ongoing lawn care, seasonal cleanups, and plant care — so the investment you made keeps looking the way it did on day one.
No Guessing What You're Getting
Every landscape design project with Harkins Unique Landscapes includes the same thorough approach — regardless of project size. Here's what you get from the first call to final installation.
Landscape Design Services We Offer
All custom — all designed for your specific property.
Why Homeowners Across Central Illinois Choose Harkins for Landscape Design
There are plenty of landscaping companies near Gilman, IL. Here's what's different about working with Jon Harkins.
16 Years in Central Illinois Soil
Jon knows what grows here — and what doesn't. Iroquois and Kankakee county soil, drainage patterns, and frost conditions are factored into every plant choice and every design layout.
Every Design Is Truly Custom
No templates. No pulling from a "standard design" sheet. Jon designs each landscape around your specific property — its shape, its soil, its character, and how you use it.
The Designer Installs the Work
No handoff to a sub-crew who wasn't part of the design. Jon builds what he planned, which means the installation matches the intention — every time.
Designs Built to Be Maintained
A great-looking landscape at installation means nothing if it's unmanageable two years later. Jon designs with long-term maintainability as a core requirement — not an afterthought.
Honest Process, Honest Pricing
Jon walks your property, explains what he's thinking, and gives you a clear quote before any work starts. No surprises. No upcharges after the fact.
Still Here Next Season
Most designers finish the job and move on. Jon is still here the following spring — for seasonal cleanups, maintenance questions, and whatever your landscape needs next.
Landscape Design FAQ — Gilman & Central Illinois
Questions not answered here? Call Jon directly at (815) 549-5603.
What does a landscape design consultation include?
Every consultation starts with a free property walk-through. Jon visits your property, walks the full site, evaluates soil conditions, drainage, sun exposure, and existing vegetation. He listens to your goals, your style preferences, and your budget. You'll get an honest assessment of what's possible and a clear picture of what the project would involve — before you commit to anything.
How much does landscape design cost in Iroquois County or Kankakee County?
Landscape design pricing varies based on the scope of the project — property size, number of areas being designed, plant selection, and whether the project includes hardscape or lighting integration. Jon provides a clear, itemized quote after the site visit. There are no ballpark estimates over the phone, because guessing at your property would be doing you a disservice. The quote you receive is the price you pay — no surprises after the work starts.
Do you design landscapes from scratch, or only update existing ones?
Both. Jon designs full landscapes for bare or newly built properties, and he redesigns or updates existing landscapes that aren't performing, need a refresh, or had work done by a previous company that didn't hold up. If you have existing plants you want to keep, Jon will incorporate them into the new design — or give you an honest recommendation if removal and replacement makes more sense long-term.
Why do some plants die after installation? How do you prevent that?
The most common cause of plant failure is using species that aren't suited to the local soil or climate — or installing without proper site assessment. Jon conducts a full site evaluation before every design, including soil type and drainage assessment. Plant selection is based on what actually thrives in central Illinois growing conditions, not just what looks good in a photo. If a plant needs specific soil amendments or drainage work to succeed, that's part of the installation plan — not an afterthought.
Will my landscape design look different from my neighbors'?
That's the whole point. Harkins Unique Landscapes doesn't use template designs — every landscape is created around your specific property, your style, and how you use your outdoor space. The "Unique" in the name isn't marketing language. Jon has designed over 500 landscapes across central Illinois, and no two are the same.
How long does a landscape design and installation project typically take?
Timeline depends on project scope, material availability, and scheduling. Jon will give you a realistic timeline as part of the quote process — including a start date and estimated completion. He doesn't leave projects half-finished to start new ones, and he'll communicate proactively if anything changes. Most residential landscape design projects are completed within a few days to a few weeks from start date, depending on size and complexity.
Do you offer ongoing maintenance after the landscape is designed and installed?
Yes — and this is one of the most valuable aspects of working with Harkins Unique Landscapes. Because Jon designed and installed your landscape, he knows exactly what's there, what it needs, and how to care for it. Ongoing lawn care, seasonal cleanups, trimming, and plant maintenance are all available. You won't need to brief a new crew every season on what they're looking at.