How do you prepare the ground for planting a tree?

• <div><p>First, dig a hole that’s the same depth as the root ball and wide enough for the roots to spread out fully. Before placing the tree in the hole, pour water in to help get rid of any air pockets in the soil.</p><p>When filling the hole back in, opt for a 1:1 ratio of organic compost with the soil left over from the ground. Do not use potting soil, fertilizer, or chemicals of any kind, as these can stress out and kill your newly planted tree.</p></div>

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Q: Should I tip for my mulch delivery?

• <div><p>If your mulch delivery company or landscaper installs mulch around multiple spots in your yard (especially if they are more complex areas), feel free to tip up to $15 a person. However, there's no need to tip for a standard mulch drop done in your driveway or on a tarp. </p></div>

Q: How do you prepare the ground for planting a tree?

• <div><p>First, dig a hole that&rsquo;s the same depth as the root ball and wide enough for the roots to spread out fully. Before placing the tree in the hole, pour water in to help get rid of any air pockets in the soil.</p><p>When filling the hole back in, opt for a 1:1 ratio of organic compost with the soil left over from the ground. Do not use potting soil, fertilizer, or chemicals of any kind, as these can stress out and kill your newly planted tree.</p></div>

Q: Can landscape boulders crack or break?

• <div><p>Landscape boulders, especially porous stones like sandstone or granite, can crack or break over time. Cracks occur when water seeps into the surface of the stone and freezes. The risk is highest when it rains during the day and temperatures freeze overnight since the moisture has time to penetrate deeper into the rock before expanding. </p></div>

Q: How do I prepare my lawn for xeriscaping?

• <div><p>If you are xeriscaping a lawn from scratch, your best bet for preparing the lawn is to work with a xeriscaping specialist in your area. The most common first step to making the transformation, however, will be to remove the turfgrass from your lawn. The subsequent steps will often include amending the soil to support new plants and installing low-drip or drip irrigation systems.</p></div>

Q: Can adding new sand fix paver drainage issues?

• <div><p>Not typically. A paver patio drainage problem generally requires a landscaping fix that can include a drainage pipe or dry well capable of handling the amount of runoff in your yard. </p></div>

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*The Angi rating for Mulch And Topsoil Service companies in Ottawa, IL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Mulch And Topsoil Service needs.

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Last update on November 17, 2025

Reviewed in January 2024
We had Mr. Appleton come by and do lawn mowing and edging once a week and also had him control the weeds around the house. He was very kind and made sure he explained everything to us and made sure to get the job done right. His speed was respectable especially since he did such a great job on...
Appleton Landscape
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Reviewed in June 2022
We used Vincent’s Lawn Maintenance & Landscape Contractor for our landscaping/mulch beds & they did a GREAT job!
Neri, Inc.
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Reviewed in July 2020
AMAZING WORK. They did everything we asked and then some. This is our second time hiring them and now I’m out of projects for them to tackle. So worth it . They trimmed trees, bushes removed a stump as well as removed sod and mulched. The price was amazing. I contacted them and got a response...
M.H. Tree Service
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Reviewed in June 2020
I wish I would have inspected the job more carefully before they left. I have pieces of mulch in-bedded in the asphalt. My concern is that it does not look right now and eventually, there will be holes where rain will collect causing problems.
Premier Asphalt
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Reviewed in June 2018
Ordered 6 yards of premium dark mulch. Looked ok on delivery. 4 weeks later not dark anymore. Called and was told mulch was burnt not colored. Tried to tell me they do offer colored mulch but website does not reflect any options of colored or un colored . Only options are light and dark. I...
BrownMulch.com
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Reviewed in October 2017
At first Cesar seemed very friendly and polite. Him and his crew came and did most of the work but they missed a couple mulch beds. I was dumb enough to pay him the full cost of the service. Talked to Cesar multiple times promising he’ll returned to finish the job but never did. I called him 3-4...
GM Landscape
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Reviewed in October 2016
Cathy listened to our wish list and created a design that was awesome. She was readily available throughout the project. The entire team worked in extreme heat and humidity to get the job done on time. They were very, very polite and professional. They left the area clean each day. We even...
HOOKS LANDSCAPING LLC
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Reviewed in March 2016
Needed gravel and mulch for our business. Marc was knowledgeable, and professional. Workers were courteous and competed the job in a timely manner.
Anderson & Sons, Ltd.
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Reviewed in July 2015
I hired Yorkville Hill Landscaping in late March / early April of this year (2015) to complete several landscaping jobs around my house. When I contacted Yorkville Hill Landscaping in March, they were very prompt in responding and setting up a time for a representative to come to my house to...
Yorkville Hill Landscaping Inc
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Reviewed in June 2015
Very personable, but it took a very long time to complete the garden plan. Brought in nice topsoil for my clayey garden beds and re-shaped them nicely, but was disappointed to find that they had not removed the old plastic edging when I tried to install my new plants.
Immaculate Connection Landscaping Service
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R and D lawn care

R and D lawn care

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Lutz Landscaping

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Maulfair trucking llc

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TruGreen Lawn Care - 5747

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Danchris Nursery

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RM3's Services

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Salazar and Sons Lawn Care and Snow Removal

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Dr. Green's Lawn Pros.

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Stone Timber Brush

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Caleb's Contracting

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