Van Zelst Inc

Name: Van Zelst Inc
Address: 39400 U.S. 41, Wadsworth, IL, 60083, United States
Telephone: (847) 623-3580
Rating: 4.9

88 Reviews

Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers

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About Us

12x Best of Houzz winner

Landscapes that Burst with Color and Look Great all Year Long

Meet the award-winning landscape architects at Van Zelst. For over 40 years, Van Zelst has provided complete design, installation and maintenance services throughout Chicago's North Shore and Wisconsin's Lake Geneva area. Look to us for year-round landscapes with breathtaking color, elegant outdoor kitchens and living areas, and expertly installed stonework, all designed around your lifestyle.

Awards

Numerous ILCA, PLANET, and ASLA awards. See www.vanzelst.com for details.

Projects

Native Lakeside Planting Retreat

Barrington, IL

Best House on The Street for Summer Pool Parties and Football Night Grilling!

Inspiration for a patio remodel in Chicago

Lighting up the Garden for Evening Entertainment in Lake Forest, IL

Large elegant exterior home photo in Chicago

Landscape Transformed by Bold Colors and Strong Lines

Wilmette, IL

Inspiration for a craftsman patio remodel in Chicago

Wisconsin Lake House Retreat

This is an example of a large traditional partial sun front yard stone landscaping in Chicago for summer.

Grand Entrance in Glencoe

Glencoe, IL

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Business Details

Business Name

Van Zelst Inc

Phone Number

(847) 623-3580

Website

www.vanzelst.com

Address

39400 U.S. 41
Wadsworth, IL 60083

Typical Job Cost

$15,000 - 450,000

License Number

IL 157000110 / WI 159-14

Followers

206 Followers

Socials

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Services Provided

Landscape Design

Garden Design

Hardscaping

Landscape Plans

Patio Design

Drought Tolerant Landscaping

Site Planning

Pool Landscaping

Custom Fire Pits

Swimming Pool Design

Custom Water Features

Gazebo Design & Construction

Design Consultation

Deck Design

3D Rendering

Organic Gardens

Edible Gardens

Custom Bocce Ball Courts

Dog Run Construction

Landscape Maintenance

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Areas Served

Chicago

Waukegan

Evanston

Palatine

Glenview

Buffalo Grove

Crystal Lake

Park Ridge

Northbrook

Mundelein

Gurnee

Highland Park

Wilmette

Vernon Hills

Grayslake

Libertyville

Lake Zurich

Lake Forest

Deerfield

Antioch

Lindenhurst

Winnetka

Barrington

Hawthorn Woods

Glencoe

Long Grove

Lincolnshire

Inverness

Lake Bluff

Northfield

Highwood

Green Oaks

Riverwoods

Wadsworth

Kenilworth

Bannockburn

Mettawa

Golf

Lake Geneva

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Credentials

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Write a Review

88 Reviews for Van Zelst Inc

Newest first

4.9|88 reviews

Work Quality

5.0

Communication

4.9

Value

4.6

Lorraine

The company is very dependable and take pried in their work. Everything that was moved to cut grass was returned to the original location. Weeds were pulled by hand. My landscaper never looked this good.

June 16, 2026

Lindsey M.

Working with David and Working with David has been an absolute pleasure. He’s incredibly personable and always made the effort to come out in person for our conversations, which made the entire process feel thoughtful and collaborative. He provided clear visuals of different design options, making it so much easier to make confident decisions. While his services aren’t the cheapest, the level of care, attention, and high-touch service he provides is truly worth it. I felt genuinely taken care of every step of the way. Highly recommend!

December 5, 2025

Patrick

Dave and the whole Van Zelst team did a wonderful job for us on a rather complex outdoor hardscape project. We would definitely recommend!

September 9, 2025

HU-701185183

Highest quality in workmanship and materials. They reconditioned and reset my bluestone front porch. Looked as good as the day it was originally installed.

September 4, 2025

HU-748428307

Professional, thorough, and responsive. Great work. Family run business. Works with your schedule and budget. Would recommend to anyone looking for great service.

July 13, 2024

HU-96411353

Van Zelst Inc is an outstanding quality landscape service company and more. My family has used their services for many years. David, the owner, Beth in the office and his landscape team go above and beyond the norm. You'll be taken care of and I highly recommend Van Zelst Inc.

July 10, 2024

HU-125456565

Professional, on time , creative and now our yard is the envy of our neighbors. Regular communication as promised and exceedingly friendly work staff . Excellent coordination with irrigation and lighting company as well

July 8, 2024

Don Adams

Could not ask for better service, yard looks great. Looking forward to doing business with Vanzelst again in the future. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

November 27, 2023

Mary Amato

Excellent company. Not inexpensive but they do it right. Have used them twice for big jobs (regrading for water mitigation, new driveway, redesign of landscaping on large lot as well as a new terrace on downsize). Work people are knowledgeable, friendly and thorough. Highly recommend.

October 20, 2023

Rachel K

We loved working with David and his crew. Dave helped break our giant project into smaller easier to manage steps so that we can start enjoying our garden right away as well as spread out the cost over time. He came up with a game plan to give us a chance to work on a few things ourselves in order to stay on budget. His crew was professional and they are true craftsmen. We have already decided to do another project with VanZelst next spring. His approach to business is to develop long-term clients, not just one and done. He cares about his job. They are top shelf!

August 7, 2023

HU-456315720

My existing gardens were in need of a major makeover. The landscape project is taking place in phases. I’m grateful that I reached out to Van Zelst. I appreciate the professionalism, talent and sound recommendations. DaShan is performing a wonderful revitalization and landscape transformation. I also wish to compliment Bill and Art and a shout-out to their hardworking and kind installation and maintenance crews. Another shout-out to the friendly office staff. I’m enjoying the gardens and noticed a lot of wildlife- butterflies and hummingbirds- enjoying the gardens too! The Van Zelst team is top-notch!

June 28, 2023

Tom Klimmeck

Van Zelst designed and installed the landscaping and hardscaping plan for our 170’ x 200’ single family residential lot in two stages in 2015 and 2016. They have been contracted to provide ongoing maintenance and upkeep pretty much since that time. They showed careful planning in the sizing and placement of the initial plantings where the various plants, bushes and trees have matured into a very pleasant visual experience. There has been little crowding and very little mortality of much of anything. We receive nothing but compliments from friends and strangers alike. Their initial and ongoing recommendations were and are spot on and their current advice is spot on. If you want a cheap lawn service that cuts your grass and moves quickly this will not be a fit for you. If you want something that is more comprehensive and professional this is the team for you.

June 6, 2023

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we specialize in a wide range of residential landscape design projects, from creating year-round landscapes with breathtaking color to elegant outdoor kitchens, living areas, and expertly installed stonework. We offer complete design, installation, and maintenance services, tailored to your lifestyle.

Yes, we offer complete design, installation, and maintenance services. Our award-winning landscape architects can guide you through the entire process, from initial concept and design to expert installation and ongoing care, ensuring a seamless and beautiful transformation of your outdoor space.

Absolutely! We create detailed landscape plans, including comprehensive planting and layout designs. Our goal is to craft year-round landscapes with breathtaking color and structure, ensuring every plant and feature is thoughtfully placed to enhance your outdoor living experience.

Yes, we excel at designing elegant outdoor living spaces. This includes custom patio designs, outdoor kitchens, and various hardscaping elements. We focus on creating functional and beautiful areas that extend your home's living space and are perfectly designed around your lifestyle.

Yes, we certainly do! We offer drought-tolerant landscaping solutions and can design organic gardens. Our approach focuses on creating beautiful, sustainable landscapes that are both environmentally conscious and perfectly suited to your specific needs and preferences.

FAQ content may be generated based on the Pro's Houzz profile and website.

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4 Ideabooks

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129 Comments

Commented: what is the pink stone?This is a full range New York bluestone. The color range is subtle rust-like browns through blueish grey.

May 27, 2026

Commented: Lakefront LandscapingFor inspiration and to get ideas for your lakefront home, you can see photos of lakefront properties on our website Photo Gallery. Our projects are in Chicago's North Shore and southeastern Wisconsin....

February 3, 2022 in Landscape Design

Commented: Need Help Enhancing Pool AreaIt's our pleasure Tom, good luck with your project!

November 17, 2021 in Landscape Design

Commented: How to stop water drainage from nieghbors property?Yard areas with runoff and drainage issues can be challenging. Considering opportunities to improve drainage and to enhance the aesthetics of your property adjacent to your neighbor, there are a numbe...

October 13, 2021 in Landscape Design

Commented: Help us make friends!!!You've got the right idea by creating a welcoming social hub out front. Consider creating a multi-purpose patio with low plantings. Some examples are shown below. A sunny spot to visit with friends,...

September 1, 2021 in Landscape Design

Commented: Rain Garden(s) on Shady LaneThis discussion made us think of offering a link to our blog about rain gardens: https://www.vanzelst.com/blog/rain-gardens/. It includes a list of plant suggestions for the Midwest and some inspirati...

July 26, 2021 in Landscape Design

Van Zelst Inc