Landscape design and installation in Hobart, IN starts underground — with the heavy clay that packs down hard, holds water after every storm, and fights new roots at every turn. Romes Property Maintenance designs and installs full-yard landscapes built for exactly this ground: not a stock plan copied off a shelf, but a layout drawn around your soil, your slope, and the way water actually moves across your lot. Rome and the crew have been shaping yards across The Region for years, and we start every project by reading the land before we ever pick a plant.
The problems we're usually called to fix
Most homeowners don't call us because they want a fancy yard. They call because something isn't working. We hear the same frustrations across Lake County:
- Water that won't drain. Clay soil sheds water instead of soaking it up, so beds stay soggy and plants drown at the roots.
- Plants that keep dying. The wrong species in compacted clay struggles for a season or two, then gives out. Homeowners replace them and watch it happen again.
- A yard with no plan. Beds added one at a time over the years, mismatched shrubs, bare patches, and nothing that ties the front and back together.
- Erosion on slopes. Bare ground and hard rain wash mulch and topsoil into the driveway or the neighbor's fence line.
- New construction blank slates. Builder-grade lots scraped down to subsoil, hard as a parking lot, with a thin ribbon of sod on top.
If any of that sounds like your place, the fix isn't more plants. It's a design that respects how Hobart ground behaves.
What's included
A landscape design and installation project with Romes is a full package, not a plant drop-off. Depending on what your yard needs, the work covers:
- On-site design consultation — we read sun, shade, grade, downspouts, and low spots, then draw beds, walkways, and focal points around your actual lot.
- A custom plant palette — trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses chosen for our zone 5b/6a swings, weighted toward natives and clay-tough performers that will still be here in five years.
- Soil amendment and grade correction — we break up compaction and blend in compost so roots have somewhere to go, and shape the grade so water drains away from beds and foundations.
- Bed layout and clean edging — crisp, defined bed lines that hold their shape and keep mulch where it belongs.
- Planting done right — trees, shrubs, and perennials set at the correct depth with room to mature.
- Mulch and finish work — mulch to lock in moisture and hold soil on slopes, plus boulders, edging, or stone accents where the design calls for them.
- Full cleanup — we haul off debris and wash down the drives and walks before we leave.
How we design and install your landscape
We work in a clear order so nothing gets skipped and you always know what's next.
- Site walk and free on-site estimate. We meet you at the property, listen to what you want, and look at sun, shade, grade, downspouts, and low spots. This is where good design begins — on your actual lot, not a satellite photo.
- Soil test. Clay varies block to block in Hobart. We check drainage and structure, and for a full picture we'll point you to a Purdue Extension soil test so we know exactly what we're amending.
- Design and plant palette. We draw the beds, walkways, and focal points, then choose plants that thrive here. That usually means natives and clay-tough performers — wild bergamot, black-eyed Susan, and little bluestem earn their place because they handle our zone 5b/6a swings and our wet-then-dry summers. The Indiana Native Plant Society is a great reference if you want to dig into the palette yourself.
- Soil amendment and grade work. Before a single plant goes in, we break up compaction and blend in compost so roots have somewhere to go. If water is a real problem, we address the grade first — sometimes that ties into drainage and grading solutions so beds actually dry out.
- Installation. We set trees, shrubs, and perennials at the right depth, build clean bed edges, and finish with mulch to lock in moisture and hold soil on slopes.
- Walkthrough and cleanup. We pressure-wash any hard surfaces we worked near, haul off debris, and walk the finished yard with you so you know how to keep it healthy.
For bigger makeovers, we often fold in hard surfaces and turf during the same visit — think a new paver patio and walkway system to give the yard structure, or fresh sod and seeding to establish a healthy lawn once the beds are set.
What affects the cost of a landscape project
Every yard is different, so we quote every job on-site and for free. No two Hobart lots price the same. The factors that move a landscape design and installation budget include:
- Square footage and scope — a single front bed versus a full-property redesign.
- Site prep — how compacted the clay is, how much grading and soil amendment the ground needs before planting.
- Drainage work — whether we need to correct standing water before beds can succeed.
- Plant selection — quantity, sizes, and species; mature trees cost more than starter perennials.
- Hardscape elements — walkways, edging, boulders, or stone features worked into the design.
- Access — tight backyards, gates, and slopes that limit equipment take more labor.
We'll never hand you a mystery number. During the free on-site estimate we walk you through what's driving the price so you can decide where to invest.
Why Hobart homeowners choose Romes for landscape design
We're a small, local outfit that lives and works in Northwest Indiana, and the work speaks for itself. Homeowners across The Region hire us because we treat their yard like our own — one crew, start to finish, with a clean site the day we leave.
- 70 Google reviews at a 4.8-star average — real neighbors, real yards, and feedback we've earned one project at a time.
- 8+ years serving Northwest Indiana — we know this clay, this climate, and which plants actually survive here.
- Locally owned and operated — owner Rome Romero runs a hands-on crew, and you'll deal with the people doing the work.
- Licensed and insured — the coverage and credentials to be on your property with confidence.
- Free, no-pressure on-site estimates with clear written quotes so you know exactly what you're paying for.
- Detail-obsessed cleanup — we wash down the drives and walks when we finish, so the only sign we were there is the new landscape.
Landscape design and installation across Hobart & Northwest Indiana
Home base is Hobart, but our crew installs landscapes throughout Lake and Porter County. We regularly design and plant yards in Hobart, Merrillville, Crown Point, Portage, Valparaiso, and Schererville, and we know how the soil and drainage shift from one town to the next. If you're anywhere in Lake or Porter County and your yard needs a plan built for our ground, we'd be glad to take a look.
Ready to reshape your yard?
Your property has more potential than tired beds and standing water. Let Rome's crew read your soil, draw a plan that fits Hobart's clay and climate, and install a landscape that actually lasts. If you're still deciding what to plant, our guide to the best plants for clay soil in Northwest Indiana is a helpful starting point. When you're ready, reach out through our contact page or request your free on-site estimate — we'll bring the ideas, you bring the yard.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need a soil test for a home landscape?
It's the cheapest insurance you can buy. Hobart clay drains and holds nutrients unpredictably, and a quick test tells us whether we're amending for drainage, pH, or both. Skipping it is how homeowners end up replacing dead shrubs two summers in a row.
What's the best time of year to install landscaping in Northwest Indiana?
Spring and fall are ideal because cooler soil and steady moisture help roots establish before summer heat or winter freeze. That said, with proper watering we plant successfully through the season. We'll tell you honestly if waiting a few weeks gives your plants a better start.
Will native plants look wild and unkempt?
Not the way we design them. Natives like black-eyed Susan and little bluestem can be arranged in clean, intentional beds that read as tidy and modern. You get the low upkeep and pollinator benefits without a weedy look — see our low-maintenance landscaping ideas for examples.
Can you work around my existing patio or trees?
Absolutely. We design around what you're keeping and build the new work to complement it. Mature trees especially are worth protecting, and we plan beds and grading to keep their roots healthy.
How long does a landscape installation take?
Most residential projects run from a day to about a week, depending on the size of the design, how much grading and soil work the ground needs, and access to the yard. We give you a realistic timeline during the free estimate and keep you posted as we go, so there are no surprises.
Do you offer ongoing maintenance after installation?
We do. A fresh landscape establishes best with steady care in its first seasons, and we can keep beds edged, mulched, and healthy so your investment fills in the way it was designed to. We'll talk through a simple upkeep plan during the walkthrough.
