What Craig Bergmann Landscape Design does

Craig Bergmann Landscape Design (CBLD), legally Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, Inc., is a founder-owned, privately held landscape architecture and horticulture firm established in 1981 in Northern Illinois and headquartered at the historic David Adler-designed A. Watson Armour Estate at 900 N Waukegan Road in Lake Forest, Illinois. The firm provides full-service landscape design, installation, and ongoing garden care primarily to high-net-worth residential estate owners on Chicago's North Shore, with additional work for boutique hospitality properties (e.g., Deer Path Inn), historic estate restorations (e.g., House of the Four Winds), and public institutions. Its work has extended to select national projects in Snowmass CO, Spring Lake MI, and Vero Beach FL.

The company operates an integrated service model built on four core offerings: Landscape Design (site analysis through construction documents), Landscape Installation (site preparation, grading, masonry, hardscaping, planting), Garden Care (recurring horticultural maintenance, container plantings, over-wintering, dormant pruning, holiday decor), and Nursery Operations — a 25-acre specialty nursery in Wadsworth, IL that propagates plant material used across design and garden care and houses Construction, Garden Care, and Distribution departments. The firm also runs a retail sub-brand, HORTUS, maintains The Gardens at 900 showcase property, and offers LEED consulting and sustainability services (organic fertilizer, Integrated Pest Management, water conservation, native/prairie conversions).

CBLD monetizes through custom, quote-based professional-services fees on design and installation (typically 50% upfront with balance on final presentation/completion) plus recurring garden care and maintenance revenue that creates long-term client relationships. Go-to-market is direct and sales-led: intake calls and meetings with Craig Bergmann and senior designers, with projects assigned to dedicated Project Designers; new business is driven predominantly by client referrals reinforced by 40+ years of award-winning work, garden tours, and earned media including the 2024/2025 book "The Art of Fine Gardening." The company employs an estimated 80–100 staff across design, installation, garden care, nursery, and administrative departments.

Name

Craig Bergmann Landscape Design

Legal name

Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, Inc.

Website

https://craigbergmann.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CBLD is a founder-owned Northern Illinois landscape architecture firm offering integrated design, installation, garden care, and a 25-acre specialty nursery, primarily serving high-net-worth residential estate owners on Chicago's North Shore plus boutique hospitality and historic restoration clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Landscape Design (HSAIABAA), Landscape Design, Build & Installation (Hardscapes/Softscapes) (BPABADAF), Landscape Maintenance Plans & Post-Installation Care (Establishment Services) (HSAIABAL), Garden Bed Design, Layout & Planting Plans (HSAIAFAA)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture services
• Garden maintenance services
• Landscape installation services
• Hardscape construction services
• Estate garden design

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Forest

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Landscape Design Services: Custom landscape design services ranging from conceptual site planning through detailed construction documents. Projects can be completed in phases or all at once based on client preference and budget.
2. Landscape Installation: Full-service landscape installation including hardscaping, planting, and construction. Installation is overseen by experienced Project Managers ensuring alignment with original design vision.
3. Garden Care and Maintenance: Ongoing garden care services for CBLD projects as well as other clients. Services include property maintenance, container plantings, over-wintering, dormant pruning, and holiday decorations. Creates long-term client relationships.
4. Nursery Plant Sales (Internal): The nursery is not open to the general public; inventory is specifically intended for use in gardens that CBLD designs, installs, and maintains. Nursery also offers shelter for clients' exotic plants during winter months.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Craig Bergmann Landscape Design is a full-service landscape architecture firm offering custom landscape design, installation, and ongoing garden care services for affluent residential estates and select boutique hospitality and public-sector clients. Services span conceptual site planning, hardscape construction, specialty planting, and long-term horticultural maintenance, supported by an in-house 25-acre specialty plant nursery in Wadsworth, Illinois. The firm also operates the HORTUS retail sub-brand and provides LEED consulting and Sustainable Sites landscape support.

Product overview

Craig Bergmann Landscape Design (CBLD) is a full-service landscape design, installation, and maintenance firm offering a unified portfolio of services centered on four core offerings: Landscape Design (site analysis, conceptual planning, design development), Landscape Installation (site preparation, grading, masonry, hardscaping, planting), Garden Care (ongoing horticultural maintenance), and Nursery Operations (25-acre specialty plant propagation). The company also operates HORTUS as a retail sub-brand, maintains The Gardens at 900 as a showcase property, and provides LEED consulting and sustainability services as add-on offerings. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, the company serves clients across Northern Illinois and select national projects. In 2024, the company published "The Art of Fine Gardening," a monograph and practical manual co-authored by Craig Bergmann and Russell Buvala.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HORTUS: A separate retail brand/store operated by the company for shopping and garden products

Products and services

• Landscape Design Full-service landscape architecture and design for residential and commercial properties, including site analysis, conceptual planning, design development, and construction document preparation. Projects can be completed in phases or all at once based on client preference and budget.
• Landscape Installation Professional landscape installation services including site preparation, grading, masonry, hardscaping, and planting, overseen by experienced project managers to ensure alignment with the original design vision.
• Garden Care Ongoing horticultural maintenance for CBLD projects and other clients, including property maintenance, container plantings, over-wintering, dormant pruning, and holiday decor. Provided year-round and structured to preserve the design intent as landscapes mature.
• Nursery Operations A 25-acre specialty plant nursery in Wadsworth, Illinois that propagates and cultivates plants for use in CBLD designs and supports the garden care teams. Houses Construction, Garden Care, and Distribution departments and offers winter shelter for clients' exotic plants.
• HORTUS Retail Brand A retail sub-brand operated by CBLD that offers specialty plants and garden products to consumers via private shopping appointments.
• LEED Consulting and Sustainability Services Environmental sustainability consulting including LEED consulting, Sustainable Sites landscape support, organic fertilizer and Integrated Pest Management, prairie and wildflower meadow conversions, water conservation best management practices, and recycling programs.
• Container Gardening and Special Events Seasonal container arrangements and special event displays for private parties, weddings, and institutional events including the Lake Forest Infant Welfare Showhouse & Gardens, Chicago Flower & Garden Show, and Chicago Botanic Garden events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully maintained 100+ client gardens over multiple decades
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• VanLanduyt LandscapingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Merger with VanLanduyt Landscaping allowed CBLD to expand installation department capabilities and site preparation and masonry construction skillsets. This enabled CBLD to truly own the hardscape of landscape designs from concept to reality, and maintain projects post-construction under their garden care department expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mariani Landscape: Lake Bluff, IL-based full-service landscape design, build, and maintenance firm serving Chicago's North Shore. Closest geographic and service-model peer, also offering integrated design-build-care for HNW residential clients.
• Topiarius: Chicago-based landscape design, installation, and garden maintenance firm serving high-end residential and commercial clients. Comparable integrated design-build-care model in the same metro.
• Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture: San Francisco-based high-end landscape architecture practice with award-winning residential and institutional work. Comparable in delivering minimalist, design-forward landscapes to HNW clients with a small studio footprint.
• Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects: Chicago-based landscape architecture firm of comparable vintage and scale serving HNW residential estates, public gardens, and cultural institutions. Highly comparable in craft-driven, award-winning positioning and Midwest luxury market.
• Oehme, van Sweden: Established (1976) national landscape architecture firm known for residential estates and large-scale public gardens. Comparable as a multi-generational, design-led practice serving a similar luxury and cultural-client base.
• Hollander Design: NYC-based landscape architecture firm (Edmund Hollander) focused on high-end residential estates and gardens. Comparable premium positioning, custom design-led model, and emphasis on founder/studio signature.

Regional players

• Chalet: Wilmette, IL-based garden center and landscape services retailer on Chicago's North Shore. Comparable as a regional plant-retail and landscaping competitor, particularly to CBLD's HORTUS sub-brand.
• McKay Landscape Architecture: Naperville/Madison-based landscape architecture and construction firm serving Illinois and Wisconsin. Comparable Midwest regional landscape design-build practice, though at a more mid-market positioning than CBLD's luxury focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/craigbergmanndesign
• Instagraminstagram.com/craigbergmanndesign
• Xx.com/CBLDtweets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/craig-bergmann-landscape-design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Craig Bergmann Landscape Design