SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE SOLUTIONS, LLC

What SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE SOLUTIONS, LLC does

Sustainable Landscape Solutions, LLC (SLS) is a privately held, bootstrapped landscape design, installation, and maintenance company founded in 2016 by Sean and Meredith Pearl and headquartered at 17 E Benton Street in Iowa City, Iowa. The company operates exclusively in the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids Corridor of Eastern Iowa, serving residential homeowners, commercial businesses, nonprofits, and historic venues through four integrated service lines: native landscaping and habitat restoration (prairie installation, timber stand improvement, wetland planting), hardscape design and installation (permeable paver patios, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, firepits), rain gardens and water management solutions (bioretention cells, swales, rain barrels, soil quality restoration), and ongoing landscape maintenance. Its technical differentiator is a proprietary Soil Quality Restoration process combining deep-tine aeration, compost top-dressing, and overseeding to reverse subsoil compaction common in residential properties built in the last 50 years, alongside engineered green infrastructure such as permeable paver systems and bioretention cells for stormwater management.

The business operates on a hybrid revenue model combining project-based design and installation revenue (one-time, with 25% deposits on projects over $1,000) and recurring landscape maintenance contracts (subscription-style, covering bed maintenance, soil restoration, tree and shrub care, seasonal cleanups, and prairie maintenance including prescribed burns). SLS distributes services through a sales-led go-to-market motion: customers initiate contact via a website estimate request form or phone, in-house project managers conduct on-site consultations, custom designs and quotes are produced, and project managers serve as primary points of contact through completion. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, though Johnson County homeowners may qualify for 50% stormwater quality program reimbursement on eligible projects, and the company offers a 1-year plant warranty covering replacement at 50% of original cost. Named commercial reference customers include Big Grove Brewery, Old Brick, Trees Forever Headquarters, and Temple Judah.

With 20+ skilled professionals operating across design, installation, and maintenance functions, SLS competes on domain specialization in native Iowa ecosystems and end-to-end in-house project delivery rather than on technology or scale. The company has no external investors, no parent entity, no disclosed patents, no AI/ML capabilities, and no announced M&A or partnership activity; growth has been entirely organic since founding. Marketing channels are limited to the company website, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram), an email newsletter, and customer referrals via Google and Facebook reviews.

Name

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE SOLUTIONS, LLC

Legal name

Sustainable Landscape Solutions, LLC

Website

https://sustainablelandscapesolutions.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sustainable Landscape Solutions, LLC designs, builds, and maintains sustainable landscapes, hardscapes, and water management systems for residential and commercial clients across the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids Corridor in Eastern Iowa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Services

NAICS

Landscaping Services (56173), Landscaping Services (561730), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Design, Build & Installation (Hardscapes/Softscapes) (BPABADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Landscape Design & Installation (HSAIABAJ), Residential Landscape Design (HSAIABAA), Landscape Construction & Hardscaping (Patios, Retaining Walls, Outdoor Structures) (IMAIAIAE)

Keywords

• Sustainable landscaping services
• Landscape design installation
• Native plant landscaping
• Stormwater management solutions
• Hardscape construction services

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Landscape Design & Installation Services: One-time project-based revenue from designing and installing landscapes including native plantings, hardscapes, patios, rain gardens, and outdoor living spaces. Projects range from small residential to large commercial installations.
2. Ongoing Landscape Maintenance: Recurring maintenance contracts for landscape bed maintenance, soil quality restoration, tree and shrub care, seasonal cleanups, and prairie maintenance including mowing and prescribed burns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sustainable Landscape Solutions designs, builds, and maintains sustainable landscapes for residential and commercial clients across the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids Corridor. The company delivers four core service lines: native landscaping and habitat restoration, hardscape design and installation, rain gardens and water management solutions, and ongoing landscape maintenance. Projects range from small backyard upgrades to large commercial installations, with specialization in native Iowa plants, permeable paving systems, and engineered green infrastructure for stormwater management.

Product overview

Sustainable Landscape Solutions offers a comprehensive suite of landscaping services organized into four core areas: Native Landscaping & Habitat Restoration (including prairie installation, timber stand improvement, and wetland services), Hardscape Design & Installation (patios, retaining walls, firepits, outdoor kitchens, and permeable paving), Rain Gardens & Water Management Solutions (soil quality restoration, rain gardens, bioretention cells, rain barrels, and drainage systems), and Landscape Design, Install & Ongoing Maintenance. The company serves residential and commercial clients across the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids Corridor, providing both design and installation services as well as ongoing maintenance programs. Projects range from small backyard upgrades to large commercial installations, with a focus on sustainable practices that benefit both clients and the environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Stormwater reduction through permeable paver systems and rain gardens
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BrightView Landscapes: Largest U.S. commercial landscaping services provider, offering landscape design, installation, and maintenance across all major metros. Comparable to SLS in core services (landscape design, hardscape, maintenance), but operates nationally at vastly greater scale and lacks SLS's regional sustainability specialization.
• Davey Tree Expert Company: Large national provider of tree care, landscape services, and environmental consulting including stormwater and green infrastructure. Overlaps with SLS on tree/shrub care, habitat work, and water management solutions, but at a national scale with utility and municipal clients.
• Yellowstone Landscape: Large national commercial landscape maintenance and design-build firm. Comparable to SLS on commercial landscape installation, hardscape, and maintenance contracts, with broader geographic reach and a similar commercial-account-led GTM motion.
• TruGreen: National lawn care franchise focused on recurring residential maintenance (fertilization, weed control). Partial overlap with SLS's recurring maintenance revenue stream, but does not compete in SLS's design-build or sustainability specialization.
• Bartlett Tree Experts: National tree and shrub care company with arborist-led services and residential/commercial landscaping overlap. Comparable to SLS in tree/shrub care and integrated landscape maintenance, though focused primarily on arboriculture rather than full landscape design-build.
• SavATree: Multi-region tree, shrub, and lawn care provider offering integrated landscape services to residential and commercial clients. Comparable to SLS on recurring tree/shrub maintenance and integrated landscape care, with a larger Midwestern footprint.
• The Ground Guys: Franchised residential and commercial landscaping provider with full-service design, installation, and maintenance. Comparable to SLS in residential landscape design and maintenance, but as a franchise model lacking SLS's sustainability specialization.

Emerging players

• Heartland Ecological Group: Midwest-based ecological restoration and native landscaping firm offering prairie restoration, native plantings, and habitat work. Highly comparable to SLS on the native/sustainable niche, though smaller and serving a broader Midwest geography.
• Prairie Moon Nursery: Minnesota-based native plant nursery and supplier serving restoration and landscaping professionals across the Midwest. Comparable to SLS as a key input provider in the native-landscape supply chain, with overlapping customer base of sustainability-focused designers and installers.
• Applied Ecological Services: Midwest ecological restoration contractor specializing in prairie, wetland, and native habitat installation and management. Directly comparable to SLS on the ecological-restoration and prairie installation service line, though operating at a larger regional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SustainableLandscapeSolutions
• Instagraminstagram.com/SustainableLandscapeSolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-landscape-solutionsllc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE SOLUTIONS, LLC