(402) 490-9989 www.greatoutdoorsll.com
22494 3 Bridge Rd, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503
At Great Outdoors Lawn and Landscape, our mission is to listen to the needs of our customers and improve their landscapes by providing professional landscape design, installation, and maintenance. We view ourselves as partners with our clients, and understand the importance of making sure we create the vision of what customers want their landscape to be. We have completed hundreds of landscape projects and are always wanting new customers to contact previous customers for references on our credibility and integrity as a company. We understand you are investing in your home and want you to know that you are hiring a company that is competent and will produce quality work.
4.7 from 78 reviews
Based on reviews representing only 9% of total ratings
Great Outdoors Lawn & Landscape in Council Bluffs is best suited for homeowners facing substantial, design-forward outdoor projects on residential properties. This company excels when the job involves more than a simple lawn mow, think multi-tiered retaining walls, brick or concrete features, patios, extensive sod or plant installations, and drainage or water-management improvements. The typical client is prepared for a mid-to-large budget, values craft, and expects a yard transformation that lasts. While they handle a range of tasks, they are especially well matched to projects that combine hardscape work with landscape planting, where a clear vision and coordinated execution are essential. Urgency is possible but not the primary strength; their track record shines when planning, scheduling, and phased work are feasible.
From the first line, the work speaks to practical expertise. The crews consistently deliver solid structural and aesthetic results, retaining walls that are straight, walls that sit true, and terraces that read as intentional rather than improvised. Concrete patios, stone or brick accents, and custom pathways are common wins. The company also demonstrates strong competency in water-flow management: regrading slopes to improve drainage, concealing downspouts, and aligning grading to protect basements and foundations. Design guidance is a strong suit; Brad and his team listen, visualize options, and translate ideas into precise layouts. The best-fit clients are those who want coordinated landscaping where hardscape components set up the planting plan for lasting curb appeal.
Safety and cleanup standards are non-negotiable in tree and landscape work, and Great Outdoors tends to reflect that emphasis in practice. Many reviews flag careful attention to keeping the site clean, protecting surrounding turf, and avoiding disruption to neighbors. There are frequent anecdotes of projects finishing on schedule with minimal collateral damage to landscaping, and crews that leave the site neat and orderly at day’s end. That said, a minority of reviews recount challenges with cleanup or site debris. The prudent approach is to lock down a detailed cleanup protocol in the contract, verify daily debris removal, equipment staging, and a final sweep. The safest bets come from agreeing on a punch list before payment, ensuring the crew will address any remaining soil, mulch, or rock crossovers, and confirming that driveways, sidewalks, and alleys are not obstructed as work progresses.
Reliability and communication form a critical pillar of the Great Outdoors experience. The strongest projects are those where the owner partners with a responsive, design-minded crew that can provide timely estimates and steady progress updates. The majority of reviews praise Brad as approachable, clear about scope and pricing, and capable of keeping timelines on track. The occasional misstep, instances of missed show-ups or delayed follow-ups, appears to be the exception rather than the rule, but it does exist. Prospective clients should mitigate this risk by requesting a written schedule, establishing preferred contact points, and agreeing on contingency dates. When communication is consistent, the team demonstrates trustworthy project management and a willingness to adjust plans to protect the overall vision.
Craftsmanship and value consistently emerge as strong selling points. The portfolio ranges from robust retaining walls, brick, block, and timber alternatives, to patios, walkways, garden beds, and fully transformed yards. Reviews repeatedly note fair, reasonable pricing for substantial, lasting improvements, with a willingness to tailor designs to the client’s real-world needs. The team’s technical skill is underlined by references to precise installations, careful grading, and the ability to execute complex layouts with a high level of finish. This is not a quick-flip operation; it is a contractor capable of delivering durable outdoor rooms, structural integrity in walls, and cohesive plantings that work with the hardscape. For homeowners seeking real value, work that endures and adds measurable curb appeal, the math adds up.
In sum, Great Outdoors Lawn & Landscape is a savvy choice for discerning residential clients ready to commit to a mid-to-large scale transformation, especially where hardscape and landscape integration matters. They are most effective when a project requires design input, careful scheduling, and a hands-on team that treats the yard as a canvass for durable, aesthetically pleasing structures. Potential clients should enter with clear expectations: a detailed written estimate, defined milestones, and a documented cleanup plan. They should also be prepared to confirm a reliable point of contact on the ground and to secure contingency dates to counter any scheduling hiccups. For those who value craftsmanship, responsive collaboration, and a proven ability to convert complex ideas into lasting outdoor spaces, Great Outdoors is hard to beat in the Council Bluffs market.