Landscaper in Nashville
On this page
June 14, 2026
A Nashville landscaper does work that a national lawn-care app or mail-order plant catalog cannot replicate: a site walk that reads the grade and drainage of a specific lot, plant selections suited to Middle Tennessee soil and humidity, and a crew that returns through the seasons. Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with a population of roughly 715,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its sustained growth has pushed demand for both new-landscape installation in the surrounding suburbs and renovation of mature yards across Davidson County. Local landscapers understand the conditions that shape a Nashville project, from heavy clay subsoil to the summer heat that stresses cool-season turf.
The market spans several distinct categories of work. Some firms focus on design and installation, building planting beds, retaining walls, patios, and irrigation from a plan. Others concentrate on recurring lawn maintenance, mowing, edging, fertilization, and seasonal cleanup. Many Nashville companies do both, plus hardscaping and drainage correction, which is a frequent need on the region’s clay-heavy and sloped lots. For homeowners and property managers, the practical result is a competitive field where buyers can compare a one-time installation against an ongoing maintenance contract.
Licensing for landscaping in Tennessee depends on the kind of work and its size. Routine landscaping and lawn maintenance generally do not require a state contractor license. Larger landscape-construction projects, however, can fall under the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors: when the total contract for landscaping or construction work reaches $25,000 or more, a contractor license in the appropriate classification is required. Landscape architects, who prepare certain design and grading plans, are licensed separately by the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners. Any company that applies pesticides or herbicides on a commercial basis must be licensed and charted through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture pesticide program. There is no blanket license that covers every landscaper, so the requirement turns on the scope of a given job.
Taxes and consumer protections also apply. A landscaping business collects Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax plus the local option tax; in Davidson County the combined rate reaches roughly 9.75%, and how labor versus materials is taxed can vary with how the contract is written, so an itemized invoice is worth requesting. Tennessee’s consumer protection framework, administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), handles complaints about deceptive trade practices. For landscape-construction work, the state’s mechanics’ lien law (TCA 66-11-145) can apply, giving those who furnish labor or materials a defined window to file a lien, a timeline worth understanding when scheduling payments. Verifying a firm’s registration through the Tennessee Secretary of State, and confirming any contractor license through the Board for Licensing Contractors at tn.gov, helps ensure a company operates within state requirements.
Top Landscaper Providers in Nashville
1. Gardens of Babylon
Address: 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208
Phone: (615) 244-8949
Website: https://gardensofbabylon.com
Services: landscape architecture and design, landscape installation, residential and commercial maintenance, pool design and installation, outdoor living spaces, irrigation and sprinkler maintenance, drainage and erosion solutions, lawn care, garden center retail
Description: Gardens of Babylon is a Nashville landscaping company founded in 2003 and based at 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, where it also operates a garden center. The company describes more than 20 years of experience and more than 9,000 landscapes installed across local communities. Its work spans full landscape architecture and design, installation, and ongoing residential and commercial maintenance, along with pool design and installation, outdoor living spaces such as patios, kitchens, and fire features, irrigation and sprinkler maintenance, and drainage and erosion solutions. The firm serves Nashville and surrounding communities including Franklin, Brentwood, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Belle Meade, and Berry Hill, and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
2. The Greathouse Company
Address: 3825 Whites Creek Pike, Nashville, TN 37207
Phone: (615) 953-7595
Website: https://greathouselandscape.com
Services: landscape design and installation, outdoor living spaces, custom pools, hardscapes and patios, retaining walls, decks, landscape maintenance, irrigation systems, drainage solutions, sod and turf, snow and ice removal, fencing, commercial landscaping
Description: The Greathouse Company LLC is a family-owned landscaping company based at 3825 Whites Creek Pike in Nashville. The firm describes more than 45 years of landscaping experience and emphasizes long-term customer relationships. Its services range from landscape design and installation through outdoor living spaces, custom pools, hardscapes and patios, retaining walls, and decks, to recurring landscape maintenance, irrigation, drainage solutions, sod and turf, fencing, and seasonal snow and ice removal. The company also offers commercial landscaping. Its service area covers Nashville and a wide band of surrounding communities, among them Belle Meade, Brentwood, Forest Hills, Franklin, Green Hills, Murfreesboro, Oak Hill, Spring Hill, Hendersonville, Mt. Juliet, Gallatin, and Columbia.
3. Milosi Landscaping & Hardscapes
Address: 160 Center Point Rd S, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Phone: (615) 239-6056
Website: https://milosi.com
Services: residential landscaping and design, outdoor living spaces, custom pools, hardscaping, landscape lighting, lawn maintenance, commercial landscaping
Description: Milosi Landscaping & Hardscapes is a design-build landscaping company based at 160 Center Point Rd S in Hendersonville, in the Nashville metro, that serves Nashville and the surrounding area. The company positions itself around custom landscaping and outdoor living, with each project beginning with a property walkthrough to assess conditions before a design is developed. Its services include residential landscaping and design, outdoor living spaces, custom pools, hardscaping, landscape lighting, lawn maintenance, and commercial landscaping. The firm maintains a client payment portal and supports projects from design through installation and ongoing maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaper in Nashville
Q: Does a landscaper in Nashville need a contractor license?
It depends on the scope of the work. Routine landscaping and lawn maintenance generally do not require a state contractor license. When a landscaping or landscape-construction contract totals $25,000 or more, the company must hold a license in the appropriate classification from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Landscape architects are licensed separately by the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners, and any firm that applies pesticides or herbicides commercially must be licensed through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture pesticide program.
Q: How much is sales tax on landscaping work in Nashville?
Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Davidson County adds a local option tax that brings the combined rate to roughly 9.75%. How tax applies to labor versus materials can depend on how the contract is structured, so it is worth requesting an itemized invoice that separates materials, labor, and tax.
Q: Should a Nashville landscaping company applying weed or pest treatments be licensed?
Yes. A business that applies pesticides or herbicides on a commercial basis must be licensed and charted through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture pesticide program. Homeowners can ask a prospective lawn-care provider whether it holds the appropriate charter and applicator license before signing a treatment plan.
Q: What landscaping issues are most common on Nashville lots?
Middle Tennessee’s clay-heavy soil and rolling terrain make drainage and grading frequent concerns, and many local firms offer drainage correction, French drains, and retaining walls alongside planting and lawn care. Summer heat also stresses cool-season turf, so seasonal maintenance plans and appropriate plant selection matter for long-term results.
Q: What should I confirm before signing a landscaping contract in Nashville?
Request a written scope of work, a clear price, and a payment schedule, and confirm any required contractor license through the Board for Licensing Contractors database at tn.gov. Because Tennessee’s mechanics’ lien law (TCA 66-11-145) can apply to landscape-construction work, structuring payments around defined milestones offers protection for both sides.
Q: How do I file a complaint against a Nashville landscaping company?
Complaints about deceptive trade practices or contract disputes can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Disputes involving a licensed contractor can also go to the Board for Licensing Contractors. Keeping the signed contract, payment records, and photographs of the work strengthens a complaint.