Landscaper in Knoxville

June 14, 2026

A Knoxville landscaper does work no national lawn-care app can match: an on-site read of a sloped East Tennessee lot, plant choices suited to the region’s soils and four-season climate, and a crew that returns through the year. Knoxville is one of Tennessee’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 195,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and the surrounding Knox County market keeps demand steady for both new-landscape installation in the suburbs and renovation of established yards in the city. Local landscapers understand the conditions that shape a Knoxville project, from the rolling, often steep terrain of the foothills to the freeze-and-thaw cycles that influence hardscape and planting choices.

The market covers several kinds of work. Some firms concentrate on design and installation, building planting beds, retaining walls, patios, and irrigation from a plan. Others focus on recurring lawn maintenance, mowing, edging, fertilization, and seasonal cleanup. Many Knoxville companies handle both, plus hardscaping, grading, and drainage correction, which the area’s sloped lots frequently require. For homeowners and property managers, the result is a competitive field where buyers can weigh a one-time installation against an ongoing maintenance contract.

Licensing for landscaping in Tennessee turns 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 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. A company that applies pesticides or herbicides on a commercial basis must be licensed and charted through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture pesticide program. No single blanket license covers every landscaper, so the requirement depends 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 Knox County the combined rate reaches roughly 9.25%, 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 Knoxville

1. Knoxville Leaf & Lawn

Address: 8620 Oak Ridge Highway, Knoxville, TN 37931
Phone: (865) 591-0802
Website: https://www.knoxvilleleafandlawn.com
Services: lawn maintenance, landscaping, hardscaping, irrigation, bush hogging, land grading, landscape design, hardscape design, sprinkler system design, master plans, lighting plans, theme garden design, drainage plans
Description: Knoxville Leaf & Lawn is a full-service landscaping company based at 8620 Oak Ridge Highway in Knoxville and, by its own description, locally owned and operated since 2003. The company provides residential and commercial landscaping and handles projects from demolition through design and installation, describing the ability to manage landscape transformations from beginning to end. Its services include lawn maintenance, landscaping, hardscaping, irrigation, bush hogging, and land grading, along with design work such as landscape and hardscape design, sprinkler system design, master plans, lighting plans, theme garden design, and drainage plans. The firm also handles tree removal, erosion control, and stone work for patios and retaining walls.

2. Acadia Landscape Company

Address: 4408 Middlebrook Pike, Suite 100, Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: (865) 329-4002
Website: https://www.acadialandscape.com
Services: landscape design and architecture, hardscape installation, plant installation and selection, stone and paver patios, driveways and pool decks, retaining walls and steps, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, and fire pits, irrigation and drainage, landscape lighting, landscape maintenance, snow removal, landscaping supplies delivery
Description: Acadia Landscape Company is a Knoxville landscaping firm based at 4408 Middlebrook Pike, Suite 100, and describes serving the Knoxville area since 2003. The company presents turnkey residential and commercial landscaping, with specialization in design, hardscaping, plant installations, irrigation, pool construction, and outdoor lighting. Its hardscape work is offered as certified BELGARD and UNILOCK installation, covering stone and paver patios, driveways, pool decks, retaining walls and steps, and outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, and fire pits. Other services include landscape design and architecture, plant installation and selection, irrigation and drainage control, landscape lighting, seasonal maintenance, snow removal, and landscaping supplies delivery. Its service area includes greater Knoxville along with Louisville, Maryville, Farragut, and Oak Ridge.

3. Lawn Butler, Inc.

Address: 1815 Jackson Road, Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: (865) 777-1755
Website: https://lawnbutler.com
Services: landscaping design and installation, residential and commercial property maintenance, lawn care, irrigation system repair and installation, landscape lighting, outdoor living and hardscaping, mulch blowing, top dressing, playground safety surfaces, shoreline stabilization, snow and ice removal
Description: Lawn Butler, Inc. is a Knoxville landscaping and maintenance company based at 1815 Jackson Road and, by its own description, in business since 1999 maintaining and installing landscapes for residential and commercial properties across East Tennessee. The company states it employs more than fifty team members and carries liability coverage and workers compensation, describing itself as a financially stable firm with deep community roots. Its services include landscaping design and installation, residential and commercial property maintenance, lawn care, irrigation system repair and installation, landscape lighting, and outdoor living and hardscaping, along with mulch blowing, top dressing, playground safety surfaces, shoreline stabilization, and seasonal snow and ice removal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaper in Knoxville

Q: Does a landscaper in Knoxville 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 Knoxville?

Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Knox County adds a local option tax that brings the combined rate to roughly 9.25%. 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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville lots?

East Tennessee’s sloped, often rocky terrain makes grading, retaining walls, and drainage frequent concerns, and many local firms offer grading, land clearing, and erosion control alongside planting and lawn care. The region’s freeze-and-thaw cycles also influence hardscape and planting choices, so design that accounts for slope and drainage matters for lasting results.

Q: What should I confirm before signing a landscaping contract in Knoxville?

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 Knoxville 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.