Southern Love Landscaping & Design vs ABC Home & Commercial Services: which fits your landscape design project?
Both businesses score well and pull strong, current reviews, so this isn't a quality gap so much as a specialization gap. Southern Love reads as a design-first outfit built around a small named crew, while ABC is a larger multi-service company where landscaping is one of several licensed trades. For a project centered specifically on Landscape Design & Installation, that difference in focus matters more than the composite score. See our methodology for how these scores are built.
Verdict
Fit depends on how technical the installation is. If the job is primarily creative, design plants, sod, hardscape features, Southern Love's reviews point to a team built specifically for that conversation. If the design has to coordinate with irrigation licensing or tree work, ABC's certified staff and broader service bench cover more ground under one roof. Both are rated highly enough that either is a safe pick; the choice comes down to whether you want a design specialist or a design-capable generalist.
Which should you pick?
Pick Southern Love Landscaping & Design if
- You want a crew whose reviews specifically praise design judgment and honest plant/drainage guidance over upselling
- Your project bundles design with related build work like decks, patios, or native plant installs
- You prefer a smaller team with visible owner involvement checking the finished site
Pick ABC Home & Commercial Services if
- Your landscape design needs licensed irrigation work or arborist-level tree assessment built in
- You want a company with a longer, larger review record (852 reviews) backing up consistency
- You're likely to need other services later (lawn treatment, tree removal) from the same provider
The differences that matter
- Design-first vs multi-trade company. Southern Love's reviews center on design insight and plant knowledge from named staff like Nikkolas and Harrison, while ABC's praise spans lawn treatment, tree removal, and irrigation alongside landscaping.
- Scale and consistency of proof. ABC's 4.9 rating comes from 852 reviews versus Southern Love's 5.0 from 280, so ABC has a larger track record but Southern Love's is slightly higher and more concentrated on design work.
- Credentials for technical installs. ABC brings Licensed Irrigation Providers and ISA Certified Arborists on staff, useful if a design involves tree preservation or complex irrigation, while Southern Love's edge is in-house handling of multiple trades like decks and patios tied directly to the design.
- Communication style. ABC's crews text before arrival and are praised for punctuality across recurring service, while Southern Love's reviewers highlight the owner's personal follow-up and willingness to explain watering and drainage rather than upsell.
Side by side
- Google rating
- Southern Love Landscaping & Design: 5 (280 reviews)
- ABC Home & Commercial Services: 4.9 (852 reviews)
- Services
- Southern Love Landscaping & Design: tree service, landscape design install, lawn care maintenance, irrigation sprinkler
- ABC Home & Commercial Services: irrigation sprinkler, landscape design install, hardscape masonry, tree service
- Best for
- Southern Love Landscaping & Design: A design-driven project (native plant beds, sod, decks, patios) where you want one crew owning the whole look
- ABC Home & Commercial Services: A design project that also needs irrigation licensing, arborist input, or ongoing multi-service upkeep
- Team feel
- Southern Love Landscaping & Design: Small, named design team with owner oversight on quality checks
- ABC Home & Commercial Services: Larger roster of named techs across specialties, standardized communication (text alerts)
- Verification
- Southern Love Landscaping & Design: Listing checked (30)
- ABC Home & Commercial Services: Listing checked (30)
- Composite score
- Southern Love Landscaping & Design: 94
- ABC Home & Commercial Services: 93
Within 3 points of each other, so treat them as effectively tied on overall quality. The choice below is about fit, not the score.
What reviewers say
Southern Love Landscaping & Design
Every recent review praises the crew's professionalism and friendliness. Named staff like Nikkolas, Harrison, Laura, and Dustin consistently earned mentions for design insight, plant knowledge, and willing return visits to refine plans.
From deck and patio work to sod replacement and native plant installations, the team arrives daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., finishes on schedule, and leaves sites clean. Homeowners highlighted the owner's follow-up and the crew's willingness to explain watering and drainage rather than push upsells.
ABC Home & Commercial Services
Staff arrive on schedule, text before showing up, and tackle jobs from lawn treatment to tree removal with visible care. Reviewers name Martin, Gavin, Luis, Henry, and Alan as examples of crew who explain their work, finish fast, and leave yards spotless-no surprise bills or missed appointments in the record.
FAQ
- Which business is better rated for landscape design specifically?
- Southern Love Landscaping & Design has the higher google_rating (5.0 vs 4.9) and its review summary focuses more narrowly on design insight and plant knowledge, while ABC's reviews cover design plus several other trades.
- Does ABC Home & Commercial Services have relevant certifications for landscaping?
- Yes, ABC lists Licensed Irrigation Providers and ISA Certified Arborists on staff, which matters for installs involving irrigation systems or tree preservation.
- Is one business more established than the other?
- ABC has a much larger review volume (852 vs 280), suggesting a bigger operation and longer track record, though both show high recency and completeness scores.