Prairie Restoration and Other Natural Area Restoration Solutions Available in Lake Zurich, Illinois
McGinty Bros., Inc. manages and restores natural areas in Lake Zurich, Illinois and the greater Chicago area. We have a large repertoire of restoration projects in the works at any given time, which gives us plenty of experience and expertise to manage your project, no matter how big or small. We are committed to finding ecological solutions to your natural area restoration. A staff of 35 employees works year-long on these projects. Some of them have degrees in natural resource fields. You won't find a more qualified team to work on your restoration needs.
Our professional services have served many types of people and organizations over the years, including:
- private landowners
- corporate properties
- county forest preserves
- conservation districts
- park districts
- governmental agencies
- landscape designers and consultants
For over 30 years, McGinty Bros. has been turning time backward for areas of land. Whether you have a weedy lot, a swampy field, or a littered ditch, we reclaim that land and make it like it was before the land was settled. What was it like back then? Much of the land around here was a prairie, full of beautiful native plants. We control the plants that don't belong and encourage the prairie to grow back. This is wonderful for the overall ecological health of Lake Zurich, IL.
Our modern technology helps us do the job right, including:
- pre-installation herbicide applications
- soil preparation
- seeding using a variety of different methods (such as hydroseeding, drill seeding, and broadcast seeding)
- herbaceous plug planting
- shrub and tree planting
- selective herbicide applications
- prescribed burning
Are you ready to jump on the prairie restoration bandwagon? Keep reading to learn more about our process.

Reclaim Your Land's Value Through a Safe and Ecologically-Smart Process
Imagine your land as it once was before homesteaders moved in. That might be difficult to do if you don't know much about native plants and ecosystems. Fortunately, we do. Our natural area restoration experts can study an area of land and tell you whether it was once prairie, wetlands, or uplands. Sometimes, the land still retains some of its original traits. You might find native wetland plants growing in a wetland that has been drained and repurposed. A formerly wooded upland area may still have some of its forested appeal, even though it has gone through considerable abuse over the years. These areas need a professional company (like the McGinty Bros.) to nurture them and renew them to their former value.
Not just anyone can do the job right. McGinty Bros. has the experienced staff, the advanced knowledge, and the right equipment to restore your natural area. We are serious about making ecologically-smart changes. When you hire us to manage your area, you can count on getting good results over time.
Our Natural Area Restoration Services Are Perfect for Residential or Commercial Property in the Lake Zurich, IL Area
It doesn't matter whether you own acres of land that you want restored, or just a small patch of land. Every restoration project is a step in the right direction for Lake Zurich, Illinois's ecological health. Need some ideas to inspire your small contribution to natural areas? Try a native garden or a bio-swale.
Grow a Native Garden for Local Wildlife
A native rain garden is a garden planted with native species. When the plants grow up, they provide homes and food for beautiful wildlife, such as monarch butterflies and hummingbirds. Not only that, rain gardens are also good for the land. They filter runoff pollution. They prevent standing water on your property, which reduces mosquito breeding. They improve the water quality in your area. Beautifying your community with a native rain garden is a great way to help your local environment without spending much money or creating a lot of extra work.
Solve Stormwater Runoff Problems with Natural Solutions
A bio-swale is a natural solution for large amounts of stormwater runoff. It's more like a gutter than a garden. The thick bio-swale is planted with certain native plants that filter the stormwater. This is often beneficial along a roadway or parking lot, where rainwater runs right off the pavement and into the bio-swale. Let the pros at McGinty Bros. build and maintain a bio-swale that will grow through heavy rains and seasons of drought.
Learn More About the Benefits of a Prescribed Burn
There are uncontrolled fires, and then there are prescribed burns. While you have every right to get nervous about an uncontrolled fire, you shouldn't discount the benefits of a controlled fire, especially when it's being controlled by one of our burn crews. Our crew members are current Illinois Department of Natural Resource licensed with S-130/S-190 Basic Wildland Fire Training. You can trust us with fire.
A prescribed burn helps with some landscape issues. It can:
- burn away weedy species
- manage the built-up vegetation
- promote the growth of native plants
Timing is important, depending on which weed you're targeting. A prescribed burn is good for many natural areas, but it should be left to the professional burn crews. Contact us if you have an interest in this service.
Rely on Our Experience in Soil Erosion and Sediment Control
Erosion is an old problem with many solutions. McGinty Bros. has experience with most of those solutions. We have done intensive shore armament projects with a-jacks and rip rap installations. We have also worked on projects with riffle construction. Then there are the solutions that are less invasive, such as:
- brush mats
- coir fiber rolls
- deep-rooted native vegetation
- live stakes
- vegetated geo-grids
If you have erosion control questions, we have answers based on years of experience and research. Let us help. We can find a solution that works best on your natural area.

Contact Us for a Free Evaluation of Your Natural Area in Lake Zurich
If you already read this entire page, your head is probably swimming with natural area restoration ideas and facts. Maybe you're feeling excited, too. We understand. We get excited about every single prairie restoration project we work on, no matter how big or small it is. Helping the community reclaim some of its natural attributes is a big deal. Don't let it overwhelm you. Instead, call the experts at McGinty Bros. We'll set up a free site evaluation, and we'll come over and take a look at what you've got. There's no obligation to accept the proposal. Contact us today, and get the most experienced help available in the Lake Zurich area for your natural area restoration project.