Cagwin & Dorward Landscape, based in Petaluma, California, offers landscaping services that extend beyond residential lawns to commercial and municipal projects. With field offices across the state, it caters to clients of all types, but its residential offerings are local to Petaluma. In this article, we’ll explore what Cagwin & Dorward has to offer homeowners, evaluate some pros and cons, and see if it’s the best lawn care company for your property needs.
Pros and Cons of Cagwin & Dorward
Pros
- Offers eco-friendly services
- Has a team of certified arborists
- Provides emergency tree service
Cons
- Only available in California
- Minimal website information on pricing
Though Cagwin & Dorward is ideal for landscaping and tree maintenance, TruGreen is our top recommendation for grass restoration and other lawn care needs. TruGreen offers five annual lawn programs and a variety of a la carte services and is a leader in the lawn care industry.
Compare Other Lawn Companies
| Company | Star Rating | BBB Rating | Superlative |
|---|---|---|---|
A+ | Best Lawn Care Company | ||
A+ | Best DIY Lawn Service | ||
 | A+ | Best for Customization | |
A- | Best For Weed Control | ||
 | Not Rated | Best Natural Lawn Care | |
 | A+ | Best Guarantee | |
 | A+ | Most Comprehensive Service |
What Plans and Services Does Cagwin & Dorward Offer?
Here are the company’s four areas of expertise available to residents in the range of its satellite offices.
Landscape Maintenance Services
Cagwin & Dorward emphasize that each of its landscape maintenance plans is distinctly customized to each client. Services range from general upkeep on grounds and plants to complete landscape redesign. Features like pest control, irrigation system management, and seasonal flower bed design are also included in this category.
The comprehensive list of Cagwin & Dorward services includes:
- Turf care
- Shrub care
- Landscape design
- Seasonal gardening
- Pest control
Construction Services
When it comes to landscape design and construction projects, Cagwin & Dorward manages estate, commercial, and public projects throughout Northern California. If you qualify for Cagwin & Dorward construction service, the company offers full-scale design and construction programs for:
- Landscapes
- Hardscapes
- Irrigation systems
- Erosion control
The company outlines a signature design-to-build process that relies on client collaboration to find the right design and budget. The concept and design process includes colored plans, professional presentations, and digital imagery. The company’s master plan program touches on the budget, plant palette, return on investment, sustainability, fertigation, and balance of turf areas.
Tree Care Services
Cagwin & Dorward has ISA-certified arborists who manage tree pruning, removal, and disease treatment on residential, municipal, and commercial properties. The company also offers free estimates for tree care on your property and aims to work within each client’s vision to find the safest, healthiest, and most attractive solution for each tree.
Tree care services include:
- Pruning
- Tree surgery
- Removal
- Stump grinding
- Deep root fertilization
- Disease control
- Arborist consultation
- Mycorrhizae treatments
Water Management Services
Twenty-five certified water managers at Cagwin & Dorward work with Northern California residents and businesses to cut down overall water use throughout their property’s irrigation system. Workers will install new systems and suggest upgrades to help clients remain below the state requirements while cutting water-use costs.
Water and irrigation services include:
- Design and installation
- Irrigation system overall evaluation
- Water budget analysis
- Emergency service
- Smart irrigation technology
- Maintenance and repair
Where Is Cagwin & Dorward Available?
The Cagwin & Dorward headquarters is located in Petaluma, California, just north of San Francisco. The company also has several satellite offices throughout the region, such as in Martinez, Pacifica, Fairfield, Livermore, Rohnert Park, Roseville, Sacramento, Salinas, San Jose, and Union City.
Cagwin & Dorward Reviews
Cagwin & Dorward Landscape has an NR rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We didn’t find any recent reviews on the BBB, so we turned to Yelp. Here are two reviews from an existing customers:
“Once again their service was impeccable. Mark came out and reviewed the tree work that we needed. A big branch had fallen and was leaning on our garage roof. He quickly assessed the tree and determined the cause. He was able to schedule an appointment in two days and all of our trees were safely pruned and cared for. The workers arrived on time and did a fabulous job. They took down branches and checked all the trees for disease. Mark Carpenter crew manager is the best. He is a trained arborist and came by at the end to explain the work and make sure we were satisfied. I have recommended their service to others and will continue to do so. They are the best.” — W. M., via Yelp
“Terrible crew. They will destroy your property, your other plants and trees, street poles, sidewalks, etc., all while giving you attitude for asking them to be more careful.Plus, these guys have no idea how to trim palm trees and have badly over-pruned most of them on our property, which may end up killing the palms in the near future.” — Stephen Y., via Yelp
Cagwin & Dorward vs. Competitors
Compare how Cagwin & Dorward stacks up against other lawn care companies.
| Company Breakdowns | Cagwin & Dorward | TruGreen | Weed Man |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Our Overall Score |
24.5 / 100 |
97 / 100 |
84 / 100 |
|
Lawn Care Programs |
N/A |
5 + a la carte services |
1 + a la carte services |
|
States Available |
1 state |
49 states |
37 states |
|
Mobile App |
– |
✔ |
– |
|
Online chat |
– |
✔ |
– |
|
Number of Employees* |
550 |
13,504 |
N/A |
|
Website |
cagwin.com |
trugreen.com |
weedmanusa.com |
How To Choose the Right Lawn Care Company
Whether you’re looking for routine lawn mowing, landscaping, or specialized services like tree removal or patch repair, the following tips can help you make an informed choice:
- Evaluate experience and reputation: Look for companies with a proven track record in the industry. Read customer reviews on platforms like Yelp, Trustpilot, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to assess overall satisfaction and service quality. Companies with strong reputations often have long-standing experience and positive testimonials.
- Check for proper licensing and insurance: A reputable lawn care company should have the proper licensing to operate in your area and carry liability insurance. This ensures that you have financial protection in case of property damage or accidents during service.
- Compare service offerings: Some lawn care providers specialize in basic lawn maintenance, while others provide full-scale landscaping, tree care, sprinkler repair, and artificial lawn installation services. Choose a company that aligns with your specific needs.
- Request a consultation or quote: Many companies offer free consultations or estimates. Take advantage of these to understand pricing, service plans, and what they include in their offerings. Compare costs, but avoid choosing a company solely based on the lowest price, as quality service is often worth the investment.
- Consider customer support and communication: A reliable company should be easy to contact, responsive to inquiries, and transparent about scheduling, pricing, and policies. Reading past customer experiences can help you gauge how well a company communicates and resolves issues.
Our Conclusion
Cagwin & Dorward offers extensive landscaping, water management, and tree services, which make it a solid lawn services company. We also like that it provides unique services, such as pest control and lawn drainage solutions. That said, the company doesn’t offer general lawn care services and is only available in California.
If you’re looking for tree care and landscape construction in California, Cagwin & Dorward may be a good option. If your lawn care needs are simpler, national companies like TruGreen offer transparent, tiered programs that make it easy to choose which plan fits your budget. TruGreen also specializes in services like lawn seeding, weed control, and enhanced nutrient packages to help grow a nice lawn.
FAQs About Cagwin & Dorward
How did Cagwin & Dorward start?
The company kicked off in 1955 when a horticulture specialist paired up with a business-savvy partner to create a company that focused on quality and customer care. Over the next several decades, Cagwin & Dorward expanded into what it is today—a full-service landscaping company for businesses and residents throughout the region.
The company is now managed by nine owners and offers a range of tree care, irrigation management, and landscape construction services.
What’s the difference between lawn care and landscaping?
Lawn care typically consists of mowing, edging, fertilizing, and weeding, while landscaping is the act of transforming an outdoor space by planting, constructing, or reorganizing.
Should I hire a lawn care company?
If you’re too busy to maintain your lawn, a professional lawn care company can perform services that get your lawn in its best shape. Most lawn care companies perform seasonal visits to ensure your lawn is getting what it needs throughout the year.
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our lawn recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. We review lawn care plans and packages, navigate the provider website and speak with customer service representatives, request quotes, and analyze customer reviews for each provider. We then score the provider against our review standards for plan options, additional benefits and customizability, availability, trustworthiness, and customer service to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.