Bridging the gap between heavy groundwork and fine details.
The Foundation of Hard Work
Founder & Lead Operator
With years of experience moving earth, he knows a solid foundation is the key to any lasting landscape. Whether he's behind the wheel of the tractor grading a slope or fine-tuning a stone patio by hand, his commitment to honest, meticulous hard work is what drives this business.
From Dirt to Design
We are A Guy and A Tractor. Built on hard work and precision, we handle everything from digging complex utility trenches to crafting elegant stone patios. If it involves dirt, drainage, or design, we have the machinery and the eye to get it done right.
"From groundwork to finished outdoor spaces—built to last. Can you dig it?"
Before
After
Project 1 of 3
Safety First. Every Time.
We maintain strict compliance with Illinois JULIE (811) dig laws.
1
Pre-Mark the Site
Before any machinery arrives, we pre-mark the intended dig area with white paint or flags to clearly communicate the scope of work.
2
Call 811
We submit the locate request to JULIE at least three business days prior to breaking ground to ensure all local utility operators are notified.
3
Clearance & Compliance
We wait for the color-coded flags. We strictly adhere to the latest utility location tracking mandates to ensure total property safety.
4
Safe Excavation
We respect the marks, utilizing extreme caution and hand-digging techniques within the mandatory 18-inch tolerance zone of any marked utility.
Our Work: Before & After
Swipe left or right to see our transformations side-by-side.
Before
Project 1
Before
Project 2
Before
Project 3
Before
Project 4
Before
Project 5
Before
Project 6
Before
Project 7
After
Retaining Wall
After
Material Haul
After
Grading & Flower Bed install
After
Flower bed Removal
After
Land Grading & Concrete Removal
After
Flower Bed Replacement
After
Flower Bed Replacement
Word on the Street
"Shout out to A Guy and a Tractor for going above and beyond to make sure I was happy with my yard renovation! He exceeded my expectations-I am ECSTATIC with the results! Chris can solve a variety of yard issues so give him a call..."
Brenda Garrett
Yard Renovation
"Hey Chris, we're happy with the gutter performance! Huge difference after all this rain. Could we hire you again to do a larger regrading project? Maybe plan out a larger order of dirt?"
Jeremy P.
Regrading & Drainage
"Great job today. Really happy with how you represent your business, and your attention to detail... Grass is sprouting! Wife is happy, she has been watering it daily. Great work man. I will be telling everyone who will listen!"
David
Landscaping & Yard Prep
"I recommend Mr Melick. He was WONDERFUL WITH HIS TRUCK, and even offered extra equipment for a LANDSCAPING job at my residence to tidy up... Such a kind gesture and is greatly appreciated."
Micheal Casey-Beich
Landscaping
Our Services
Not sure what you need? Use our quick project planner below, or explore our core services.
What type of project do you need help with?
Explore our flexible solutions for any outdoor property need.
What is your specific objective?
Help us narrow down the core goal of your project.
When are you looking to start?
We accommodate schedules across Bloomington-Normal.
Yes, we provide free, no-obligation estimates for all projects in the Bloomington area. We will come out, assess your property's terrain, discuss your goals, and give you a clear, upfront quote on what it will take to get the job done right.
If you have surface water that disappears relatively quickly after a storm, smart grading and yard leveling might be enough to direct it away from your foundation. However, if you have persistent spongy areas, pooling water that lasts for days, or water intruding into your basement, a French drain is usually necessary to catch and redirect sub-surface water.
Heavy machinery does have an impact on soft ground, but we take extensive precautions to minimize damage. We plan our entry and exit routes carefully, work during optimal weather conditions, and always offer repair and reseeding options for the transport paths as part of the final project cleanup.
At A Guy and A Tractor, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your data when you visit our website or request our services.
1. Information We Collect
When you interact with our website, we may collect the following types of information:
Personal Information: Information you voluntarily provide when filling out our contact form, including your Full Name, Email Address, ZIP Code, and Project Details.
Usage Data: Non-personally identifiable information automatically collected about how you interact with our site (e.g., browser type, device type, pages visited).
2. How We Use Your Information
The information we collect is strictly used to provide and improve our services. Specifically, we use your data to:
Respond to your inquiries and provide free estimates for landscaping and trenching projects.
Verify that your project location falls within our primary service area (Bloomington-Normal, IL).
Communicate project updates, scheduling, and JULIE 811 compliance details.
We do not sell, rent, or lease your personal information to third-party data brokers or marketing agencies.
3. Third-Party Services
We utilize trusted third-party services to enhance our website functionality. These services have their own privacy policies:
Formspree: We use Formspree to securely process our contact form submissions.
Open-Meteo: We pull live weather data to display current conditions in Bloomington. Open-Meteo does not collect your personal tracking data to serve this widget.
4. Cookies and Tracking
Our website uses basic functional cookies to remember your preferences, such as your Light/Dark mode choice, and to ensure smooth performance of external widgets. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings, though some site features may not function optimally.
5. Data Security
We implement standard security measures to protect the information you submit via our site. However, please be aware that no method of electronic transmission or internet storage is 100% secure.
Terms of Service
Last Updated: July 2026
Welcome to A Guy and A Tractor. By requesting an estimate, booking a service, or browsing this website, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of service.
1. Estimates and Quotes
All estimates provided by A Guy and A Tractor are free and no-obligation. However, estimates are based on visible conditions at the time of the property assessment. Unforeseen subsurface obstacles (e.g., hidden concrete slabs, unmarked private utility lines, extreme rock formations) may require a reassessment of the project scope and cost. Any necessary price changes will always be communicated and agreed upon before work proceeds.
2. Utility Locating & JULIE 811 Compliance
For any trenching, grading, or digging project, we strictly adhere to Illinois state law by utilizing the JULIE (811) service to mark public underground utility lines prior to breaking ground. It is the property owner’s responsibility to accurately notify us of any private underground utilities (e.g., invisible dog fences, private irrigation systems, well lines, septic lines). A Guy and A Tractor is not liable for damages to unmarked or improperly marked private utility lines.
3. Property Access and Machinery Impact
Tractors and heavy earth-moving machinery exert significant weight. By contracting our services, you grant us permission to maneuver equipment across your property to reach the work site. While we take extreme caution to limit our footprint, some temporary damage to soft grass, soil compression, or tread tracks on the access path is inherent to the process. Remediation of transport paths (such as reseeding or regrading the entry route) is not automatically included unless explicitly written into your final contract.
4. Weather and Scheduling
Outdoor groundwork is heavily dependent on weather conditions. Standing water, deep mud, or active storms may cause unsafe or counterproductive working environments. We reserve the right to reschedule any project due to weather without penalty.
5. Liability
A Guy and A Tractor holds appropriate business insurance. We strive for total customer satisfaction and safety. However, our liability is limited to the direct scope of the work explicitly detailed in your contract.
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