How Taylor’s Way Has Served Illinois Families for Over 50 Years
Taylor’s Way • April 2026 • Princeton, IL
Short Answer: Taylor’s Way was founded in 1973 by Buster and Kay Taylor in Princeton, Illinois, and has grown into a 4th generation, family-owned company serving communities across central and northern Illinois. With 8 ISA-certified arborists, 10 certified lawn experts, and a team built on family values, we have spent over five decades growing outdoor spaces that our neighbors love. Our longevity is not about being the biggest company. It is about doing the work the right way, treating every property like our own, and standing behind our services with a 100% No Risk Guarantee.
When Buster and Kay Taylor started this company in 1973, the idea was simple: take care of your neighbors’ properties the way you would want your own taken care of. That was over 50 years ago, and while a lot has changed since then, that core idea has not.
We want to share our story because we think it matters when you are choosing who to trust with your property. It is not about the number of years on the calendar. It is about what those years represent and how they shape the way we show up for our customers today.
How It Started
Buster Taylor did not start Taylor’s Way because he saw a business opportunity. He started it because he loved being outside, he cared about the community he lived in, and he believed that hard work and honest service would always be enough. In the early days, it was Buster and Kay doing everything themselves, learning the business from the ground up, building relationships one property at a time.
Princeton, Illinois was a small community where your reputation was built on how you treated people and the quality of your work. There were no online reviews, no social media, and no marketing shortcuts. You earned trust by showing up, doing what you said you would do, and standing behind your work when things were not perfect. That is where the foundation of Taylor’s Way was built, and it is a foundation that still holds today.
Growing Through Generations
As the business grew, the next generation of the Taylor family came alongside and brought new energy, new knowledge, and new capabilities to the company. Each generation has added depth to our services while preserving the values that Buster and Kay established from the beginning.
Today, Taylor’s Way is a 4th generation operation. That means four generations of this family have dedicated their careers to serving the communities where we live and work. We are not a franchise following someone else’s playbook. We are not a corporate chain where decisions are made in a distant office. We are a family that has chosen to build our lives around this work, and that investment shows in how we approach every property.
The continuity of family ownership also means that institutional knowledge is preserved and passed forward. What Buster learned about Illinois soil and climate in the 1970s informed how the next generation approached challenges in the 1990s. What we have learned about integrated pest management and sustainable practices in the 2000s builds on all of that history. Every generation adds to the foundation rather than starting from scratch.
Building a Team of Experts
One of the things we are most proud of is the team we have built. Taylor’s Way today is home to 8 ISA-certified arborists and 10 certified lawn care experts. These are not entry-level employees following a checklist. They are trained, credentialed professionals who have invested in their knowledge and their craft.
ISA certification (International Society of Arboriculture) is the gold standard in tree care. It requires passing a comprehensive exam, demonstrating practical experience, and maintaining continuing education. Having 8 certified arborists on staff means that when we evaluate your trees, recommend treatment, or perform work, you are getting guidance from people who have earned the highest credential in the field.
Our certified lawn experts bring the same level of professionalism to turf care. They understand the science of soil health, the specific needs of Illinois cool-season grasses, and the timing that makes the difference between good results and great results. This expertise is what allows us to deliver consistent outcomes across thousands of properties every year.
Our Values: More Than Words on a Wall
Family. Accountability. Stewardship. Transparency. Knowledgeable People. These are the values that guide how we operate every day. They are not aspirational goals or marketing language. They are the standards that every member of our team is expected to live up to, and the standards that our customers hold us to.
Family means we treat our clients like our own family. We communicate openly, we respect your property, and we prioritize the relationship over the transaction. Accountability means we guarantee our services will exceed your expectations, and when they do not, we make it right without excuses. Stewardship means we take a long-term view of your property’s health, recommending what is best for your lawn, trees, and landscape rather than what generates the most revenue for us.
These values have kept us in business for over 50 years. Not because they are good for marketing, but because they produce the kind of service that earns trust and keeps customers for decades.
Community Is Not Just Where We Work
Beyond lawn and tree care, Taylor’s Way is a member of the communities we serve. Each year, our company and our employees take part in numerous community events and volunteering opportunities across central and northern Illinois. We believe that being part of a community means contributing to it, not just doing business in it.
When you hire Taylor’s Way, you are supporting a local, family-owned business that reinvests in the places where your neighbors live and work. That matters to us, and we hope it matters to you too.
What to Do Next
If you are looking for a lawn care, tree care, or pest control company that has earned its reputation through five decades of consistent, professional service, we would be honored to care for your property.
Call us at (815) 875-8231 or visit taylorsway.com to request your free estimate. Our 100% No Risk Guarantee means you must be absolutely delighted with our services, or we redo the work for free. As Buster Taylor said when he started this company: your satisfaction is not negotiable. That has been true since 1973, and it will be true for the next 50 years.
