Permeable pavers and Sustainable Landscaping Minneapolis & St. Paul

Sustainable Landscaping

Green, Earth-friendly and Sustainable

By helping our clients design and build sustainable, earth-friendly landscapes – and by changing how we think and act – Southview Design is committed to "green in action."

Experts in Landscaping Best Practices

Southview designers and crews are Minnesota Green Star-Trained. This means we are experts at using landscaping best practices to reduce the environmental impact of building and remodeling projects, and to restore air and water quality. For an example of one of our sustainable landscape projects, see Green Luxury.

Our active participation in the Minnesota Green Star program, and service to the organization, is proof of our commitment to healthy and sustainable landscaping practices. Minnesota Green Star is a non-profit organization that educates homeowners, builders and remodelers, and certifies green building and remodeling residential projects.

In Our Own Backyard

In addition to our participation in Green Star, we look for ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle in our homes and at work. We’ve significantly cut the amount of waste we generate in the office, and we have completed many landscaping projects using permeable pavers and stormwater management practices.

sustainable landscape design dry creek bed for drainage in inver grove heights mn

No-mow backyard conserves water and time by replacing the lawn with a hardy garden.

Inver grove heights backyard plunge pool and artificial grass

Diminutive plunge pool and hyper-realistic artificial grass are two landscaping elements that can help conserve water.

Sustainable Garden and Front Yard Landscaping in Minneapolis Mn

We took extra measures to preserve a mature oak tree when we installed this garden and walkway. Trees that shade your home on summer's hottest days can keep you cool and save energy (and money).

up close view of permeable pavers

Permeable patio with two contrasting patterns and colors.

rustic yet modern green home with sustainable landscaping in Minneapolis, MN

Award-winning net zero home and sustainable landscape design.

permeable paver seating patio

Permeable paver sitting patio.

brick paver circle driveway front yard landscape with curb appeal

This brick paver patio is designed to protect nearby water ways by allowing stormwater to infiltrate into the ground to prevent toxic runoff.

permeable lake house drive way and sustainable garden plants

A permeable driveway and garden of native flowers and grasses protect the lake from stormwater and fertilizer runoff.

hillside forest landscape with wrap around patio

In this hillside landscaping project, we were able to add a wrap-around patio, staircase, and waterfall without disturbing the established pine trees.

New construction with a rain garden sustainable landscape in the front yard.

This rain garden mitigates storm runoff.

rain barrel and hose in minneapolis

Use a rain barrel to water your garden with storm water all summer long.

A Video Story

"Design Process was absolutely wonderful"

Northern Tool Director – Real Estate + Facilities, Scott Stocke was looking for a way to dress up the property for employees. The project team created an outdoor patio with the Northern Tool logo inlayed in pavers. Engineering a new entry was a challenge! Scott says it was an amazing construction process that turned out "better than anybody expected it to be."

More Video Stories

Explore More MN Landscape Design & Architecture

Related Landscape Projects


Minneapolis Modern Makeover

This Minneapolis, MN design includes a modern front yard zen garden, unique bluestone patio, and wood-burning fire pit.

Modern Walkout Backyard in Bloomington

These homeowners love to be outside, but the hot afternoon sun made their backyard nearly unusable. This new design provides shade from the sun, as well as other much-needed amenities for entertaining.

No-Mow Forest Backyard

This backyard blends modern and natural elements together to create a low-maintenance outdoor living space with a plunge pool, terraced patios, a fire table, water feature, and a outdoor great room.

Paving the Way

These clients were looking for an effective way to enhance their curb appeal and a new paver driveway was the perfect solution. Check out this unique paver driveway design, located in Shoreview, Minnesota.

Hilltop Home

This Apple Valley family called Southview Design with a specific request. "Help transform our overgrown front yard into something beautiful and low maintenance”. With a whopping 14-foot drop from the door to the street, the front yard caused all sorts of problems for the homeowners and their guests.

Sunset Serene

When regulations prohibited a patio, Southview worked with city planners to find a beautiful solution that maximized space and complied with the law.