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Best landscaping in Minneapolis: Award-Winning Designs for your outdoor living space
Throughout the Twin Cities, Southview Design landscaping customers are enthusiastic about referring us to friends, neighbors, and family.
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The clients had recently moved into their historic 1889 home, situated just west of bustling downtown St. Paul. They envisioned a formal yet livable garden—a serene outdoor space where they could unwind. The goal was to create a garden that was elegant and easy to maintain, while avoiding an overly stuffy appearance.
The winding path encourages a slower pace, inviting you to notice the blooms, bees, and fireflies.
The garden design, which earned a Gold Award from the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), complements the home’s blend of Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne styles. Formal elements like a curved pathway create a forced perspective, inviting visitors to explore further. Hedges frame the back of the garden, while a restrained color palette defines the plantings. Near the irregular flagstone patio, perennials are arranged more freely, softening the look and creating a natural pollinator viewing area. Reclaimed old brick adds character along the path's border.
Before: Neglected side yard with remnants of a perimeter path, overgrown shrubs, and weedy trees.
After: A formal garden with a revived pathway that matched the architectural feel of their home and neighborhood.
Notice the minimal separation between the neighbor’s property and our client’s. Fortunately, this side features heritage trees, allowing for careful planting that navigates tree roots while preserving the path's integrity. A row of arborvitae along the property line will gradually grow to enhance privacy from the neighbors.
At the front entry, an arbor covered in clematis beckons visitors to explore this secret garden. A peek over the railing makes you want to see more.
A garden sculpture greets visitors at the entrance, nestled among hydrangeas, coneflowers, and Amsonia. A winding path invites you to explore further, leading the way to the patio.
The abundance of plantings offers some privacy from the nearby neighbors while also helping to reduce the noise of the bustling downtown. Placing the flagstone patio closer to the home makes it more convenient—and more likely to be used.
Before: Building a four-foot retaining wall to address a 16-foot drop to the neighbor's sidewalk.
After: Now, a safe, level surface with proper grading away from the home.
The property had a 16-foot grade drop on two sides, supported by a deteriorating 100-year-old stone wall, making access difficult. All trees on the northeast side were removed, and a new 4-foot retaining wall was installed on the downslope, just inside the property line. This provided a safe, level surface for a symmetrical garden and allowed for proper grading away from the home.
As the sun sets, take your time to appreciate the garden's beauty. Landscape lighting switches on, including uplights and path lights, illuminates the space, it creates a serene ambiance that masks the proximity of downtown, just a block away. About 30 minutes after sunset, fireflies emerge in the garden beds and trees, adding a touch of magic to the evening.
Your perfect outdoor living space begins with a simple conversation. Let’s talk about your outdoor living space!
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This St. Paul backyard landscape effortlessly intertwines modern, rustic, and traditional elements. Guided by the homeowner's vision, Southview Design transformed their mundane and overgrown backyard into a one-of-a-kind, beautiful oasis.
2009 AWARD WINNER – Minnesota Historical Society guided the restoration of this Summit Avenue home's original reflecting pool, brickwork, and gardens.
2017, 2016 AWARD WINNER – Intimate backyard captures the spirit and charm of a New Orleans courtyard with classic brick patio, fireplace, and fleur-de-lis accents