Bluestone retaining wall and steps planted with vibrant perennials

Solid, Useful, Beautiful Outdoor Steps

You Can’t Get There From Here. Grade changes in a landscape require steps and retaining walls to transition from one level to another, prevent erosion, and ensure safety. Whether quarried natural stone, brick, or concrete, they should be solid and useful. Natural stone is the most common material for landscape steps.

Dress up your landscape with steps and stairs.

Step design starts with the style of the landscape and home. Steps add interest to the landscape and can make a statement at an entry, pique curiosity about the destination, or provide easy access to other parts of the landscape. Steps and stairs can be decorative, with or without rails, lit with low-voltage outdoor lighting from top to bottom, edged with plants to add color, curved or straight, with or without landings.

Design and build outdoor steps with safety in mind.

Correct sizing is essential. The standard formula for landscape step construction is a 6-inch riser and a 12-inch tread. However, riser heights from 4 to 7 inches can be used. The relationship between the riser and the tread should remain constant throughout the entire flight of steps. Wider steps are perceived as more welcoming and allow side-by-side climbing. They also allow for container gardens or a private spot to sit.

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Hillside Landscaping

Retaining Walls

Limestone staircase with large-format treads

Elegant limestone steps with large-format treads lead to an award-winning outdoor living room.

split asymmetrical staircase leads to a saltwater backyard pool

This split asymmetrical staircase, divided by a built-in planter, leads to a saltwater pool.

belgard steps through a tiered retaining wall

Concrete steps and a tiered retaining wall provide easy access from the street to the front door.

Stacked boulder retaining wall with stone staircase.

Stone steps cut from boulders blend right into this stacked boulder retaining wall.

stone steps path boulder wall and garden

A path from the front yard descends down saw-cut boulder steps past a basalt column bubbler and native perennials.

Natural stone steps with flagstone steppers.

Natural stone steps with flagstone steppers.

Retaining Walls

Retaining walls control erosion, manage runoff, or create level spaces for entertaining and outdoor living.

Slopes and Hills

Minnesota landscapes in sloping and hilly backyards. Challenging sites are no match for Southview Design's team of landscape architects, designers, and experienced construction crews.

Shoreline Restoration and Rip Rap

Experts in shoreline restoration, rip-rap installation, steps, retaining walls. Luxury lake home landscaping design and construction.

modern patio design with water feature

Modern patio and water feature in Minneapolis Minnesota


Avoid delays!

Improve Your Life Outdoors

It takes time to design, budget, and obtain construction permits. Start now to avoid delays and reserve your spot on the construction schedule.

Call (651) 203-3000 to schedule a meeting.


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Your Landscape Design and Construction Partner Learn how our landscape design process works

Our Design-Build Process