Our Team
Robby Evans
Owner & Founder
With over a decade of hands-on experience in the Lake Minnetonka area commercial and high-end residential landscaping industry, Robby Evans founded Freshwater Landscaping with a singular, uncompromising vision: to elevate outdoor construction standards.
Too many contractors focus purely on the surface-level aesthetics, cutting corners on the sub-grade preparation that actually dictates a landscape's lifespan. We built this company to operate differently. What started as a passion for local conservation and precise arboriculture has grown into a premier Lake Minnetonka area firm known for rigorous structural craftsmanship, agronomic turf science, and "white-glove" customer care.
From meticulously executing paver foundations that neutralize Minnesota frost heave, to building complex drainage solutions that protect your home, we treat every property as if it were our own.
Charles Shepard
Co-Owner & Operations
Charles runs the field side of Freshwater. Most days he is on site with the crew rather than behind a desk, leading the install, working the labor alongside everyone else, and making sure the job runs the way it was quoted.
That is deliberate. A site foreman who has never set a paver does not catch the problems early, and the difference between a project that holds up and one that fails usually comes down to decisions made in the dirt — how the base gets compacted, where the water is going to go, whether the grade is actually right before anything goes on top of it. Being there when those calls get made is the job.
He and Robby split the company along that line. Robby handles design, clients and what the work should be. Charles handles crews, sites and making sure that is what actually gets built.
Our Operating Principles
We don't just build landscapes; we create lasting outdoor environments. Our entire operation is built on four non-negotiable pillars of excellence.
Agronomic Innovation
We reject "cookie-cutter" lawn care. We utilize advanced soil pathology, EPA-registered products, and modern heavy machinery to deliver scientifically proven results for your turf and hardscapes.
Client Partnerships
We are in the relationship business. We commit to respectful communication, highly transparent project bidding, and a collaborative design process from the initial CAD sketch to the final brick.
Logistical Execution
Your time is incredibly valuable. We pride ourselves on reliable routing, punctual daily arrivals, strict adherence to project deadlines, and maintaining an immaculate, zero-impact job site.
Uncompromising Integrity
We never cut corners on the dirt work you can't see. Our owner-operated quality checks ensure absolute structural integrity in every retaining wall built and every paver perfectly set.
"I got to witness firsthand the absolute excellence and technical workmanship from the Freshwater Landscaping team. They handled every task with precision and care, leaving my yard completely spotless and structurally enhanced."
— Katy Kryzwick, Lake Minnetonka ResidentShare Freshwater, Get Rewarded
Know a friend whose yard deserves better? Introduce them to Freshwater and you'll both come out ahead — they get a $250 gift toward their project and a complimentary design consultation, and you earn 5% of their completed project as account credit, up to $1,000. No cap on referrals, and your credit is paid once their work is finished.
Refer a FriendJoin the Freshwater Crew
We are always looking for hardworking professionals who take pride in their craft. If you want to work with premium, well-maintained commercial equipment, earn top market pay, and build high-end landscapes alongside a respectful team, we want to hear from you.
View Open PositionsThe Freshwater Trusted Network
Executing high-end outdoor living spaces requires collaboration. We partner strictly with elite Lake Minnetonka area contractors and specialists who share our uncompromising standards for structural quality, liability management, and architectural craftsmanship.
Silver Pines Construction
Premier Custom Home Builds, Luxury Remodeling, & General Contracting
Visit PartnerOil and Water Decks
Architectural Custom Decking, Pergolas, & Elevated Outdoor Living
Visit PartnerScuba Weed Control
Professional Aquatic Weed Management & Lake Minnetonka Shoreline Care
Visit PartnerGreen Masters Lawn Care
Professional Lawn Care, Fertilization, & Routine Property Maintenance
Visit PartnerThe Mulch Company MN
Premium Landscape Mulch Supply & Commercial-Grade Installation
Visit PartnerPro-Tree Outdoor Services
Expert Tree Care, Arboriculture, Pruning, & Hazardous Tree Removal
Visit PartnerRobert Evans Imagery
Commercial and project photography. Robert photographs our crew, equipment and finished work.
Visit PartnerModern Revenue Systems
Marketing and customer follow-up systems that help us answer every inquiry quickly.
Visit Partner