LAKE MINNETONKA'S SHORELINE SPECIALISTS
Excelsior Landscaping & Hardscapes
Exclusive Design-Build Landscaping for Excelsior, MN
Welcome to Freshwater Landscaping. Excelsior is the busiest city on Lake Minnetonka on foot — a streetcar-era grid where century-old homes, Water Street storefronts, and the lakefront all share a few walkable blocks. Working here means tight lots, alley access, equipment staged carefully, and neighbors close enough to wave at. We build patios, walls, and plantings sized for that scale, and we handle MCWD-DNR shoreline permitting for the properties that run down to the water.
- Fully Insured ($1M+ Liability)
- MCWD-DNR Shoreline Permitting
- Residential Snow Removal
Homeowners around Lake Minnetonka have left us 80+ five-star Google reviews.
Our Landscape Services
Historic Charm Meets Structural Hardscaping
In Excelsior, landscaping must perfectly balance heavy-duty modern durability with the town's strict historic aesthetic. Our hardscape services utilize premium natural materials—like bluestone flagstone and weathered boulder walls—designed to look as though they have been part of the landscape for a century.
We specialize in robust lakeside fire pits, terraces, and retaining walls that handle the extreme moisture and freeze-thaw cycles of Lake Minnetonka without shifting or settling over time.
Lakeside Hardscape Solutions:
- Historic-Style Paver Patios & Frost-Resistant Walkways
- Natural Stone Shoreline Protection
- Plumbed Outdoor Fire Pits & Estate Seating Areas
- Load-Bearing Tiered Lakeside Retaining Walls
Professional Tree Services
The historic district's canopy is one of the oldest working tree stocks on the lake — mature maples and oaks planted when the streetcar still ran, now leaning over porches, garages, and service drops. Our tree services are built for removals where the drop zone is someone's front steps.
We take hazardous trees down in rigged sections, prune for clearance over rooflines and lines, and grind stumps below grade so a small yard gets its square footage back.
Arboriculture Services:
- Friction-Rigged Hazardous Tree Extraction
- Canopy Deadwooding & Building Clearance Pruning
- Commercial Sub-Grade Stump Grinding
Laser Drainage & Shoreline Prep
Excelsior properties, especially those clustered near Gideon's Bay, face intense hydrostatic pressure from both street runoff and the lake itself. Our drainage correction experts utilize laser-transit technology to install high-capacity French drains and riprap buffers.
Because historic Excelsior lots feature extremely tight access and compact footprints, we deploy specialized, low-impact excavation machinery to control shoreline erosion and basement flooding, ensuring your foundation remains structurally sound.
Excavation Specialties:
- Shoreline Erosion Control & Riprap Grading
- Strict MCWD Watershed-Compliant Drainage Systems
- Sub-Surface Water Management & Trenching
- Low-Impact Site Preparation for Tight Access Lots
Serving Excelsior & the Surrounding Area
We bring landscape construction, tree crews, and excavation equipment to properties across Excelsior — the historic grid, the Water Street corridor, and the lakefront blocks toward Greenwood.
Areas We Cover Around Excelsior:
- Downtown Excelsior
- The Commons
- Gideon's Bay
- Tonka Bay
- Greenwood
- Christmas Lake
Excelsior Landscaping FAQ
Landscaping costs in Excelsior vary heavily based on shoreline access and MCWD requirements. Mid-size projects, such as shoreline drainage correction or hazardous tree removal packages, usually fall between $3,500 and $7,500. Large-scale structural hardscapes, like lakeside paver patios or historic boulder retaining walls, often start around $6,000 and scale upward based on heavy equipment logistics.
Absolutely. Properties located within the City of Excelsior Historic District require architectural designs that maintain the visual character of the neighborhood. Furthermore, any project near the shoreline is strictly regulated by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD). We specialize in navigating these complex local permitting requirements, and we pull the permits and follow city codes.
Effective shoreline protection is critical. We deploy a combination of deep-root native plantings and heavy structural solutions, like boulder riprap, to stabilize your shoreline. This intercepts wave action, halts soil degradation, and acts as a natural bio-filter for hydrostatic runoff.
Yes. When detailing a custom outdoor living area on heavily wooded properties near The Commons or Gideon's Bay, we frequently need to extract hazardous trees. Our internal tree service division executes precise friction-rigging to safely dismantle the timber over your historic home or boathouse before we begin hardscaping.
We salt from our own stockpile and follow MPCA Smart Salting guidance, putting down only as much as the surface needs. Using less salt keeps steep driveways safe while keeping more of it out of Lake Minnetonka.
Historic Excelsior lots feature extremely tight access and compact footprints. We deploy specialized, low-impact excavation machinery to install vertical drainage solutions—such as deep dry wells and highly calibrated French drains. These systems require a minimal surface footprint but aggressively route high volumes of hydrostatic pressure safely away from your historic foundation.
Request a Site Consultation
Call us at (612) 999-8067 or fill out the form below.
One Company, All Year
When the landscaping season ends, the same company keeps your drive and walks clear all winter.
Residential service runs on a 2 inch trigger. Once accumulation reaches it, your driveway is cleared within 10 hours after snowfall stops.
Every residential truck runs a rubber cutting edge, so a steel blade never touches your pavers or concrete. Walks and steps are included.
Snow Removal in Excelsior