ORONO'S SHORELINE SPECIALISTS
Orono Landscaping & Hardscapes
Exclusive Design-Build Landscaping for Orono, MN
Welcome to Freshwater Landscaping. Orono is a city defined by the bays that surround it — Crystal Bay, Stubbs Bay, Smith's Bay, and Lafayette Bay — and that geography is why the work here is regulatory before it's architectural. A single shoreline project can answer to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, the DNR, the LMCD, and the City of Orono at the same time. We handle MCWD-DNR shoreline permitting in-house and design to those constraints from the first sketch, whether that's riprap holding a wave-cut bank on Stubbs Bay or a multi-level patio stepping down to Lafayette Bay.
- 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
Architectural Hardscapes & Estate Design
In Orono, the landscape is a direct, high-value extension of the home’s architecture. Our structural landscape designs focus heavily on premium-format materials like natural bluestone, limestone, and concrete pavers.
From expansive multi-level patios on Lafayette Bay to massive natural stone stairways leading safely to the water, we build on deep, frost-resistant aggregate bases with an uncompromising focus on timeless elegance and long-term stability.
Structural Hardscape Solutions:
- Custom Bluestone & Natural Stone Patio Construction
- Load-Bearing Boulder & Segmental Retaining Walls for Slope Stability
- MCWD-Compliant Permeable Paver Systems
- Plumbed Pool Surrounds, Outdoor Kitchens & Lakeside Fire Pits
Professional Tree Services
The heavily wooded properties around Casco Point and Navarre carry mature canopy right up against the house — and often directly over a boathouse, a stone stairway, or a lakeside roofline. There is rarely open ground to drop timber into.
Our crews use friction-rigging to dismantle hazardous trees piece by piece over whatever sits below, and prune for wind-load resistance on canopies taking full open-water exposure off the bays.
Arboriculture Services:
- Friction-Rigged Hazardous Tree Extraction
- Canopy Deadwooding & Building Clearance Pruning
- Commercial Sub-Grade Stump Grinding
Shoreline Restoration & MCWD Compliance
Orono homeowners must flawlessly navigate strict municipal and environmental regulations. We know MCWD and DNR shoreline stabilization standards well.
Whether you require heavy riprap installation to neutralize wave erosion on Stubbs Bay or advanced laser drainage correction for severe hydrostatic pressure, we provide solutions that protect the lake and your foundation.
Excavation & Shoreline Services:
- DNR-Compliant Shoreline Riprap & Heavy Erosion Control
- Sub-Surface French Drains & High-Capacity Dry Creek Beds
- Laser-Guided Transit Grading for Steep Lakeside Lots
- Heavy Brush Removal & Invasive Buckthorn Eradication
Serving Orono & the Surrounding Area
We bring heavy landscape construction, technical arborist crews, and shoreline excavation teams to properties across Orono — Casco Point, Navarre, Bayside Road, and the shorelines of Crystal, Stubbs, Smith's, and Lafayette Bays.
Serving Orono's Finest Neighborhoods:
- Crystal Bay
- Stubbs Bay
- Casco Point
- Navarre
- Bayside Road
- Smith's Bay
Orono Landscaping FAQ
Landscaping costs in Orono scale with estate size, severe topography, and shoreline access. Mid-size projects, such as shoreline drainage correction or hazardous tree removal packages, usually fall between $3,500 and $8,000. Large-scale structural hardscapes, like lakeside permeable paver patios, often start around $6,000 and scale upward based on strict LMCD/MCWD permitting requirements, and shoreline riprap starts around $10,000.
Most structural shoreline projects in Orono fall under the strict jurisdiction of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and the Minnesota DNR. We work alongside the City of Orono on the design and permitting for your project.
Orono actively enforces strict limits on hardcover (impermeable surfaces). To help homeowners build expansive outdoor living spaces within the city's hardcover limits, we often recommend permeable paver systems. These advanced structures allow rainwater to rapidly infiltrate the subsoil, which routinely satisfies municipal hardcover limits.
Yes. When detailing a custom outdoor living area on the heavily wooded properties of Casco Point or Navarre, we frequently need to extract hazardous trees. Our internal tree service division executes precise friction-rigging to safely dismantle the timber over your lakeside home or boathouse before we begin hardscaping.
For lakeside slopes along Crystal Bay and Stubbs Bay, we strongly recommend thick Natural Stone or Permeable Pavers. Permeable options are exceptional for Orono because they deliver a premium architectural aesthetic while helping meet stringent MCWD stormwater requirements.
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 Orono