Minnetonka’s Landscape Designer for Wooded and Walkout Lots

Landscapes That Work With Your Slope, Not Against It

LCI Landscapes has designed and built outdoor living spaces across the Twin Cities since 2001, giving our team direct experience with the wooded, sloped terrain and walkout lower levels common throughout Minnetonka’s neighborhoods near Lake Minnetonka. Because we handle design and construction under one roof, the crew building your project is the same team that created the plan, so there’s no translation gap between what you signed off on and what actually gets built. If your Minnetonka property has mature trees, a walkout level, or a backyard that has never been fully finished, contact us for a free consultation.

Make More of Your Minnetonka Walkout and Wooded Yard

Retaining Walls and Walkout Lot Grading

A large share of Minnetonka homes were built with walkout lower levels, which often leaves the backyard with a steep drop-off that limits how the space gets used. We design retaining walls specifically to create a flat, usable terrace at the base of that slope, with drainage stone behind the wall so water does not pool against the foundation during spring thaw.

Patio and Paver Hardscape Installation

Minnetonka’s older neighborhoods have a lot of mature oak and maple trees, and tree roots are one of the top reasons concrete patios crack within ten to fifteen years. We install paver systems on a compacted base that can shift slightly as roots grow underneath, which is why pavers hold up better than poured concrete on lots with established trees close to the house.

Outdoor Kitchens and Entertaining Spaces

We place outdoor kitchens close to the home’s existing traffic flow, usually near a walkout door or deck stair, so the space gets used for everyday cooking instead of sitting unused because it is too far from the kitchen. Grill placement, counter space, and shade are planned around how your household actually moves through the yard, not a generic layout.

Landscape Lighting Design

Because so many Minnetonka lots have tree cover, daytime shade often turns into near-total darkness after sunset. We layer path lighting, uplighting on trees or retaining walls, and step lighting on grade changes, which adds both safety and two to three extra hours of usable outdoor time on a typical evening.

3D Landscape Design and Visualization

Before construction starts, we build a 3D rendering so you can see exactly how a retaining wall, patio, or planting bed will look on your specific slope and tree layout. This matters more on a sloped, wooded lot than a flat one, since it is much harder to picture how a design will actually sit on uneven ground without seeing it modeled first.

Commercial Landscape Design and Maintenance

Minnetonka has a significant office and business corridor near Ridgedale, and properties there need landscaping that looks maintained in every season, not just freshly planted in spring. We build commercial plans around a realistic year-round maintenance schedule so the design still looks sharp in month ten, not just month one.

Why Minnetonka Property Owners Work With LCI Landscapes

LCI Landscapes has designed and built landscapes across the Twin Cities for 25+ years, which means our team has already solved the specific challenges that come with Minnetonka’s wooded, sloped, and walkout-style lots.

We are a design-build company, so the person who designs your project is also accountable for the crew that installs it, removing the usual disconnect between a design plan and the finished result.

Every project starts with a free, on-site consultation, because a backyard with a steep drop-off or mature tree roots needs to be walked and measured in person before we can recommend an accurate plan.

We offer flexible financing options for larger projects, so a full walkout-level renovation does not have to happen in stages over several seasons if you would rather complete it at once.

What Our Clients Say

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“Love LCI Landscapes. We had them put in a patio last season which we love. This year, we built a new garage and couldn’t think of having anyone else replace our old walls and landscaping. The project turned out beautiful and we are very happy with their designs and workmanship. Thanks to Tim and his team for a great experience!”
– David O.

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“We worked with LCI for our front yard last year and hired back this year to do our backyard. They are the best. Fardos and team were very professional, timely and went above and beyond through the whole process. Highly recommend!”
– Erin J.

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“We had a great experience working with Fardos and the LCI team when installing our pool. They did the patio pavers, a retaining wall, lighting, and the landscaping. We would absolutely work with them again as we continue to enhance our outdoor spaces!”
– Stephen T.

Ready to Start Your Minnetonka Project?

A sloped backyard, an unfinished walkout level, or a patio that has already cracked is easier to fix when you can see the plan first. Tell us what is not working in your current yard, and we will show you a real design before you commit to anything.

Proudly serving homeowners throughout the Twin Cities metro with professional landscape design, outdoor living, and hardscape construction services.