Residential Landscaping Services in Apple Valley, MN
- Veteran-Owned & Family-Owned
- 30+ Years of Overall Experience
- TimberTech Platinum Pro
- 2-Year Craftsmanship Warranty
- Up to 50-Year Material Warranty
- NADRA & NARI Member
CHS Custom Decks & Design helps Minnesota homeowners plan landscaping around decks and patios, with a focus on paver patios and decorative rock or gravel. We consider yard access, seating preferences, and water drainage when planning the finished area.
Tell us about the part of your yard you want to improve. Call (952) 236-0276.
Make the Ground Around Your Deck Easier to Use
Your deck may be finished, but the stairs might still lead into dirt, or your outdoor table may lack a level surface. Pavers can create a suitable area for seating or a path across the yard. Decorative rock or gravel can give a bare strip beside the patio a more finished appearance while reducing the need to mow additional grass.
Our landscaping services featured on this page focus on paver patios and decorative stone or gravel. If you are considering additional improvements, such as planting, lawn restoration, or mulch beds, we can discuss your requirements and clarify which services are available before preparing an estimate.
What Goes Into the New Surface
A paver patio creates a defined area for sitting, dining, or accessing the yard. Its size should suit your furniture and the route from the door or deck stairs. Before choosing a pattern, consider how the new surface will meet the house, existing patio, and lawn. Even small differences in height at these transitions can affect how comfortable and practical the space feels.
Decorative rock or gravel serves a different purpose. It can improve the appearance of an unplanted strip or finish the area beside a deck, but it does not provide the same firm surface as a patio. Stone also requires some upkeep, as weeds can still grow through it, and areas exposed to direct sunlight can become hot. If you plan to grow plants in that area, decorative rock or gravel may not be the best option.
How We Plan and Build the Paver Area
We start by considering the finished surface height and how water moves across the yard. A paver surface requires ground preparation, a supporting base, secure edging, and a suitable transition to deck stairs or existing pavement. The right materials and preparation depend on the ground conditions and planned layout. We assess these details for your property rather than assume the same base depth will work for every yard.
Your proposal should explain how we will prepare the existing ground, which surface materials and edging are included, and how the new area will connect with existing features. For decorative stone, ask how the material will be contained and how the ground will be prepared. If water already collects beside the house, have the issue assessed before installing a new surface.
Choose a Finish That Fits Minnesota Seasons
Pavers are a practical choice when you need a level surface for walking or gathering. Decorative rock or gravel works better as a finishing material beside that surface. Consider where snow accumulates in winter, where melting snow drains in spring, and whether the area receives shade or direct summer sunlight. A finish that looks appealing in a photo may not suit how you use your yard.
What Affects the Cost of Landscaping Here
The cost depends on the size of the area, the pavers or stone you choose, ground conditions, and access to the work area. An open space may require different work than a narrow area beside deck stairs. Removing an existing surface, adjusting the ground level, or addressing water drainage can also affect the work involved.
Ask for an estimate that clearly identifies the included ground preparation, edging, transitions, and any separate drainage work. This makes it easier to compare proposals. We cannot provide a meaningful price for every yard before these details are established.
How Long Might the Work Take?
Ask about two dates: when work could begin and how long the project is expected to take. A decorative-stone strip and a paver seating area require different levels of preparation. Access, material availability, wet ground after snowmelt, and any required city review can also affect the schedule.
Once we define the area and planned work, ask for the current start window and estimated time on site. A general patio timeline is not a guarantee for your property, especially if ground conditions or drainage require additional attention.
Permits and Code for an Apple Valley Project
Apple Valley’s Natural Resources Management Permit rules apply to land disturbance activities. The City of Apple Valley Public Works Natural Resources department identifies key NRMP triggers, including moving more than 20 cubic yards of soil, disturbing 3,500 square feet or more of land, or changing existing contours in a way that affects drainage. A standard ground-level patio may not meet these size thresholds, but changes to drainage patterns may still require city review.
Before finalizing the design, confirm the project details with Apple Valley’s Natural Resources department and Building Inspections. Building Inspections determines whether a building permit is required.
Residential building plan reviews typically take 8 to 10 business days when required. For projects requiring a Natural Resources Management Permit, the City of Apple Valley advises submitting the necessary plans and applications at least 15 days before the intended start date.
Local Conditions That Change the Plan
Spring snowmelt and summer rain make the ground around your home important to consider. If a patio sits too high against the house or directs runoff toward the foundation, the new surface can create a more serious problem. We assess where water comes from, where it can flow, and whether the proposed finish changes its path before finalizing the layout.
The patio’s size also matters in Apple Valley. The city lists a maximum hard-surface coverage of 35% for most lots measuring 10,000 square feet or more, with different limits for smaller lots and some planned developments. The house, driveway, and other hard surfaces count toward the property’s total. This limit can affect the size of a new patio, making it an important part of the layout rather than just a permit consideration.
Why This Work Needs More Than a Good-Looking Pattern
Pavers are the visible part of the project, but the preparation underneath and the edging affect how the surface performs over time. An uneven transition at a deck stair can make access uncomfortable. Edging that does not hold the material in place can allow pavers or stone to shift into the lawn. Changes to the ground level can also redirect runoff toward the house.
Your landscape contractor should explain the planned ground preparation, water flow, and connections to existing surfaces before you approve the work. If a wet area persists in the yard, have the cause assessed rather than using a new surface to cover the problem.
Why Plan It With CHS Custom Decks & Design?
We build decks and patios, so we understand how the surrounding ground connects with these outdoor spaces. We consider where the stairs lead, how you will carry food or chairs, and how the new area will complement your existing outdoor space. We can help you consider pavers and decorative stone alongside your deck or patio rather than treating the surrounding ground as an afterthought.
How We Work
1. Show Us the Space
A few photos and a general idea of the area are enough to get started. Tell us what feels unfinished and point out any wet spots, existing paving, and routes from the house or deck into the yard.
2. Review the Layout and Materials
We assess access, usable space, ground level, and how the new surface will meet existing areas. A space for a table requires a different layout from a narrow decorative strip. If the proposed work affects drainage or hard-surface coverage, we also need to check the applicable city requirements.
3. Agree on the Proposed Work
The estimate should identify the selected area, materials, ground preparation, edging, transitions, and exclusions. Ask about the expected start window and time on site. Discuss any required city review before confirming a start date.
What Warranty Applies to This Work?
Before approving the project, ask your landscape contractor for warranty details covering the selected pavers or stone and the installation. Product and workmanship warranties may come from different parties, so the agreement should explain what each covers, how long coverage lasts, and which exclusions apply. Do not assume a deck board warranty also covers a ground-level patio or gravel area.
When a New Surface Is Not the Fix
A paver patio does not automatically resolve water flowing toward your foundation. If runoff collects there after rain or snowmelt, investigate the cause first. Decorative stone can improve the appearance of a dry strip, but it does not provide the same walking or seating surface as a patio, especially where you regularly move furniture.
If your project involves additional improvements, such as planting, lawn restoration, or a more extensive yard redesign, discuss these requirements with CHS Custom Decks & Design before finalising your plans. Our primary focus is on paver patios and decorative rock or gravel installations that complement existing outdoor spaces. We can clarify which improvements fall within the available services and help you understand what may require a separate contractor.
What Our Customer Say About Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Can landscaping be planned alongside a deck or patio?
Yes. Let us know whether your deck or patio is already built or still in the planning stage. We can consider where a paver patio or decorative stone would fit, how you would move between areas, and how water flows through that part of the yard.
What information should I have ready for a landscaping consultation?
Bring a few photos, an approximate area measurement, and a description of what you want to change. If you found us through a “landscaper near me” search, you do not need a finished drawing. Show us the deck stairs, existing surfaces, and any areas that remain wet after rain or snowmelt.
What landscaping work is included in a project estimate?
The included work depends on the agreed project. Ask for the paver or rock and gravel area, materials, ground preparation, edging, transitions, and exclusions to be clearly listed. Drainage correction, planting, and other yard work are not automatically included.
How will a landscaping plan account for drainage around my home?
Start by identifying where water collects and flows after rain and during snowmelt. Existing ground levels matter when planning a new surface. If water regularly collects beside the foundation, have the issue assessed separately rather than installing pavers over the problem.
Related Outdoor Living Services
Patio Construction in Apple Valley
If you are considering other patio materials or a larger patio project, explore the options on our patio construction page.
Residential Decking in Apple Valley
If you are planning a new deck, explore our residential decking services so the stairs and ground-level seating area can be considered together.
Deck Railing in Apple Valley
If railing is part of your deck project, its design and placement can influence how the deck connects with the patio. Explore our railing design options.
Complete Your Deck With a Landscaping Company
Tell us which part of the yard you want to make more useful and what is getting in the way. We can discuss whether pavers, decorative rock, or gravel suit the area and what needs to be checked before preparing an estimate.
Contact (952) 236-0276 to discuss your outdoor project.