Southview Design's Backyard Forest Wins MNLA Award

Southview Design used locally sourced, native materials to create a backyard forest and waterfall to win a 2017 Excellence in Landscape Design award from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA).

Southview Design landscape architect Meg Arnosti cultivated a simple, naturalistic setting featuring native garden plantings and forest hues of deep green and dark gray. The Eagan fly fisherman/homeowner and his family now enjoy their backyard bubbling stream, waterfall and pond stocked with native fish and plants.

The first order of business was to address the serious erosion and drainage issues posed by the sloping back yard on one side and large, heavily wooded hill on the other. Not only was there very little level area to entertain or for kids to play, but erosion had created deep gullies in the yard.

After clearing some of the hillside plant material, a test showed sandy soil was contributing to the erosion. To solve this, the Southview team worked with the grade of the large hill instead of reshaping it into level spaces using large boulders for the sides of the stream. During stream/pond construction, a drainage system was installed to manage storm water across the back yard.

Tackling the lack of outdoor living spaces came next. The only outdoor living space was the deck. The space underneath the deck was used to store firewood. Covered in tarps, it was an eyesore that could be seen through the sliding glass doors of this walkout.

Landscape architect Meg Arnosti designed a new sheltered space under the deck. The homeowners now enjoy an outdoor living room with a ceiling fan and plenty of seating.

Staying true to the design concept that everything would appear as natural as possible, the Southview team reused existing plant materials as well as locally-sourced boulders (Gitchee Gumee) and hardscape materials such as natural stone for the fire pit patio next to the pond.

Originating high up on the hillside, the stream seems to emanate from deep within the hill. The steepness of the hill also contributes to the waterfall illusion with the stream curving along the base of the hill to the pond below. The pond is home to native crappie and perch.

Choosing the right plants for the conditions and putting them in the right spot were key to creating a low maintenance, natural garden. In time, as the plants grow together, they also help reduce the need for irrigation, Arnosti said.

Southview Design’s landscape designers have created many inviting, award-winning projects. For before and after photos of this MNLA award winner, see http://southviewdesign.com/lan...