I think many homeowners would agree that by the time March rolls around, we’re all dreaming of warm weather and sunshine, specifically hosting summer barbecues, swimming in the pool, reading beneath the shade of a big tree, or hearing the bees buzz near the flowers.
That dream — to help homeowners and businesses rediscover the potential of their own land — is one Rare Landscapes specializes in. Based in Mound and serving the Lake Minnetonka area, Rare Landscapes is a full-service luxury landscaping company with a focus on hardscaping and softscaping installations.
From sprawling outdoor living spaces to easily maintainable features, the Rare Landscapes team can help design and execute the exact landscape of your dreams — no matter how unique.
“I’ve been doing landscaping for so long that I want to challenge myself to do projects that are unequaled, and so that’s why I named my company ‘Rare’ because we want to be one-of-a-kind,” says Bill Archuleta, owner of Rare Landscapes.
If you’re wondering where to begin, understanding the types of installations — hardscaping and softscaping — and knowing all the possibilities is a good place to start.
Hardscaping includes all of the “hard” man-made elements. These features include everything from patios and decks to driveways, retaining walls, and pools. Softscaping, on the other hand, comprises all the living elements of a landscape: trees, shrubs, flowers, grass, and other plants.
Hardscaping elements often take more time to develop but require less maintenance once finished, whereas softscaping elements, because they are living, require more upkeep but are an easier way to transform your landscape.
According to Bill, the most common installations include spaces that allow for entertaining. “The typical patio for the backyard with a fire feature, swimming pools, and maintenance-free decks, so anything entertaining-related is a very common feature that everyone needs and wants,” he says.
If you’re considering a new patio, brick and stone pavers are a beautiful, low-maintenance way to enhance your space. The patios can also be made to incorporate walkways as well as cooking or firepit areas.
Decks, similar to patios, are great spaces for entertaining and, as an added bonus, will increase the value of your home. Rare Landscapes specializes in high-quality composite decks that are easy to care for and well worth the investment.
If you’re looking for a major landscape renovation, adding an in-ground pool to your space is a surefire way to get the most enjoyment out of your backyard. Rare Landscapes’ pools are available in a plethora of sizes and shapes and can be customized to fit any design concept. A growing trend of smaller pools, or spools, are a lower-maintenance version for those concerned about size requirements or upkeep.
Incorporating hardscaping elements will increase the usability of your space, but if you’re going for a more aesthetic, natural upgrade, a new lawn, some mulch, and a variety of trees, plants, and flowers can go a long way.
However, deciding on the right plants and placement for your property is a more complex process than you might think. Your specific soil composition, access to sunlight and time of year are all factors that go into choosing the proper plants for your landscape.
But the best part about designing your dream landscape is that you can have it all because Rare Landscapes has done it all.
One memorable project they completed recently involved updating an entire property that was plagued with water drainage issues. The update included composite decks, retaining walls, a dry river bed, two patios with fire features, and a ton of lighting elements and plants. “It was a monster project,” Bill recalls.
While challenges can arise when designing and constructing your landscape — available space, budget constraints, city ordinance restrictions, etc. — Rare Landscapes is prepared to handle it all.
“We handle everything from A to Z, from start to finish, so we know that the customer doesn’t have to worry about all the nuances. They’ll have to answer questions along the way, but for the most part, we’re putting out the fires if they’re needed,” Bill says.
And according to Bill, the best time to begin planning for a renovation is way before you’ll need it. So, with spring right around the corner and that warm weather and sunshine dream within reach, ask yourself, “Is my landscape living up to its potential?”
I want to challenge myself to do projects that are unequaled, and so that’s why I named my company ‘Rare’ because we want to be one-of-a-kind.