Stop the slide and secure your landscape with natural strength.
Living in Minnesota’s lake country often means managing steep slopes, shifting shorelines, and the constant pressure of erosion. While a concrete block wall might hold back the earth, it looks artificial and out of place against a backdrop of pine and water. We believe that necessary infrastructure should enhance the beauty of your property, not detract from it.
Unlike general landscapers who force generic, pre-cast blocks into a hillside, we utilize natural fieldstone and boulders to create structures that look like they’ve always been there. We evaluate the grade, drainage patterns, and soil stability to engineer a wall that manages water flow while standing up to the freeze-thaw cycles of the North.
Choose Custom Forestry for a permanent solution that blends rugged durability with the organic aesthetic of your land.
Shoreline Restoration
View Improvement
Slope Stabilization
Erosion Control
Drainage Solutions
We are different
Experience means we understand how water moves through a landscape. A retaining wall isn’t just a stack of rocks; it is a water management system. If the drainage isn’t handled correctly behind the wall, even the heaviest boulders will eventually fail.
We help you pivot from a “problem area” to a focal point. We select and place boulders with precision, fitting them together to ensure structural integrity while maintaining a natural, scattered appearance. Because we are experts in land management, we also know how to integrate these hardscapes with your existing trees and vegetation, ensuring the construction process respects the surrounding roots and soil.
Whether you need to secure a washing-out shoreline or terrace a steep hill for a walkout basement, we build walls that work with nature, not against it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose natural boulders over concrete blocks?
Natural boulders are superior for Northern Minnesota environments for two reasons: aesthetics and flexibility. Boulders blend seamlessly into the woods and lakefronts. Structurally, a boulder wall is more forgiving of frost heaving (the ground shifting during freeze/thaw cycles) than a rigid concrete mortar wall, which tends to crack over time.
Do you handle shoreline work?
Yes. Shorelines are delicate ecosystems regulated by the DNR. We understand the best practices for rip-rap and boulder installation to prevent ice heaving and wave erosion, protecting your property line while respecting waterway regulations.
Will the equipment tear up my yard?
Moving boulders requires machinery, but we prioritize low-impact methods. We use nimble excavators and precise placement techniques to minimize the disturbance to the surrounding area. We don’t just “dump and push”—we place each stone intentionally.
How do you handle drainage?
Drainage is the most important part of a retaining wall. We install proper backing material (drain rock) and, when necessary, drain tile behind the wall to ensure water doesn’t build up pressure and push the boulders out of place.