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Landscaping Specialists Designing Nature Around You

What began decades ago with patios and retaining walls has grown into a full-service landscaping company specializing in lawn, garden, and installation projects of any size.

Since 1994, the landscaping specialists at Designing Nature have been driven by creativity and committed to client satisfaction for every landscaping project — large or small. That’s what makes us different, and it’s how we continue to operate today.

We’re more than your garden-variety landscapers.

Located in the west metro, Designing Nature provides landscaping solutions to residential and commercial clients in the greater Twin Cities area. From general lawn care and garden maintenance to more extensive projects like retaining walls and paver patios, we treat your outdoor living project like it’s our own. From start to finish, we transform your yard with client-focused, individualized service that’s beyond compare.

Our crews love their work and take pride in designing nature around you. Let us show you what we can do. Contact us or request a quote today.

Meet Our Crew

The Designing Nature family is made up of a crew of experts, including our in-house landscape designer, and a dedicated staff of landscape professionals. This team of specialists approaches each project like their own, with meticulous detail and unrivaled care.

We maintain the same level of creativity, integrity, and commitment to service that started it all in 1994. No matter the size of your project, we arrive with new equipment and fresh supplies, ready to clean up, maintain, or transform your outdoor space.

Meet our core crew, the creative team that helps breathe life into your lawn, garden, and landscaping projects.

JEFF NORMAN & STEVE LEUER – OWNERS

What started out as a couple of guys doing weekend landscaping projects for family, friends, and themselves eventually grew into a legitimate business. Capitalizing on their combined experience and desire to help others bring their landscaping ideas to life, Jeff and Steve officially started Designing Nature in the early 1990s.

The two are mostly self-taught landscapers who, over the decades, have also taken classes and earned certifications. They’re extremely hands-on owners, overseeing every aspect of the business, including estimates and client projects. Both Jeff and Steve take pride in seeing the results of the design and installation projects that their teams work so hard to complete.

Off the clock, Jeff is a big NASCAR fan and enjoys going for a ride on his Harley. Steve likes to travel and ride his Harley.

JACKIE LEUER – OFFICE MANAGER

With an accounting and math degree, Jackie worked in the corporate world for 15 years before following her passion for gardening. She started working part time at Designing Nature 2003 and became a full-time crew member in 2013.

Jackie handles all the office-related tasks and lends a hand on jobsites as needed. The variety of work, seeing finished projects, and getting to meet the clients whose landscape designs we bring to life are some of the things she enjoys most about being a part of the Designing Nature team.

When she’s not working, Jackie stays busy tending to her own garden, baking, exploring northern Minnesota, and riding her Harley.

SARAH NOTCH – DESIGNER/ESTIMATOR

Sarah started doing garden maintenance at Designing Nature in early 2013. By the following spring, she was the full-time designer, taking full advantage of her degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design.

In her role, Sarah meets with clients to help them find the ideal solutions for their landscape needs. She designs an array of projects, including hardscapes and softscapes — or any combination of the two — as well as annual containers. On occasion, Sarah also assists the crews with scheduling and onsite project support.

Sarah appreciates that her job allows for both indoor and outdoor work — and that each day brings with it something different. Helping clients is the biggest plus: “I like taking a blank space and turning it into something that completes the customer’s vision,” she said.

Outside of work, Sarah likes running, camping, spending time with her family, and working on her own outdoor projects.

Awards & Honors

Designing Nature is our passion, and we’re honored to receive recognition for doing what we love.

  • 2005 MN Nursery & Landscape Association Merit Award — Dreamwald Project
  • 2005 Minnesota Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Award of Merit — Dreamwald Project
  • 2012 MN Nursery & Landscape Association Grand Honor Award for Commercial Management — Osseo Boerboom Veterans Park
  • 2012 MN Nursery & Landscape Association Judge's Choice Award for Commercial Management — Osseo Boerboom Veterans Park
  • 2014 MN Nursery & Landscape Association Landscape Award — Mill Run project in Minnetonka

Contact us for award-winning landscaping and garden services.

What Our Clients Have to Say

  • When our 50 year old retaining wall needed repair, Designing Nature bid the job, did the job and it turned out beautiful! Even with extra rain/water issues, digging close to buildings, Steve and Jeff'…

    – Suzie Sween
  • Designing Nature completed transformed our property from no landscaping and mostly dead grass to a beautiful landscape, and all within our budget. The landscape designer provided several different des…

    – Beck Eren
  • Over the years we have done a number of projects with contractors and I must say our experience with the team at Designing Nature was the best experience we had with a contractor. Our contractor took …

    – Re Wolf
  • Designing Nature did a great job on our landscaping. They helped us design an entire outdoor pool area environment and new entrance into our home. The designer at Designing Nature had great ideas and …

    – Tracey Kubitz
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