Guide to Landscaping in Milwaukee’s North Shore

Landscaping companies in Milwaukee’s North Shore – which includes communities like Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, Bayside, Shorewood, Glendale, River Hills, and Mequon – offer a wide range of services to refresh and enhance outdoor spaces for spring and summer. These services help get your yard in shape for family fun, curb appeal, and outdoor living enjoyment. Key spring and summer landscaping services include:

• Spring Yard Cleanups: Removing winter debris, leaves, and dead plant material from lawns and garden beds. This often includes dethatching lawns, pruning shrubs and trees, and first mowings to give your yard a clean slate. Many North Shore landscapers will also redefine bed edges and apply fresh mulch during spring cleanups.

• Lawn Care & Maintenance: Ongoing lawn mowing (usually weekly), trimming, and lawn treatments are popular once the grass starts growing. Professional lawn fertilization and weed control programs (often a 4-5 step seasonal plan) keep grass lush and green. Aeration and overseeding may be done in spring to revive patchy lawns, while summer care focuses on consistent mowing and proper watering.

• Garden Bed Planting & Design: Spring is prime time to plant colorful annuals, perennials, and ornamental shrubs to brighten your landscape. Landscaping services can help design and install new garden beds or rejuvenate existing ones with fresh plants and flowers. Adding a fresh layer of mulch not only looks neat but also helps retain moisture and suppress weeds around your plants. North Shore families often choose hardy native plants that thrive in our climate for low-maintenance beauty.

• Hardscape Installation (Patios, Walkways & More): The warm months are also ideal for installing new outdoor features. Many homeowners invest in hardscaping projects like patios, walkways, or retaining walls to expand their outdoor living space. Professional landscapers can design and build features using brick pavers, natural stone or concrete – creating backyard patios for grilling, sturdy retaining walls for terraced gardens, or safe walkways to navigate the yard. These projects are popular in summer when weather permits construction, so scheduling early is wise.

• Outdoor Lighting: Another service often requested in late spring is installing landscape lighting. Low-voltage or LED lighting systems can highlight your home and gardens and make outdoor areas usable after dark. Path lights, uplights on trees, and patio lighting improve safety and ambiance for those warm summer evenings. Many North Shore landscapers offer custom lighting design to showcase your yard’s best features.

• Other Seasonal Services: Don’t forget warm-weather upkeep and comfort services. Landscapers can provide regular bed weeding and garden care visits to keep your yard tidy through summer. Irrigation system installation or maintenance is common in spring to ensure lawns stay watered efficiently. Some companies even offer mosquito control treatments to make summer nights more enjoyable for families. And as fall approaches, you can schedule autumn cleanups – but for now, the focus is on spring rejuvenation and summer enjoyment!

A freshly landscaped North Shore yard with a healthy green lawn and blooming flower beds – hallmarks of spring landscaping services. Regular lawn care and new plantings can make your home’s exterior pop for the summer season.

By taking advantage of these seasonal services, Milwaukee’s North Shore homeowners can ensure their yards are safe, beautiful, and ready for all the outdoor playdates, barbecues, and relaxation time that the spring and summer months bring.

Recommended Landscaping Companies in Milwaukee’s North Shore

When it comes to tackling outdoor projects, a professional landscaping partner can make all the difference. Milwaukee’s North Shore is home to many reputable landscaping companies that specialize in residential design, yard improvements, and maintenance. Below is a list of recommended North Shore landscaping companies (in no particular order), along with their specialties, service areas, and website links. These firms are known for their local expertise and quality work – and have experience creating family-friendly yards in our community.

Duke’s Landscaping & Maintenance – Based right in Whitefish Bay (5248 N. Berkeley Blvd.), this family-owned firm has served the North Shore for nearly 30 years. Duke’s offers full-service residential landscaping—from custom design and plant installation to weekly lawncare, spring/fall clean-ups, and hardscape construction (brick patios, retaining walls, decks, fencing). They also provide snow-removal in winter, making them a year-round partner for North Shore homeowners.

Nic Ehr Landscaping – A family-owned landscaping company that has been serving Milwaukee’s North Shore since 1947. Nic Ehr offers full-service residential landscaping, from landscape design and installation to ongoing lawn maintenance and tree care. They are known for their decades-long reputation in communities like Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, Bayside, Mequon, River Hills, Glendale and beyond. Whether you need a new brick patio, garden plantings, or weekly lawn mowing, this longstanding North Shore firm provides “top-notch” service with a personal touch.

Grow Lawn and Landscape – A locally owned landscaping contractor with over 25 years of experience, dedicated to providing “friendly, affordable, and reliable” service. Grow Lawn and Landscape specializes in lawn care and landscape maintenance – think fertilizing, mowing, pruning, and seasonal cleanups – helping keep North Shore yards tidy and healthy all season. They also can do light landscape design and planting enhancements. The company proudly serves nearly all North Shore communities (Glendale, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, Bayside, River Hills, Mequon, and surrounding areas) with an emphasis on reliability and customer satisfaction.

LandCrafters Landscaping – A high-end landscaping and outdoor living firm known for creative designs and craftsmanship. LandCrafters can take your backyard to the next level with custom hardscape installations (patios, walkways, retaining walls) and luxury outdoor features. They routinely build outdoor kitchens, fire pits, pergolas, and even swimming pools for clients, handling the project from initial 3D design concepts to final construction. LandCrafters serves the North Shore area with a full team of landscape architects and craftsmen. If you’re looking for a “one-stop” contractor to design and build an outdoor living space – whether a bluestone patio for family gatherings or a full backyard makeover – this experienced team has you covered.

Oberndorfer Landscape Development – Based in Mequon, Oberndorfer Landscape is a design-build landscaping contractor specializing in transforming North Shore backyards. Their team has a “wealth of knowledge” in everything from essential lawn care (seeding, mulching) to complex projects like patio design, water feature installation, outdoor kitchens and lighting. Oberndorfer is known for working closely with homeowners to bring creative ideas to life – whether that means building a serene flagstone patio, a trickling pond, or simply creating the most beautiful yard on the block. They also provide tree care services and ongoing maintenance. With an office in Mequon and many projects in the North Shore suburbs, they have a strong local track record for quality and customer satisfaction.

Liban Landscape – Liban is a family-owned landscape company (servicing southeast Wisconsin since 1972) that offers a full spectrum of residential landscaping services. North Shore families trust Liban for their personalized design, build, and maintenance expertise – they handle everything from landscape design and plant installation to building paver patios, retaining walls, outdoor kitchen areas, and even unique additions like pickleball courts or putting green. Liban Landscape emphasizes quality and customer care through all seasons (they do snow removal in winter too). Their long history and certified, knowledgeable crew make them a reliable choice for projects big or small. They serve Milwaukee County’s North Shore as well as neighboring counties, bringing “stunning results and personalized care” to each job.

Clippers Landscape and Maintenance – For those primarily seeking lawn and landscape maintenance, Clippers is a beloved local option. This family-operated company has been in the business since 1985, with the owner himself involved in day-to-day work Clippers focuses on keeping North Shore yards looking their best through services like weekly lawn cutting, fertilization and weed control, landscape bed maintenance, spring/fall cleanups, and small landscape installations or renovations. Many of their clients have been with them for decades – a testament to their honesty, quality, and reliability. Based in Mequon, they serve communities across Milwaukee’s North Shore (Mequon, Bayside, Fox Point, Glendale, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, and more). If your family mainly needs regular yard upkeep or one-time cleanup help (rather than a large design project), Clippers Landscape offers friendly, detail-oriented service.

David J. Frank Landscape Contracting – One of the largest and most established landscaping companies in the Milwaukee area, David J. Frank Landscape brings 65+ years of expertise to the table. Founded in 1959, this full-service firm has a team of landscape architects, designers, and maintenance specialists who handle everything from elaborate landscape renovations to routine lawn care. Despite their size, they have a strong focus on residential projects in the North Shore – in fact, David J. Frank’s primary service area specifically includes Fox Point, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Bayside, Mequon, and River Hills. Homeowners can hire them for comprehensive design-build services (if you want a complete yard transformation with patios, gardens, lighting, etc.) or for ongoing lawn and landscape maintenance programs. Their depth of resources and professional expertise make them a go-to for high-quality landscaping that will stand the test of time.

Each of these recommended companies has a proven record in the North Shore, but be sure to explore their websites, view project galleries, or contact them directly to see if they fit your family’s needs. It’s often helpful to get estimates from a couple of firms to compare approaches and pricing. Luckily, with the talented landscapers above, North Shore homeowners have plenty of great options to choose from.

Landscaping Trends & Ideas

Recent landscaping trends emphasize functional, fun, and sustainable outdoor spaces that the whole family can enjoy. Here are some popular outdoor living ideas and trends for spring/summer landscaping:

Outdoor Living Rooms & Kitchens: More families are treating their backyards as extensions of their home. Outdoor kitchens – complete with built-in grills, counters, or even pizza ovens – are booming in popularity, creating a hub for summer barbecues and al fresco dining. Paired with comfy patio furniture, fireplaces or fire pits, and even outdoor TVs, these open-air “living rooms” allow parents and kids to cook, eat, and relax together outside. Fire features in particular have become a major trend, providing a cozy gathering spot for roasting marshmallows and evening conversations.

Play-Friendly Yards & Natural Play Areas: Today’s family yards are moving beyond the old metal swing set. A big trend is to integrate play features into the landscape for a more natural feel. Parents are opting for designs that include things like boulders and logs to climb on, small hills or tunnels to crawl through, tree swings, and creative playhouses, instead of standalone play structures. An open, flat lawn area is still crucial for games of tag or tumbling around – think of it as a “tumbling lawn” with plenty of room to run. Surround that lawn with soft borders (plantings or fences) to create a safe, enclosed play space that gives kids freedom within bounds. The idea is to make the yard fun and stimulating for children while keeping it attractive for adults.

Interactive Gardens & Nature Exploration: Consider incorporating elements that encourage kids (and adults!) to explore nature. Pathways winding through gardens, butterfly gardens with native wildflowers, or even a vegetable patch can provide learning opportunities and adventures for young ones. Trends like wildflower or pollinator gardens have taken off – they’re not only beautiful through the seasons, but also attract bees, butterflies, and birds to your yard on a daily basis. Involving your children in planting native flowers or caring for a small veggie garden can turn your backyard into a mini nature preserve and outdoor classroom.

Eco-Friendly & Low-Maintenance Landscaping: Many North Shore families are embracing sustainable landscaping practices that are earth-friendly and kid-safe. 2024’s trends include using native plants, rain gardens, and permeable pavers to manage stormwater and reduce environmental impact. Replacing some lawn area with drought-tolerant groundcovers or prairie-style plantings can cut down on mowing and watering (meaning more free time to play, less time doing yard work!). Organic lawn care – avoiding harsh pesticides and chemicals – is also popular for the health of children and pets who play on the grass. These eco-conscious choices create a more resilient yard that requires fewer resources and less upkeep, which is a win-win for busy parents.

Backyard Entertainment & Recreation: Your yard can be a place for the whole family’s hobbies. Some homeowners are going big with “fun zones” that include sports or game courts – the rise of pickleball, for example, has even led to folks installing backyard pickleball courts! If that’s too ambitious, consider simpler additions: a level area of lawn for a badminton net, a basketball hoop on the driveway, or a small putting green. (In fact, some local landscaping companies can install custom putting greens or even pickleball courts as part of a landscape design.) And of course, the classic fire pit or campfire area remains a favorite feature for family gatherings – think summer nights making s’mores or telling stories around the fire.

Outdoor Lighting for Safety & Atmosphere: A well-lit yard extends the fun into the evening. Installing outdoor lighting along pathways, near the patio, and around play areas lets kids and adults navigate safely after dark. It also creates a magical atmosphere – for instance, string lights under a pergola or downlighting in a tree can make your backyard feel like a cozy retreat. Many North Shore families add lighting so they can enjoy dinners on the patio or nighttime games in the yard without missing a beat. Modern LED systems even allow Wi-Fi controls and color-changing lights for special occasions!

Outdoor living features like patios, built-in grills, and fire pits are trending among North Shore. Creating a comfortable backyard entertaining space allows the whole family to enjoy more time outside together.

By blending some of these trends into your landscaping plans, you can create an outdoor space that’s not only beautiful but also truly liveable. Whether it’s a pizza night in your outdoor kitchen, a pollinator garden that teaches your kids about nature, or just a safe green lawn for play – thoughtful landscape design can turn your North Shore backyard into a family oasis.

Tips for Choosing the Right Landscaping Partner

Selecting the right landscaper is an important decision – the goal is to find a professional who understands your vision, fits your budget, and is reliable and easy to work with. Here are some tips for North Shore families when choosing a landscaping partner:

Look for Local Experience: Prioritize companies that have experience in the Milwaukee/North Shore area and understand our unique climate, seasons, and soil conditions. A landscaper familiar with local plant species and neighborhood styles will be better equipped to recommend what works best in our North Shore communities. Local expertise can mean fewer surprises (for example, knowing which plants handle lakefront wind, or how early spring can be muddy here).

Verify Credentials and Insurance: Always ask if the landscaper is properly licensed and insured. This is vital for your protection. Also consider their professional certifications or training. A reputable company should have no problem providing proof of insurance and any licenses required for their services.

Review Past Work and References: Don’t hesitate to request a portfolio of past projects or addresses of homes in the area where you can see their work. Seeing examples of similar projects to yours – whether that’s a patio installation or ongoing lawn care – lets you gauge their quality. It’s also wise to ask for local references or read online reviews to hear from other North Shore clients about their reliability and results. A company that stands by its work will be proud to share testimonials.

Discuss Services and Specialties: Make sure the company offers the specific services you need. Some contractors specialize in design/build projects (like creating an outdoor living space from scratch), while others focus on maintenance and lawn care. Top landscapers often provide a comprehensive approach – design, hardscaping, softscaping (plants), and maintenance – or have expertise in sustainable landscaping with native plants. Choose a partner whose strengths align with your priorities. For instance, if you want a fancy outdoor kitchen and new landscape design, you’ll want a firm with strong design-build capabilities. If you mainly need weekly mowing and weeding, a smaller maintenance-focused service might suffice (and save cost).

Get Detailed Estimates and Plans: When collecting quotes, ask for detailed written estimates that break down the scope of work, materials, costs, and timeline. A professional landscaper should be able to outline a plan and schedule for your project. Make sure you’re on the same page about project phases (design, installation, etc.), who handles any permits (if needed), and how changes or issues will be communicated. Clear communication up front helps avoid surprises.

Assess Communication and Fit: Finally, choose someone you feel comfortable with. Landscaping is personal – it’s your home and yard – so you want a partner who listens to your ideas and concerns. Notice if they are responsive, if they answer questions thoroughly, and if they seem enthusiastic about creating a family-friendly space for you. Sometimes the “right” company is as much about trust and rapport as it is about price. A great landscaper will design with purpose, install with precision, and maintain with care – all while keeping your goals in mind.

By doing a bit of homework with the tips above, you can confidently select a landscaping partner who will bring your outdoor vision to life. The North Shore is fortunate to have many excellent landscapers, so you’re likely to find a great match for your project. Remember to start planning early (spring is a busy season for these companies) and don’t be afraid to ask questions. With the right professional help, your yard can become a beautifully landscaped haven that your family will enjoy all summer long.

Happy landscaping! Here’s to a spring and summer filled with outdoor fun, yard improvements, and making new memories in your North Shore backyard.