Custom landscape design, paver patios, retaining walls, and planting for Fox Cities homes — designed for our clay soil and hard winters, with the owner on every project for 20+ years.
From the first design sketch to the last plant in the ground, we handle every part of your outdoor project — and stand behind it season after season.
We're not the biggest company in the Valley — and that's the point. When you hire us, you get the owner's attention on every detail.
You work directly with the owner, who's on-site supervising from the first shovel to the final walkthrough — not a rotating crew you've never met.
Two decades of building patios, walls, and gardens that hold up to Wisconsin winters, right here in the Appleton area.
Zone 5 planting, freeze-thaw-ready hardscape bases, and designs that expect -20°F and clay soil — because we live here too.
We solve standing water and clay-soil runoff first, before it can undermine your plantings or heave your patio.
Written proposals that spell out every cost — site prep, materials, cleanup, warranty. No hidden fees, no surprise change orders.
We walk your property, listen to your goals, and follow up fast — usually the same day. No pressure, no obligation.
Down To Earth Landscaping started with a simple idea: treat every yard like it's our own. Over 20+ years, we've grown from humble beginnings into one of the Fox Cities' most trusted names for paver patios, planting, landscape design, and retaining walls.
What hasn't changed is our approach. The owner still works on-site and personally supervises every project — so the person who designed your landscape is the same person making sure it's built right. That's rare, and it's why our clients keep referring their neighbors.
Owner-supervised, start to finish
Native, Zone-5-hardy plant knowledge
Freeze-thaw-ready hardscaping
Honest, written line-item quotes
Most homeowners hesitate because they don't know what to expect. Here's exactly how we work.
Call or send the form. We talk goals, budget, and timeline, then schedule a free on-site walkthrough of your property.
We assess soil, drainage, and sun, then deliver a clear plan with line-item pricing — no vague estimates.
Our crew arrives on schedule with daily updates. We protect your lawn and trees while we work.
We walk the finished project with you and hand off a maintenance plan built for your new landscape.
Anyone can drop a landscape plan onto your lot. Making it survive an Appleton winter is another thing entirely. We sit in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a/5b, where lows reach -15°F to -20°F, on clay-heavy soil that fights drainage every spring. Design for those facts and a yard thrives for decades; ignore them and it fails in two seasons.
Our recommendations are grounded in regional science, not marketing — we lean on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Wisconsin DNR native-plant guidance, and UW-Extension horticulture research to guide every plant choice and every drainage solution we install.
It's the difference between a landscape that photographs well on day one and one that still looks right after ten Wisconsin winters. Explore our native-forward planting to see how we put it into practice.
Appleton sits in USDA Zone 5a/5b, where winters hit -15°F to -20°F. We build planting plans on Zone 4-rated plants — hardy to -30°F — so a brutal winter doesn't wipe out your beds.
Our clay soil drains slowly and spring snowmelt has nowhere to go. We solve water first with grading, French drains, and rain gardens — because everything you build on top depends on it.
Repeated freezing and thawing heaves pavers and cracks walls. Deep compacted bases, flexible polymeric sand, and permeable pavers let your hardscape move with the seasons instead of failing.
We design with at least 30% native Wisconsin plants — coneflower, little bluestem, serviceberry — so your landscape needs less water and replacement while feeding local pollinators.
Landscaping here is a year-round cycle, not a one-time job. Here's what happens when — and why winter is the best time to start planning.
While the ground is frozen, we design. Finalize your plan in January or February to lock in a spring installation spot before the schedule fills.
As snow melts, we handle cleanups, edging, and soil prep, then install plants after the mid-May frost and start hardscape once the ground is dry enough to compact.
Your space is in full swing. We maintain, monitor plant health, and plan phase-two additions like lighting or accent beds while you enjoy the yard.
The second planting season for trees and shrubs. We apply winter mulch, run irrigation blowouts by mid-October, and finish hardscape before the ground freezes.
Planning a spring project? Winter is the time to design. Book your free consultation and secure your spot before the season fills.
From Appleton and Neenah to Oshkosh and Green Bay, we bring the same owner-supervised quality to every community in the Valley.
Real feedback from the Appleton-area families we've worked with.
“They solved a drainage problem two other companies told us couldn't be fixed. Our backyard near Erb Park used to flood every spring — now it drains on its own and the rain garden looks incredible. The owner was here working alongside his crew the whole time.”
“We were nervous about the cost, but the proposal was clear and there were zero surprises. Our paver patio in Grand Chute has held up beautifully through two Wisconsin winters with no heaving or cracking. Couldn't be happier.”
“Down To Earth terraced our sloped Kaukauna yard with a retaining wall and finally made it usable. Honest, on time, and they cleaned up like they were never there. It's rare to deal with the actual owner from start to finish.”
“They redesigned our whole front yard with native plants that actually survive our winters. A year later it's thriving and needs almost no watering. They knew exactly what would work in our soil.”
A few representative projects that show how we work — the problem, what we did, and the result. Every yard is different, but the approach is always the same.
Erb Park, Appleton
Kimberly subdivision
Near the Fox River
HardscapingA sloped yard has two main fixes: hold the grade with a wall, or reshape it by regrading. Here is when each makes sense, and why the answer is often both.
Read article
MaintenanceA great yard should not eat your weekends. Here are the design choices that cut landscape maintenance for busy Fox Cities families without giving up curb appeal.
Read article
Outdoor LivingGood landscape lighting does three jobs at once — beauty, safety, and security. Here are the techniques that work on Appleton homes, and why LED is the way to do it.
Read articleThe number-one question we hear is 'what will this cost?' — and the number-one frustration with other companies is not getting a straight answer. Here's how we handle it.
Every project is unique, so we don't post one-size-fits-all prices that mislead you. What we do promise is a written, line-item proposal after a free on-site visit — site prep, materials, labor, cleanup, and warranty, all spelled out. No hidden fees, and no surprise change orders once the numbers are set. These are the factors that shape your investment:
A single planting bed and a full design-build with hardscape, patio, and drainage are very different investments. Square footage and project complexity drive most of the cost.
Concrete pavers, premium tumbled stone, or natural flagstone; standard perennials or larger, mature specimens. We walk you through the options at every price point.
Removing an old slab, correcting grade, and solving standing water all factor in. It's work worth doing — it's what makes the finished landscape last.
On a tight budget? We phase the work — hardscape and major plantings in year one, lighting and accent beds later — so you can build the yard you want over time.
Serving Appleton and the surrounding Fox Cities. Reach out for a free, no-obligation estimate.
Visit / Mail
French Road, Appleton, WI 54911Call or Text
(323) 606-0255Business Hours
We're based on French Road in Appleton and work throughout the Fox Cities — Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Little Chute, Combined Locks, Grand Chute, Greenville, and Darboy — plus Oshkosh and the Green Bay area. If you're near the Fox River and not sure whether we reach you, just call and ask.
Yes. Every project starts with a free, no-obligation on-site consultation. We walk your property, talk through your goals and budget, and follow up with a written, line-item proposal so you know exactly what you're paying for before any work begins.
Yes — and it's the biggest reason clients choose us. Our owner works on-site and personally supervises every project, from the first shovel to the final walkthrough. You're never handed off to a rotating crew or a foreman you've never met.
We are fully licensed and insured. Before we protect your lawn, trees, and hardscape with fencing and plywood pathways during construction, you have the peace of mind that the crew on your property is covered.
Winter is the ideal time to design and lock in your spring spot before the schedule fills. We install plantings and hardscape from late spring through mid-October, before the ground freezes. Early fall is also an excellent second window for planting trees and shrubs.
We address drainage first, before any planting or hardscaping. Fox Cities clay and spring snowmelt create standing water that will undermine a beautiful yard. After assessing your slope and soil, we design solutions like French drains, dry creek beds, rain gardens, or regrading so water moves where you want it.
Early fall — around September — is the sweet spot. The soil is still warm from summer while the cooler air reduces transplant shock, so roots establish before the ground freezes. Spring, after the mid-May frost, is the next-best window. We time your planting to whichever fits your project and the season.
Nothing, when it's built right. Our patios sit on a deep, compacted gravel base with flexible polymeric jointing sand, so they flex with the freeze-thaw cycle instead of cracking. In low or wet spots we use permeable pavers to keep water from pooling and icing over. We also recommend resealing every couple of years for added protection.
Always. Your proposal spells out site prep, materials, labor, cleanup, and warranty terms as line items. If a change ever comes up mid-project, we document it and get your approval before continuing — no surprise change orders.
Yes. We offer seasonal maintenance plans to protect your investment, and every client receives a care plan for their specific plantings and materials. Prefer to handle upkeep yourself? We'll send seasonal reminders and stay a phone call away — even years later.
Don't let another Wisconsin summer pass without the yard you've been dreaming of. Get a free estimate from the owner today.
