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TRUSTED BY FOREST LAKE, MN HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon3.8
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon33
    Verified excavation services reviews

Find Excavation pros in Forest Lake

Avatar for Minnesota Grown Services
Minnesota Grown Services
4.9(
35
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Forest Lake, MN and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2010

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"Very easy and professional to work with from start to finish. My husband and I were nervous to work with another contractor, due to a previous very larger concrete project that had a few bumps towards the end of the project and we don't realize it would tear up most of our yard. The first call to Dan started with a small project grading and leveling estimate but through further discussions and Dan answering our questions; we decided to have them complete a larger landscaping project: replace a 72 feet rock wall with a boulder wall, frame a small flower garden with rocks, level and grade entire yard, over 4,500 sq feet, hydro seed, and place a few boulders throughout the yard . They initiated conversations with our neighbor, explaining and ensuring no damage to their yard would occur and if hey had any questions or concerns to please talk to them right way, they had none, and everything went smoothly. Dan and his brother pay attention to detail from start to finish and we greatly appreciated that. The grass is starting to grow and everything looks great. The price was well worth it."
Response time1 day
Response rate86%
3 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Clark Companies, Inc
Clark Companies, Inc
4.5(
105
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Forest Lake, MN and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Warranties offered

"Team performed exceptional work. My project wasn't the largest but they were in and out in one day! I would recommend this company to anyone looking for landscaping help."
NEW WALL
Huge Patio DONE!
Retaining wall
Double Boulder Wall
Commercial City Wall

+140

Response time1 day
318 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by64%of homeowners
Avatar for High Point Properties
High Point Properties
4.9(
18
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Forest Lake, MN and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Gunner and his crew absolutely crushed this landscaping job. Responsive and detail oriented through the entire process. HP properties is the only company I will go to for my future landscaping and lawn care needs."
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+6

Response time2 days
Response rate100%
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Robert Engstrom Landscaping
Robert Engstrom Landscaping
5.0(
8
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Forest Lake, MN and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Rob is a skilled stone and paver artist. He rebuilt our stone lakeshore with care, and created new retaining walls and paver walkway for our lakefront home. Robâ s work is beautiful, and he works quickly. I will definitely hire Rob again."
Boulder Wall
Response time2 days
Recommended by75%of homeowners
Avatar for Loews Sod
Loews Sod
4.9(
9
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Forest Lake, MN and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2021

Credit card accepted

Offers commercial services

"Brady did a wonderful job. Was very clear about how long the project would take and when heâ d start it. Him and his crew were very professional and treated my yard like it was their own, I highly recommend Loews Sod"
Response time12 hrs
Response rate94%
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Romero Landscape & Tree Service
Romero Landscape & Tree Service
5.0(
6
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Forest Lake, MN and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2016

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Hired for tree removal, block wall upgrade, remove garden, install sod, tree removal and trimming of another tree. Excellent service, and fair pricing. They cleaned up after work was done even in the street where trucks for debris were stationed. Workers worked very hard and were very nice and did a great job. Mariano, the owner was willing to help out with things I forgot to mention at the bidding process and all work completed in the designated time. I would hire them again."
Response time5 hrs
Response rate86%
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Exclusive Lawn & Landscape LLC
Exclusive Lawn & Landscape LLC
5.0(
5
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Forest Lake, MN and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2025

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"I couldn’t recommend this landscaping company more! From start to finish, they were professional, reliable, and seriously talented. They took the time to listen to exactly what I wanted and turned my vision into something even better than I imagined. The attention to detail really stood out—everything from the layout to the finishing touches was done with so much care. They showed up on time, communicated clearly, and made the whole process easy and stress-free. My yard looks completely transformed, and I’ve gotten so many compliments already. If you’re looking for a team that genuinely takes pride in their work and delivers amazing results, this is the one to go with!"
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17 neighbors recently requested a quote
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Excavating questions, answered by experts

In most areas, you will need a permit for excavation work, even for projects that only involve grading or yard leveling. Permit requirements depend on your local government and the scope of the project, but they are especially common for significant digging or work that could affect utilities or public property. These permits help protect the local topography and prevent drainage issues. An experienced excavation company will typically know whether permits are needed and can often handle the process of pulling and closing them for you. You can also verify permit requirements by contacting your local building department and describing your project.

Because decomposed granite is a durable material, a crushed rock or gravel base is optional as long as the DG is properly installed and compacted. However, installing a base is a good idea because it will ensure proper drainage and stability and act as a weed suppressant (although you may still occasionally have to pull weeds). Installing an adequate base can also increase the durability of driveways and walkways. If you forego the paver base or gravel underneath, line the area with landscaping fabric to avoid weeds.

A perc test can take anywhere from one to eight hours to complete. The total time depends on factors like the amount of excavation required, the depth and width of the holes, and whether multiple test holes are needed. For a single hole, the process of filling it with water and monitoring the drainage rate usually takes less than an hour. Professionals can often complete the entire test in a single day. While it's possible to get results the same day, some companies may take a few days to provide the official report.

To drill a shallow well, you may be able to use a drive well point. This is a tapered point that is driven into the ground. A drill bit at the end of PVC pipe may be another option to consider. A lot of the cost depends on what tools are available near you.

Yes, you can install a trench drain if you already have concrete in your yard or garden. While it can complicate some aspects of the job and slightly run up the cost, it is doable. Residential trench drains can be easily retrofitted to outdoor areas with concrete without having to remove excessive amounts of your patio, pool area, or decorative walkways.

The Forest Lake, MN homeowners’ guide to excavation services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.