What Services Do You Provide?

Kittleson Landscape is a full service landscaping company serving Madison Wisconsin and Dane county. We do stone landscaping, patios, retaining walls, brick patios, garden waterfalls, rain gardens and other landscaping in Madison. We work with a landscape architect to build custom designs for our clients. We also do additional work in grading of soil, installation of lighting and water features. For more detailed information about our services, please browse our other pages.

I have water in my basement. Do I have to add drain tile, or can landscaping help?

Landscaping is the first step to preventing water from entering the basement. Proper grading to create a slope away from the house is critical, and can solve the majority of basement of water problems. Drain tile may be required in some extreme cases. However, drain tile won’t stop water from flowing toward the foundation. Eliminating the flow of water through grading is the first step. A landscape retaining wall may also be part of such a project.

Our shoreline is eroding from high water and boat waves. What can we do to help?

Protect the shoreline. By adding a landscape retaining wall, the earth will be protected from direct impact of water and waves. Once a landscape retaining wall is installed, any water that does hit will run through the rocks and back down. We often add plants to many of our lakeshore landscape projects. This softens the look of the rock and cleans the water before it returns to the lake. There are a variety of plant options available to customize the look of your rock while helping the environment.

Our shrubs are overgrown. Is there any way to avoid this?

Shrubs will grow throughout their lifetime and do require some trimming to keep them in shape. By selecting shrubs that will fit properly within a landscaped area at their full growth size, homeowner and businesses can avoid extreme overgrowth. We regularly recommend shrubs that will be attractive at full growth so our clients won’t have to worry about extreme overgrowth.

What are important things to consider when hiring a landscape contractor?

The first step to hiring a landscape contractor is through referrals from friends. There are many landscapers in Madison to choose from. They will share with you what it was like to work with their chosen contractor, and you can see the result of the contractor’s work. It is also helpful to choose a company that works with a landscape architect to provide custom designs that not only are stable and secure but also care for the natural environment. When a company is working on the property of your home or business, it is essential to know they are licensed and insured. Not only do you trust them with the safety of your home or business, you can be held liable for any injury incurred by the company if they are not properly insured. Ask your potential subcontractor for proof of insurance and licensing information, as well as for references before they being work on your landscaping project.

How much does it cost to do a landscape project?

The cost of a landscape project can vary widely based on the scope of the project, condition of the site, and many other factors. Different landscapers in Madison and landscape architects in Madison can vary in price. Projects can range from $2,000 to $15,000 and greater. We are happy to meet with you at your project site to discuss your visions and answer any questions about your custom landscaping project.

What if I would like to do my project in phases? Can I do that?

The most cost effective way to do a landscaping project is to do it all at one time. This eliminates the cost of multiple trips to a job site, which increases the cost of a project. Although it is more cost effective to do an entire project at one time, it can be cost prohibitive for some clients. Our team can evaluate your entire project and recommend the best way to work through your project in phases.

I’m concerned about the environment and water conservation. What experience do you have with landscaping to conserve water?

Our landscape builders have vast experience in water conservation and runoff reduction. Proper grading of property helps to reduce water runoff. The addition of a rain garden to a landscape also helps with water conservation. A rain garden is a natural or dug shallow depression designed to capture and soak up storm water runoff from your roof or other impervious areas around your home, such as driveways and walkways. A rain garden allows the runoff generated on your property to infiltrate into the ground and helps to reduce potential water quality problems. While your individual rain garden may seem like a small contribution, collectively, rain gardens can produce water quality benefits. In addition to using landscape water features for water conservation, rainwater harvesting water storage is becoming a popular option for homeowners. Rainwater harvesting is a method of capturing rainwater for storage in underground tanks to be available for later use for watering plants, in ponds or for other outdoor water use. Visit our water conservation page for more detailed information about these features.

About Kittleson Landscape

Nearly Four Decades of Outdoor Craftsmanship

Family-owned and rooted in Blue Mounds since 1987, designing and building custom landscapes, patios, retaining walls, and lakeshores across the greater Madison area.

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A+ BBB Accredited Serving Madison, Wisconsin and Surrounding Areas since 1987 7,500+ Projects Completed As Seen on Today’s Home Remodeler

Kittleson Landscaping in its early days, the original company truck in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin — The early days, Kittleson Landscaping in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.

Our Story

Built on Quality and Personal Attention

Kittleson Landscape began in 1987 when Craig and Kerrie Kittleson, together with Kirk Zimpel, set out to build outdoor spaces the right way, designed with care, built to last, and finished to a standard they’d be proud to put their own name on.

In those earliest days, the whole operation ran out of a single hand-lettered pickup, “Kittleson Landscaping, Mt. Horeb” painted on the door, as the founders earned a name one yard, wall, and patio at a time.

Nearly four decades later, that standard hasn’t changed. From our home base in Blue Mounds, the company has grown into one of the region’s most trusted landscape and hardscape contractors, and it continues with the same hands-on design, craftsmanship, and personal attention on every project.

Founded by Craig & Kerrie Kittleson and Kirk Zimpel, Est. 1987

By the Numbers

Four Decades of Doing It Right

Years in Business

75+

Years Combined Experience

7,500+

Projects Completed

How We Work

Craftsmanship in Every Detail

We're a team of local craftsmen, not a crew chasing the next job. Every project moves through a clear process, so the result is beautiful, functional, and built to last.

Design & Planning

A bird's-eye view of the whole project, designed with our landscape architect before a single stone is set.

Material Selection

Balancing durability, beauty, and budget with premium pavers, stone, and plantings suited to your site.

Skilled Installation

Retaining walls measured with lasers for true square and level. Detailed, accurate, and done right the first time.

Final Walkthrough

We clean up every day and walk the finished space with you. Your satisfaction is the real reward.

Rooted in the Community

Your Neighbors, Not Just Your Landscaper

We don't just work here, we live here. From our shop in Blue Mounds, we've spent nearly four decades shaping yards, walls, and lakeshores across southern Wisconsin.

MadisonVeronaMiddletonMount HorebBarneveldCross PlainsBlack Earth

Serving residential, lakeshore, and commercial properties across Dane, Iowa, Columbia & Sauk counties.

Mount Horeb Area Chamber of Commerce

A proud member, supporting the local businesses and the community we've called home for decades.

Mount Horeb–Barneveld Athletics

A team sponsor cheering on local student-athletes, because a community that's good to us deserves the same in return.

Recognized for Our Work

You Don't Have to Take Our Word for It

Nearly four decades of doing it right has earned recognition from customers, manufacturers, and the region's most-watched home improvement show.

A+

BBB Accredited

Accredited Business with the Better Business Bureau's highest rating.

5.0

Top-Rated on Angi

Five-star rated by the homeowners who know our work best.

Award

Unilock & Rochester

Award-winning installs recognized by leading hardscape manufacturers.

10+ yrs

On-Air Contractor

Featured for over a decade on Today's Home Remodeler TV.

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Our Roots

Founded on Four Decades of Craftsmanship

Kittleson Landscape was founded in 1987 by Craig and Kerrie Kittleson, together with Kirk Zimpel. Over nearly four decades they built the company into one of southern Wisconsin's most trusted landscape and hardscape contractors, setting the standard of quality and personal attention that we proudly carry forward today.

Craig Kittleson · Kerrie Kittleson · Kirk Zimpel

As Seen On

Trusted On-Air for Over a Decade

Kittleson Landscape has been a recurring, on-camera name in southern Wisconsin home improvement, sharing our work and expertise with homeowners across the region.

Featured contractor on Today's Home Remodeler TV across 2013–2025, segments on lakeshore landscaping, Unilock paver-patio installation, outdoor lighting, and Wisconsin shoreline permitting.

Broadcast on WISC-TV3 and WKOW-27 (Madison) and WCCO-4 (Minneapolis); hosted by Stuart Keith. A recurring program sponsor.

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Affiliations & Accreditations

Credentials You Can Trust

Wisconsin Nursery and Landscape Association member

Wisconsin Green Industry Federation member

Mount Horeb Area Chamber of Commerce member

Better Business Bureau A+ Accredited · Unilock Authorized Contractor · ICPI Certified Installer · WLCA Member · Wisconsin Green Industry Federation · Wisconsin Nursery & Landscape Association · Mount Horeb Area Chamber of Commerce

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About Our Company