Paver Patio and Boulder Wall Build in Mendota Heights, MN
This Lake Elmo backyard had a lot going on - a grade change between the deck and the upper yard, drainage concerns, and a need for usable outdoor space. The homeowner wanted a patio that tied into the existing deck, a natural-looking wall to manage the elevation difference, and a yard that would actually function well long-term. That's a lot to solve at once, but it's exactly the kind of project we enjoy working through.
The patio itself is Unilock Westport Smooth pavers in a random pattern with a River color field and Charcoal sailor course border. That two-tone combination does a lot of visual work - the darker border frames the whole surface and gives it a finished, intentional look. Underneath, we ran 8 inches of open graded base with a granite chip bedding layer and finished the joints with polymeric sand. That base prep is what keeps a paver patio from shifting and settling over time. It's not glamorous work, but it's the difference between a patio that holds up for decades and one that starts rocking underfoot after a few winters.
The boulder wall runs about 65 linear feet of 18 to 24 inch fieldstone boulders, curving from the front corner of the garage and wrapping around two sides of the patio. We cut three sawn boulder steps right through the wall so there's easy access from the patio level up to the yard above. The fill behind the wall came from the patio excavation itself - nothing wasted. Flagstone steppers connect the walkway between the garage and deck, tying all the transitions together cleanly.
On top of all that, we built out roughly 90 feet of dry creek bed with perforated drain tile running the length of it to handle water movement through the yard. The upper portion got regraded, seeded with a sun/shade mix, and covered with natural net straw erosion mat to protect the seed while it establishes. River rock was placed around the lower side of the patio to keep water from pooling and undercutting the wall over time.
What you end up with is a backyard that works as hard as it looks good. The patio gives the family usable outdoor living space right off the deck. The boulder wall handles the grade change naturally without looking forced or out of place. And the drainage work means the yard isn't going to wash out every time it rains. It all fits together the way a well-planned outdoor space should.