Business Details
21 Years
experience
Expert Sustainable Landscaping in Minneapolis
Founded in 2005, biota Landscapes is an award-winning landscape design, build, and horticultural firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our mission centers on creating innovative, interactive outdoor spaces using high-quality plants, materials, and construction techniques while fostering environmental stewardship. We prioritize sustainable practices, including solar-powered operations and battery-powered tools, to minimize ecological impact. Our team of certified professionals brings decades of combined experience in landscape architecture, construction management, and horticultural maintenance. We actively engage with the community through volunteer work, fundraising, and initiatives like tree planting in disaster-affected areas. Our design process emphasizes collaboration, starting with client consultations to understand goals and outline project timelines, fees, and deliverables.We serve both residential and commercial clients, delivering custom solutions tailored to each property's unique biota. Our commitment to sustainability extends to practices like green mulch, composting, and locally sourced organic fertilizers. Recognized by industry organizations such as the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, we combine expertise with a passion for creating enduring, eco-conscious landscapes. Through ongoing maintenance services and educational initiatives like Victory Gardens, we ensure our clients' outdoor spaces thrive year-round while supporting biodiversity and environmental health.
Services
Landscape Design
Construction Services
Horticultural Maintenance
Sustainable Landscaping
Community Projects
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We are an award-winning firm with 20+ years of combined team experience.
- Our solar-powered facility and battery-operated tools ensure eco-friendly service.
- Certified professionals from the American Society of Landscape Architects lead projects.
- We actively support community initiatives like urban tree planting and children's gardens.
- Our sustainable practices include green mulch, composting, and invasive species management.
Associations and certifications
- MN Licensed General Contractor BC# 707829
Services
Landscape Design
Our landscape design team creates custom outdoor spaces using native plants and sustainable materials. We employ CAD renderings and 3D modeling to visualize projects before construction begins. Services include hardscape design, planting plans, and lighting layouts tailored to residential and commercial properties.
Construction Services
Full landscape construction transforms designs into reality. Our certified professionals handle site preparation, hardscape installation, and planting execution. We use eco-conscious techniques and materials to ensure durable, functional outdoor environments that align with project specifications and timelines.
Horticultural Maintenance
Ongoing maintenance services keep landscapes thriving year-round. We offer seasonal plantings, pest management, and plant refreshes using battery-powered equipment charged by solar energy. Our team ensures gardens maintain ecological balance while meeting aesthetic goals through sustainable practices.
Sustainable Landscaping
Sustainability drives our approach through solar-powered operations, green mulch techniques, and invasive species management. We implement composting programs, use locally sourced organic fertilizers, and prioritize biodiversity in plant selection to create environmentally responsible landscapes that support local ecosystems.
Community Projects
We contribute to community development through tree planting in disaster-affected areas, building children's play spaces, and creating educational vegetable gardens. Our team volunteers expertise for initiatives addressing systemic inequities while promoting environmental awareness through outreach and fundraising activities.
People
Steve Modrow
Founder - Design
ASLA-certified landscape architect with a master's degree from the University of Minnesota. Serves on the Minnesota State Designer Selection Board and previously led the MN ASLA chapter. Specializes in creating interactive outdoor spaces.
Jim Saybolt
Founder - COO
MN Licensed General Contractor and Harvard GSD Career Discovery program graduate. Combines environmental science expertise with 25+ years of landscape industry experience. Oversees operational strategy while managing client relationships and team development.
Elizabeth Wynne
Designer
Award-winning CLP-certified landscape designer with an associate degree in landscape design. Serves on the MNLA Board of Directors. Focuses on creating aesthetically pleasing, functional outdoor environments that align with ecological principles and client needs.
Tim Dyer
Construction Services Manager
Certified Landscape Professional with 25+ years in the green industry. Holds construction management and business law expertise from the University of Minnesota. Oversees project execution while ensuring quality standards across all construction phases.
Gentry David Schweiger
Horticultural Services Manager
CLP-certified horticulture expert managing maintenance operations since 2018. Builds client relationships through personalized garden care while implementing sustainable practices. Ensures landscapes remain vibrant and ecologically balanced throughout changing seasons.
Questions
What services does biota Landscapes offer?
We provide landscape design, construction, and horticultural maintenance services with a focus on sustainable practices for residential and commercial properties in Minneapolis.
How does biota incorporate sustainability?
Our solar-powered facility, battery-operated tools, green mulch techniques, composting programs, and locally sourced organic fertilizers minimize environmental impact while supporting biodiversity.
Can I request a consultation?
Yes, we offer initial consultations to discuss your project goals, review design fees, and outline timelines. Contact us via phone or our website form to schedule.
Do you work on commercial projects?
Yes, we serve both residential and commercial clients, delivering customized landscaping solutions that enhance property value while maintaining ecological responsibility.
Are your team members certified professionals?
Our team includes ASLA-certified landscape architects, Certified Landscape Professionals, and licensed contractors with decades of combined industry experience.
Reviews (6)
Alana Wynne
Nov 03, 2021
Report
We are absolutely thrilled with our landscaping! Its always been dream to have big gardens and we now have a great foundation to grow with.
Biota team was great to work with and Eric our designer was awesome!
Biota team was great to work with and Eric our designer was awesome!
Megan A.
Aug 29, 2021
Report
We are so happy with our experience working with Biota! Eric was great with our design and Joe handled everything on site amazingly! I cant tell you how relaxing it was working with them. The team was flexible, hard working and wanted to do a good job. We got an email every day going over what was done and what was planned to be done the next day. The crew cleaned up everything every night. Highly recommend and plan to keep working with them future.
Carah Hart
Jan 28, 2020
Report
We were so impressed with Biota. They were absolutely wonderful to work with - knowledgable, prompt, and very communicative. We could not be more pleased with our yard - highly recommend!
Carla Maas
Dec 10, 2019
Report
Beautiful and practical design, best in class project management and get it done contractors. From the start when Elizabeth (landscape architect at Biota) created a design, she got what we wanted when we didnt even know. She created a beautiful multi season low maintenance yard with the shade and social areas we wanted. Our neighbor asked how we found contractors willing to work late and early in the landscaping season, one word Biota
Also Tom, the landscape lead gave us in person and email updates. Super detailed and awesome diligent team! With a significant yard overhaul we did have a
Also Tom, the landscape lead gave us in person and email updates. Super detailed and awesome diligent team! With a significant yard overhaul we did have a
Mike Frost
Oct 17, 2019
Report
Weve done our fair share of major and minor home improvement and renovation projects, so weve had a variety of experiences, both good and bad with contractors. The best experience weve had, though, came from Biota. They were exceptional. It wasnt a huge job, just replacement of a retaining wall, but Eric our landscape architect, set a really reasonable and reliable expectation about when the job would be done, and his crew was there exactly when he said theyd be. Joe, the project manager, was fantastic too. He gave us timely updates every day, and involved us in the important decisions
Cari Gillen-O'Neel
Jul 13, 2019
Report
We live in the Summit-University neighborhood of St. Paul, and in summer 2018 we had a weed patch masquerading as a lawn, dying hedges (because the previous owner planted sun-loving shrubs in our shady yard), a wobbly brick patio, and a falling-down fence. We hired biota to re-do the whole spaceto add a patio in front to facilitate hanging out with our awesome neighbors, to add an entertaining area in the back, and to re-plant the whole yard with low-maintenance species that would thrive despite the shade. Although we clearly knew how we wanted to *use* the space, we didnt have very clear
