Limestone cube wall & front yard transformation
Randolph Ave, Saint Paul
A patchy front yard with an 18" grade change. Now one of the best-looking fronts on the block.
Connie and Marilyn's Randolph Ave property had a front yard that had never really worked — a patchy front yard with an 18" grade change — just enough to need a retaining wall, but with no structure, no curb appeal, and nowhere to actually sit and enjoy the space.
The goal was a complete transformation: a limestone cube retaining wall to terrace the slope, Russian cypress planted along the wall face for year-round evergreen coverage, a paver patio with room for a swing chair, fresh sod across the lawn areas, and hardwood mulch beds with new plantings throughout.
We used the Kubota mini-excavator with the CMP grapple to excavate and set the limestone cubes — the same setup we use on boulder wall projects. The grapple made precise placement of the heavy stone blocks possible without the manual repositioning that slows a crew down.
An unmaintained grade. No structure, no plan, no place to be.
The front yard had an 18" grade change with patchy grass and no retaining structure — functional in the loosest sense, but not something you'd notice for the right reasons. Everything was about to change.
Randolph Ave, Saint Paul MN — before · 2025
Grade established. Limestone going in. The yard taking shape.
With the site excavated and graded, the limestone cube wall went in first — setting the structure that everything else would build around. The patio base followed, then sod prep and planting bed layout.
Randolph Ave, Saint Paul MN — patio base and limestone wall taking shape · 2025
Limestone cubes set with the CMP grapple — precise placement, no guesswork
Setting limestone cubes looks simple from the street. Up close, it's a puzzle — each block needs to land level, tight, and exactly where it belongs. On this project, we ran the CMP 360° grapple on the Kubota KX040 to handle both excavation and stone placement.
The grapple's full 360° rotation means we can pick up a block, spin it to the right orientation, and set it in place without manually repositioning — the kind of precision that makes the difference between a wall that looks built and one that looks placed.
Limestone wall. Russian cypress. Paver patio. A front yard worth coming home to.
The finished yard reads as one cohesive design — the limestone wall terraces the slope cleanly, Russian cypress softens the wall face with year-round evergreen texture, the paver patio creates an actual outdoor living space at the front of the home, and fresh sod and hardwood mulch beds tie everything together edge to edge.
Completed limestone front yard transformation — Randolph Ave, Saint Paul MN — 2025 · Heritage Outdoors LLC
Front yard transformation questions we hear all the time
How much does a limestone cube wall cost in the Twin Cities?
Limestone cube walls with Heritage Outdoors typically run $95–$120 per square foot depending on wall length, height, site conditions, and access. Limestone is a premium natural stone that brings a refined, architectural look to a front yard — it costs more than fieldstone boulders, but the clean, structured result is a different aesthetic entirely. Heritage Outdoors has a $5,000 project minimum. We always provide a free on-site estimate.
What is a limestone cube wall?
A limestone cube wall uses cut or semi-cut limestone blocks stacked to create a clean, structured retaining wall. Unlike fieldstone boulders, limestone cubes have more uniform faces that give the wall a crisp, architectural appearance while still reading as natural stone. They work especially well in front yards where the wall is highly visible from the street.
How much does a paver patio cost in Saint Paul MN?
Paver patios with Heritage Outdoors start at $35 per square foot installed and can range into the $50+ range depending on paver brand, pattern complexity, and base preparation. We work with RCP (Rochester Concrete Products), Unilock, and other manufacturers we can stand behind. No big box brands, no shortcuts on base depth. Heritage Outdoors has a $5,000 project minimum. We always provide a free on-site estimate.
What is Russian cypress and why is it used in front yard planting beds?
Russian cypress (Microbiota decussata) is a low-growing, spreading evergreen shrub that's extremely cold-hardy in Minnesota. It stays green through the growing season and turns a warm bronze in winter. It's a popular choice for low-maintenance planting beds along retaining walls because it fills in beautifully, suppresses weeds, and requires virtually no care after establishment.
Do you do front yard landscaping and hardscape projects in Saint Paul MN?
Yes — Heritage Outdoors serves Saint Paul and the entire Twin Cities metro including Minneapolis, Woodbury, Stillwater, Cottage Grove, and surrounding suburbs. Call us at 651-219-3668 for a free estimate.
Ready to transform your front yard? Let's talk.
Jacob will come out, walk the space, and tell you exactly what it would take. Free site visit, no pressure, honest assessment.
Jacob & Haven. Family owned and operated out of Saint Paul. Hardscape and landscape design-build done right — from the first call to final walkthrough.
651-219-3668 haven@heritageoutdoorsmn.com