How to Pick a Snow Removal Contractor
Well, it’s fall now in Minnesota and the cold morning air is a chilling reminder that winter is once again right around the corner. With the well-above-average 69 inches of snow we received last winter here in Minneapolis, many
commercial snow removal
customers realized that their vendors didn’t have what it takes to keep with their snow removal needs.
Whether you manage a commercial office building, apartment complex, or a restaurant, you know how much you stand to lose by picking a
snow removal provider that won’t get the job done fast and reliably.
Maybe you’ve tried several snow removal companies in the past few years and none of them seem to be any better than the last. I’m sure you’ve wondered, “What’s the deal? Are there no great commercial snow removal companies in Minneapolis? Are my expectations unreasonable?”
Well, after 10 years in the snow removal business with KG Landscape Management
, I’d like to shed some light onto these questions, the industry as a whole, and how to find the best Minneapolis snow removal providers.
Let’s Start with the Challenges of Snow Removal
The best snow removal companies are those that address the challenges above, have the correct amount of dependable equipment
, real customer service
staff in place, loyal employees
who they can count on, and have not overbooked
themselves. There are so many low-priced snow vendors that simply do not take these considerations into account nor build the cost of addressing these 4 primary core concerns into their business model. Cheap snow plowing providers must rely on longer plowing routes to make their money, and this plan backfires during larger snow events (greater than 6 inches) when a route that normally takes 12 hours to complete can take up to 24 hours for the same driver to finish, who will most certainly be late and dangerously fatigued. When a manager asks themselves how well is a snow removal company is addressing the 4 primary reasons to succeed listed above, it is pretty easy to see that many snow removal companies are set up to fail.
Find the Best Snow Removal Contractors in Minneapolis, Minnesota
To break the cycle of picking bad vendors, managers need to see where they went wrong in their decision making process, pick reputable companies that are built to succeed, and expect to pay more than last year for dependable service. A manager should ask a snow removal provider, “why will your employees be more reliable than our last vendors’, and how will you handle the big snow events more quickly than others?” as well as other questions that address the challenges listed above.
At KG Landscape Management we run a core fleet of 17 newer trucks and 3 bobcats, all of which are maintained diligently by our in-house mechanics. We have 3 account managers who work full time throughout the winter handling your customer service needs to answer your phone calls and return emails promptly. Our labor is provided only by our own employees, not sub-contractors. We also have a program in place that provides guaranteed hours to our snow removal operation employees so that they can afford to remain loyal to us throughout the uncertainty of winter. Our pricing schedules allow us not to dangerously overbook our routes, which gives us the ability to handle the big snow events and bend without breaking.
After KG Landscape Management’s 10 years in the snow removal business, we have built a reliable and sustainable model that allows us to provide great
Minneapolis snow removal services
f
or customers that need it. Our prices will be higher than those provided by companies that have not taken into account the infrastructure and planning needed to provide great service, and our many long lasting commercial client relationships have proven to us that we are reliably meeting their needs in a way that others haven’t. If you’re a commercial snow removal customer looking for a vendor that really is different from the rest, consider speaking with KG Landscape Management this season. Contact us via our hassle-free form, or give us a call at 763-568-7251.
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When Pergolas Don’t Last, There’s Always a Reason After nearly two decades of building outdoor spaces across Medina, I’ve seen what happens when pergolas aren’t designed for Minnesota’s conditions. You can spot them a mile away—posts that lean, beams that twist, and concrete pads that have heaved out of level after just a couple of winters. It’s not because homeowners cut corners intentionally. It’s usually because whoever built it didn’t account for what our climate really does to structures that aren’t anchored right. Medina’s heavy clay soil doesn’t drain well. It holds moisture, freezes solid, and then expands like a hydraulic press pushing on everything above it. When pergolas are set on surface-level post bases, that pressure has nowhere to go but up—and the whole thing moves. Even small shifts can cause joints to separate, wood to crack, and hardware to loosen. That’s how a $15,000 structure starts looking tired after a few years instead of standing straight for decades. The truth is, pergolas here aren’t just about shade or looks. They’re about structure, drainage, and how every piece ties into the patio beneath it. A pergola that stands tall through Minnesota winters is built on the same principles as a good foundation—it’s only as strong as what’s underneath it. If you live in Medina and want to enjoy your backyard without worrying about your investment warping or sagging, start with design that respects the environment it’s built in. That means thinking beyond lumber and stain colors. It means understanding soil movement, water management, and the importance of integrating your pergola with the patio below it.
Solutions for Properties in Minnetonka You can always tell a Minnetonka yard that’s fighting its slope. Water doesn’t lie, it finds the weak spots every time. I’ve walked plenty of properties where a backyard starts beautiful in June, but by September, the patio is heaving, the grass near the pool looks like a marsh, and the homeowner is wondering how it got so bad so fast. The truth is, when you’re dealing with rolling terrain and heavy clay soils like we have around Minnetonka, you can’t just move dirt and hope gravity behaves. You need a plan that manages water from the surface all the way down through the subsoil. This is what I’ll walk you through here. You’ll see what actually causes drainage issues on sloped properties, how poor planning leads to cracked patios and shifting pool decks, and the smart drainage systems that can stop those problems for good. Whether you live near Lake Minnetonka or up in the higher ridges closer to Deephaven or Woodland, understanding how your yard sheds water is the difference between a property that lasts and one that’s constantly under repair. The Real Challenge of Sloped Minnetonka Yards Minnetonka is known for its hills, lakefront properties, and mature trees, but all that beauty comes with a set of challenges below the surface. Most of the soil here is dense clay. It holds water like a sponge and drains slowly, which means after every heavy rain, that water looks for a way downhill. If it doesn’t have a proper outlet, it ends up collecting right where you don’t want it, like along your patio, at the base of a retaining wall, or near your pool deck. I see this every season: homeowners trying to solve slope problems with a quick regrade, a layer of rock, or a simple surface drain. Those things might help for a while, but they don’t address what’s really happening underground. Clay soil doesn’t just get wet—it becomes saturated, expanding and contracting with every freeze-thaw cycle. When that happens under a patio or wall, it doesn’t matter how well-built the surface looks. The ground will move, and that movement cracks stone, shifts pavers, and slowly tears apart everything on top. The other challenge with sloped lots is how water interacts with gravity. It accelerates downhill, gaining momentum as it goes. When it hits a flat area like a patio, the water loses speed but not volume, pooling instead of flowing. That’s why I tell clients that “flat spots” on a sloped property are both an opportunity and a responsibility. They’re the best spaces to create usable outdoor areas, but they have to be engineered to handle water movement. I’ve worked on plenty of Minnetonka yards where the backyard has a beautiful view but terrible grading. You can have a perfect slope on paper, but if it directs water toward your house or creates a bowl effect between structures, you’ll end up with soggy soil and standing puddles that never dry. The goal is to move water off and away while keeping the surface level enough for comfort and usability. It’s a fine balance, but when it’s done right, it completely transforms how a property functions.