Call 608.274.2443 5284 Lacy Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53711

    Softscaping

    With over 75 years of experience serving the Madison area, we’re ready to help you create an outdoor space you’ll cherish for years to come. Contact us today to start designing the perfect landscape for your home!

    Ganshert Landscapes > Softscaping

    Innovative Design, Crafted for Longevity

    A truly exceptional outdoor space is more than just visually appealing, it must be functional and sustainable. Our design approach takes into account factors like sunlight exposure, soil health, and the unique features of your home. We handpick top-tier plants, shrubs, and trees, ensuring that every element is chosen for both beauty and resilience, so your landscape thrives for years to come.

    Expertise You Can Rely On

    We’re committed to delivering exceptional craftsmanship in every project. Our experienced team focuses on the details, making sure your landscape is not only beautiful but also sustainable.

    Softscaping Features

    Every landscape is one-of-a-kind, and we offer a variety of softscaping solutions to help you craft the perfect outdoor haven:

    Planting Beds – Beautiful, colorful plants that add vibrancy and texture to your landscape.

    Shrubs & Hedges – Lush greenery for borders, privacy, or defining different areas of your outdoor space.

    Shade Gardens – Carefully selected plants that thrive in shaded areas, creating a cool, serene atmosphere.

    Seasonal Plantings – Plants chosen to provide color and interest through every season, from spring blooms to winter interest.

    Groundcovers – Low-growing plants that provide a green carpet effect, reduce erosion, and require minimal maintenance.

    Trees & Ornamental Plants – Trees that provide shade, structure, and beauty, as well as ornamental plants for added elegance.

    Pollinator Gardens – Plantings designed to attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, contributing to local biodiversity.

    Our Work

    Featured Projects

    View our recent projects completed by our team. We’re experienced in a variety of projects and we’re ready to bring our expertise to you.

    See More Projects

    Why Homeowners Trust Ganshert Landscapes

    • over 75 years in business
    • Locally Owned and Operated
    • Personalized designs tailored to your vision
    • High-quality craftsmanship with attention to detail
    • Satisfaction guaranteed

    Sean and his team were fantastic communicators AND excelled at attention to detail. A rare combination to find! As a professional horticulturist, I recommend them with complete confidence. The small details, that could have easily been skipped to expedite the process, were not. They shared ideas, mid-process, that enhanced the project. We will definitely hire Ganshert for future projects! Thank you.

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    Ganshert Landscapes
    4.8
    Based on 32 reviews
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    Caroline Horn profile picture
    Caroline Horn
    13:01 19 Apr 25
    We highly recommend Ganshert for all your landscaping needs. Their expertise and professionalism can not be matched.
    Pam Adams profile picture
    Pam Adams
    23:08 02 Apr 25
    I highly recommend Ganshert Landscapes. I have worked with Sean at Ganshert, and he is a creative landscape designer with an excellent knowledge of native plants, trees and shrubs. He is courteous and a good listener. The crew are friendly, outgoing, and respectful of the home owner’s property. Sean has designed and created an easy to care for and beautiful landscapes in my front and back yard. It was a pleasure working with everyone involved.
    Sandra García profile picture
    Sandra García
    20:33 01 Apr 25
    From the moment we met Sean, we knew we were in good hands. He was incredibly personable and immediately understood our vision for the landscape of our new home. The connection was instant, and his ability to design a layout that not only complemented our house but also transitioned beautifully through the seasons was absolutely mind-blowing.

    Now, if only the rest of our home-building process had been as smooth… (At this point, we’ve been waiting so long, we were tempted to start charging admission for a “Tour of the Perpetually Unfinished House.”) But amidst the chaos, Ganshert Landscapes was a beacon of efficiency. While we dealt with endless delays, and enough rescheduled deadlines to make our heads spin, Sean and his team were the first ones to finish—and not just finish, but absolutely nail it. Our house was still a construction zone, but thanks to them, at least the outside looked like someone actually lived here!

    From Sean’s brilliant design to Craig, Hipolito, Lucas, Mike, and Javier bringing it to life with the plantings, and Brian and David meticulously crafting the hardscapes in our courtyard (which, by the way, was like assembling the world’s hardest puzzle—except the pieces were 100-pound stones), this team is the definition of professional, talented, and hardworking. They create outdoor spaces so stunning that we briefly considered pitching a tent outside just to enjoy it while waiting for the house to be done.

    When we envisioned our landscape, we wanted it to reflect our heritage, and Sean and his team made that vision a reality. For example, I desperately wanted a Bugambilia tree, just like the ones I grew up with in Mexico. The moment I mentioned it, Sean whipped out his zones chart like a plant scientist, shook his head, and immediately broke the news that it wouldn’t survive Wisconsin’s winters. (Apparently, nature doesn’t care about my nostalgia.) But instead of leaving me heartbroken, he found me the Wisconsin version of it—a tree with flowers the exact same color. That level of thoughtfulness is just one of the many reasons Ganshert is in a league of its own.

    One of the most meaningful parts of this journey was when I lost my dad during construction—Sean thoughtfully selected the perfect tree to hold his ashes and honor his memory. That level of care goes beyond landscaping; it’s creating something truly special.

    And their talents don’t stop with landscaping! Ganshert also removes snow in the winter (because while we love our beautiful yard, we do not love shoveling it). And if, like us, you happen to accidentally acquire an apple orchard with your house, Maddie will be there to prune the trees like a pro while you wait for your dream home to finally be move-in ready. (Seriously, who knew tree pruning was a service we needed?!)

    Honestly, we’re considering installing a plaque with the Ganshert logo on our pavers so when people ask, “Who did your landscaping?” we can just point to it and save ourselves the explanation. If you’re looking for a team that brings expertise, dedication, and a personal touch to their work, Ganshert Landscapes is the one to call. I can’t wait to keep working with them for years to come!
    Ed Peirick profile picture
    Ed Peirick
    20:18 25 Mar 25
    A windstorm toppled a very large backyard hickory tree, causing significant landscape damage. Rather than just removing the downed tree and living with what plantings survive, we decided to have a couple landscape companies design a plan that would be aesthetically pleasing, long lasting and useful. Sean and his crew totally exceeded our expectations with the installation of a flagstone circular patio, numerous plantings that add color & texture and terraced the area where the hickory tree stump was removed. Taking several weeks to complete, we were always kept informed and they never hesitated to give us suggestions for little “tweaks” that we might like. The crew was always courteous making sure the site was picked up at the end of each work day. We were sad to lose our hickory but so happy that Ganshert transformed our backyard into an inviting place to enjoy going forward.
    Samara Eisner profile picture
    Samara Eisner
    21:06 24 Mar 25
    Sean and his team were fantastic communicators AND excelled at attention to detail. A rare combination to find! As a professional horticulturist, I recommend them with complete confidence. The small details, that could have easily been skipped to expedite the process, were not. They shared ideas, mid-process, that enhanced the project. We will definitely hire Ganshert for future projects! Thank you.
    Randi Huntsman profile picture
    Randi Huntsman
    14:43 28 Oct 24
    Ganshert replaced our decades-old timber retaining wall with a good-looking stone wall. Everything was handled professionally and courteously from my initial inquiry, to scheduling the estimate, to asking the foreman a zillion questions during the installation, to site cleanup. We could not be happier, both with the result and with the process experience.
    Shari Bernstein profile picture
    Shari Bernstein
    20:07 26 Apr 24
    Ganshert did both hard scape and landscaping in my yard two years ago, and it is even more beautiful this year than it was when they put it in. Sean is an incredibly talented landscape architect and brought my vision for a park-like setting and gorgeous curved patio to life in my challenging little near-east side yard. We get daily compliments from people walking by about the yard and the plantings. Fairly priced and just wonderful work!! We are using them again this year to landscape our front and side yards.
    Katey Smith profile picture
    Katey Smith
    12:34 11 Apr 24
    Ganshert is a fantastic company! They not only care about their landscaping clients but also truly care about their employees. They continually go the extra mile to make sure you are happy. After 70+ years in business they aren’t going to leave you hanging like other flashy companies that have only been around a year or two. I’d happily pay a little extra to avoid headaches and redoing things later on. Don’t hesitate!
    Patrice Peltier profile picture
    Patrice Peltier
    18:36 09 Jan 23
    We contacted Ganshert for help resolving drainage problems with the patio and walk between our house and garage. Sean created a design that regraded the area and incorporated a small rain garden. He turned the areas too shady to grow grass into curving planting beds. Michael and Al did a fabulous job installing permeable pavers for the walk and patio and built a great pergola. We knew we would enjoy the new area in spring, summer and fall, but we REALLY appreciate it in winter. Snow and ice melt quickly off the pavers Sean recommended, and there’s no icy build up in front of our garage door any more. We’re very pleased with our Ganshert experience.
    Jane Wery profile picture
    Jane Wery
    14:02 20 Oct 22
    I have been a client since 2020. As a longtime, zone 4 gardener, I had a long list of “must haves” for my new home in Madison. I worked with Sean Pratt as the designer and I welcomed his suggestions for new plants. Sean and Zach Meyer have extensive knowledge and were focused on getting the tasks done efficiently. Although the yard is small, everything was needed from excavation to accent lighting. I continue to rely on Ganshert for landscape expansion and replacing trees due to storm or animal damage. The communication is excellent and Ganshert has a talented crew.

    Let’s Bring Your Dream Landscape To Life

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Softscaping refers to the living elements of a landscape, such as plants, trees, shrubs, flowers, and grass, as well as the soil and mulch that support them.

    Choosing the right plants depends on factors like soil type, sun exposure, climate, and the overall design of your outdoor space. A professional softscaping service can help guide you in selecting the best options for your needs.

    Watering needs vary by plant type, but generally, new plants require more frequent watering to establish their roots. It’s important to follow specific watering recommendations based on the plant’s species and local weather conditions.

    The ideal planting time depends on your climate, but in general, spring and fall are the best seasons for planting most trees, shrubs, and flowers. Fall allows roots to establish before the cold months, while spring offers a full growing season ahead.

    Yes! Many plants are drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and thrive in low-maintenance conditions, such as native plants, ornamental grasses, and certain shrubs. A professional softscaping service can help you choose the best options for a hassle-free garden.