Why Spring Is the Critical Season for Landscape Curbing in Wisconsin’s Freeze-Thaw Climate
Merrill, United States – April 18, 2026 / Elite Landscape Curbing LLC /
MERRILL, WIS. (April 16, 2026) — With northern Wisconsin’s narrow outdoor construction window now open, homeowners planning decorative concrete borders face a time-sensitive decision: schedule installation before peak demand fills summer calendars.
Industry data suggests they have good reason to move quickly. The U.S. landscape services industry reached $188.8 billion in 2025, a 4.8 percent increase over 2024, according to the IBIS World Landscaping Services Industry Report cited by the National Association of Landscape Professionals. NALP’s January 2026 Economic Forecast projects continued mild to moderate growth for 2026, with front-of-the-house plantings and curb appeal upgrades ranking among homeowners’ top project priorities.
For Seth Pajtash, co-owner of Merrill-based Elite Landscape Curbing, the bigger story is timing. In Wisconsin’s Northwoods, the practical installation season for landscape curbing runs from April through mid-October — a roughly six-month stretch sandwiched between the last hard frost and the first freeze.
“Every spring we see homeowners underestimate how tight the window really is,” Pajtash said. “By early June we’re booked solid through Labor Day. Waiting until the grass is already green often means waiting until the following year.”
The urgency is rooted in the chemistry of concrete itself. Warm, stable temperatures allow concrete to cure evenly, developing the compressive strength needed to resist the repeated freeze-thaw cycles that define northern Wisconsin winters. When water seeps into concrete pores and freezes, it expands by roughly 9 percent, widening microscopic cracks with every cycle. Over time, surfaces installed without proper air entrainment, adequate cure time, or periodic sealing can spall, lift, or separate from the surrounding landscape.
Why Curb Appeal Projects Are Paying Off
Beyond timing, homeowners are reassessing the financial case for exterior upgrades. Landscaping can increase home value by 10 percent to 30 percent, and the average homeowner can expect a 104 percent return on investment on landscape maintenance, according to National Association of Realtors data cited in an Angi report updated April 10, 2026. The same report ranks a healthy lawn and an upgraded front walkway — both often framed by decorative concrete borders — among the highest-return exterior projects.
That financial logic matters in a year when broader remodeling budgets remain cautious. “People want projects they can see from the street and still feel good about three winters from now,” Pajtash said. “Curbing checks both boxes if it is installed correctly for the climate.”
Five Things Northwoods Homeowners Should Look For This Spring
Drawing on more than three full seasons of installations across central and northern Wisconsin, Pajtash offered a short checklist for homeowners evaluating landscape curbing this year.
- On-site concrete mixing. Pre-mixed concrete that sits in transit loses workability and can compromise curing. Equipment that mixes immediately before extrusion produces a more consistent finish.
- Integral color, not surface paint. Color mixed into the concrete matrix resists UV fading and does not chip away when snowplows or trimmers strike the edge.
- A poly sealer schedule. A first sealer coat should be applied five to seven days after installation, with a second coat the same year and reapplication roughly every two years to protect against moisture intrusion.
- Local climate experience. Installers who primarily work in Sun Belt markets rarely design for freeze-thaw durability. Homeowners should ask how the concrete mix and installation are adjusted for sub-zero winters.
- A written warranty and maintenance plan. Homeowners should receive documented care instructions after the job, not a handshake.
Planning for a Compressed Season
For homeowners who have already missed the early-spring estimate window, options remain. Elite Landscape Curbing performs estimates on weekdays into the fall and continues installations through mid-October when weather cooperates, with fall projects often receiving the year’s first sealer coat before the season closes. The company typically returns estimates within 12 hours of the initial site visit.
Homeowners across Merrill, Wausau, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Antigo, Rhinelander, Minocqua, Eagle River and surrounding Northwoods communities can request an estimate or learn more about landscape curbing design options at the company website.
About Elite Landscape Curbing
Elite Landscape Curbing LLC is a family-owned decorative concrete contractor based in Merrill, Wisconsin, serving central and northern Wisconsin since 2023. Co-owned by Seth and Stephannie Pajtash, the company specializes in continuous concrete landscape curbing, decorative stamped and colored borders, and landscape rock and mulch installation. Elite Landscape Curbing offers more than 80 color options and 23 stamp design patterns, uses a Harpten extrusion machine for precision installations, and participates in Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship Program. The company is licensed, insured, and backs its work with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee.
Contact:
Seth Pajtash
Elite Landscape Curbing LLC
(715) 204-4727
Contact Information:
Elite Landscape Curbing LLC
N2059 Corning Rd
Merrill, Wisconsin 54452
United States
Seth Pajtash
1152044727
https://elitecurbwi.com
