McKay Nursery Company

- 750 S Monroe St, Waterloo, WI 53594

For Wisconsin residents seeking to transform their outdoor spaces from simple yards into cohesive, valuable, and beautiful extensions of their homes, McKay Nursery Company stands as a century-old institution. Established in Waterloo, Wisconsin, in 1897, McKay is far more than a simple plant provider; it is one of the largest and most experienced nurseries in the United States, operating across nearly 2,000 acres of growing land. This deep heritage and commitment to horticulture have positioned McKay as a leader in comprehensive landscape design, construction, and maintenance across the Midwest.

While the business acts as a cornerstone supplier, the designation of "general contractor" is earned through their extensive "design-build" capabilities. McKay seamlessly integrates the roles of landscape architect, designer, and skilled installer. Their team includes certified landscape architects and designers who manage projects from initial concept to final installation, handling both the 'softscapes' (plants, trees, garden beds) and the complex 'hardscapes' (patios, retaining walls, fire pits).

The core advantage for local users is the unparalleled control over plant quality. Because McKay grows its own northern-hardy nursery stock—including trees, shrubs, and perennials—on its vast farmlands in south central Wisconsin, clients are guaranteed plants that are proven to thrive in the region's climate. This in-house, vertically integrated approach ensures superior quality and longevity for every project they undertake.

Customer feedback consistently highlights the professionalism and beautiful results. One residential client praised the company for two "big projects," noting, "They were on time, did the work quickly and professionally, and the results were beautiful—exactly what we wanted." This combination of horticultural excellence and reliable construction management makes McKay Nursery Company a premier choice for significant outdoor investments across Wisconsin.

Location and Accessibility

The headquarters and central growing operation of McKay Nursery Company are located in the heart of Jefferson County, providing a base for their wide service area throughout Wisconsin and surrounding states. The physical address is the hub of their massive production and design services.

• 750 S Monroe St, Waterloo, WI 53594, USA

While their growing fields are on-site in Waterloo, the company ensures accessibility to their plant stock and expertise through various channels: their main facility for wholesale and large-scale design consultations, retail garden centers in locations like Oregon and Oshkosh, and a robust online ordering system with nationwide shipping. Furthermore, the facility ensures excellent on-site accessibility for all visitors:

• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot

The company accepts major payment methods, including credit cards and debit cards, streamlining the process for both small retail purchases and large-scale project payments.

Services Offered

McKay Nursery Company offers a comprehensive suite of services that cover every aspect of landscape creation and upkeep, from the drawing board to routine maintenance. Their service offerings include:

• Landscape Design & Architecture: Custom, innovative design services for residential lots and commercial landscapes, including space planning and urban landscape design by certified professionals.
• Hardscape Construction: Installation of structural and aesthetic elements such as paver patios, concrete patios, brick pavers, natural stone and modular retaining walls, seat walls, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens.
• Installation & Softscape: Expert planting services using their own northern-hardy plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers, including bed design, installation of privacy hedges, and water features.
• Wholesale & Retail Plant Nursery: Growing and supplying a full line of northern-hardy nursery stock on over 1,500 acres for wholesale customers (growers, garden centers, contractors) and retail clients.
• Landscape Maintenance Services: Regular maintenance, spring and fall cleanups, pruning and trimming of trees and shrubs, sod lawn care, lawn restoration, and winter protection for plants.
• Specialized Consulting: Expertise in green infrastructure, sustainability gardening, erosion control, landscape lighting design, and commercial development planning.
• Material Supply: Supplying mulch and natural stone materials, often utilizing their own stock and regional materials in their projects.
• Project Management: Overseeing large residential and commercial projects from design inception through final installation, ensuring timelines and quality standards are met.

Features / Highlights

The key features that distinguish McKay Nursery Company in the Wisconsin market reflect its longevity and integrated business model:

• Employee-Owned (ESOP): Being 100% employee-owned fosters a culture of quality, accountability, and dedication among the staff, who are invested in the company's success and customer satisfaction.
• Northern-Hardy Plant Production: Operating over 1,500 acres of growing fields in Southern Wisconsin ensures that all their nursery stock is regionally proven to thrive in the state's climate.
• Comprehensive Design-Build Team: They employ certified Landscape Architects and Design Professionals who handle both the architectural planning and the physical installation of complex hardscapes and softscapes.
• Longevity and Trust: Operating since 1897 provides over 125 years of continuous service, establishing a deep level of trust and institutional knowledge in the horticultural and construction industries.
• Full-Service Hardscape Capabilities: The ability to construct significant hardscape elements—such as new patios, steps, and robust retaining walls—means they can handle the entire scope of a property renovation project.
• Strong Customer Assurance: Plants installed by McKay often come with a warranty, with customers confirming that plants which died within the first year were "replaced promptly."

Contact Information

To connect with the design professionals or wholesale division at McKay Nursery Company, customers across Wisconsin can use the following details:

• Address: 750 S Monroe St, Waterloo, WI 53594, USA
• Phone: (920) 478-2121 or +1 920-478-2121

What is Worth Choosing

Choosing McKay Nursery Company is choosing an investment in quality, permanence, and peace of mind for any significant landscape or hardscape project in Wisconsin. What is truly worth choosing is their integrated "soil-to-site" approach: the company that designs your custom paver patio, retaining wall, or outdoor kitchen is the same company that grew and sourced the specific, hardy plants that will surround it. This eliminates the uncertainty often found when hiring separate designers, suppliers, and installers.

Their century-plus history is not just a footnote; it signifies a deep, time-tested understanding of what works in the Northern climate. When customers choose McKay, they are benefiting from the expertise of an employee-owned team of horticulturists, architects, and construction specialists. This unified, professional team delivers award-winning results that not only look beautiful upon completion but are structurally sound and built to last, providing an excellent return on investment and long-term enjoyment of a fully realized outdoor living space.

McKay Nursery Company

750 S Monroe St, Waterloo, WI 53594, USA