For the second consecutive year, Empire Landscaping has been named the Best Landscape Construction Company in Kelowna, taking home Gold at the Best of Kelowna Awards 2026. The award, run annually by KelownaNow.com and decided entirely by public vote, recognizes the local businesses Kelowna residents trust most.
Winning back-to-back Gold in a competitive category is an achievement the entire Empire team is proud of. Since 2004, Empire Landscaping has completed thousands of residential and commercial landscape construction projects throughout Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley, helping property owners create durable, functional, and attractive outdoor spaces designed for the region's unique climate and terrain.
A Word From Owner Tyler Rusch
"This award means a lot because it comes directly from the people we work for. Every retaining wall, driveway, patio, and backyard transformation we build represents a homeowner placing their trust in us. To know that so many people across Kelowna and the Okanagan took the time to vote for Empire Landscaping for a second year in a row is incredibly humbling.
We've been building landscapes here since 2004, and our goal has always been simple: do great work, stand behind it, and treat people right. This recognition belongs to our entire team and to the clients who continue to recommend us to their friends, family, and neighbours. We're grateful for the support and excited for what's ahead."
Tyler Rusch, Owner, Empire Landscaping Ltd.
About the Best of Kelowna Awards
The Best of Kelowna Awards are decided entirely by public vote through KelownaNow.com, with thousands of Kelowna residents casting ballots across hundreds of local business categories each year.
The Landscape Construction category was introduced for the first time in 2025, making Empire Landscaping's Gold win that year an inaugural achievement and this year's repeat win a back-to-back title in just the category's second year.
There are no judges and no industry panels. The winners are chosen by the community based on real experiences with local businesses, making the recognition especially meaningful.
Twenty-Two Years of Landscape Construction in the Okanagan
Empire Landscaping has been operating in Kelowna since 2004. Over the past 22 years, the company has completed thousands of landscape construction projects across Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Vernon, Coldstream, Peachland, Summerland, and Penticton.
From retaining walls in Wilden and Southeast Kelowna to paver driveways in Upper Mission and complete backyard transformations in Kettle Valley, Empire Landscaping has worked in nearly every corner of Kelowna and the Central Okanagan.
The company's services span the full scope of residential and commercial landscape construction:
Hardscaping Services
Empire specializes in retaining walls, paver driveways, patios, walkways, raised garden beds, and stone staircases. Every structure is designed for Kelowna's terrain and built to withstand the region's freeze-thaw cycles, whether it's a hillside retaining wall in West Kelowna or a paver driveway in Lake Country.
Softscaping Services
The company also provides garden bed installations, sod installation, irrigation systems, and drought-tolerant planting designed tailored to the Okanagan's hot, dry summers. These landscapes are designed to remain attractive and functional while minimizing long-term maintenance requirements.
Custom Outdoor Features
Additional services include custom water features, landscape lighting, custom pergolas, privacy fencing, artificial turf, putting greens, and everything else that can help homeowners maximize their outdoor living space.
What Kelowna Clients Are Saying
"Tyler and his team are absolutely the best. Hard working, honest, reliable. I wish we had known about Empire when we first built our home." - Colette K., Kelowna
"Their meticulous work was done on-time and on-budget. The end product is stunning, you won't believe how many cars stop and look!" - Anke S., Kelowna
Empire Landscaping maintains a consistent 5-star Google rating, with homeowners throughout Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley frequently highlighting the company's communication, professionalism, reliability, and quality workmanship.
Built for the Okanagan
Landscaping in the Kelowna region comes with unique challenges that require local experience. Freeze-thaw cycles place significant stress on retaining walls that are not properly engineered and drained. Clay-heavy soils can create grading and drainage issues, while long, hot summers require thoughtful plant selection and irrigation planning.
Properties in Upper Mission, Kettle Valley, and Wilden often require specialized retaining wall engineering due to steep grades and elevation changes. Older properties in Glenmore and other established neighbourhoods frequently benefit from drainage improvements, updated hardscaping, and landscape renovations that address decades of wear and changing site conditions.
Empire Landscaping has been navigating these challenges for more than two decades. Understanding how local soils, weather patterns, slopes, drainage requirements, and construction practices affect long-term performance allows the company to build landscapes that continue to perform well year after year in the Okanagan climate.
Now Booking 2026 Projects
Empire Landscaping's 2026 calendar is now open. Homeowners and property owners throughout Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Vernon, Peachland, Summerland, and Penticton looking to begin a landscape construction project are encouraged to request a free on-site consultation and detailed proposal.
📞 250-317-9496
✉️ info@empirelandscaping.ca