There is nothing more important in the landscaping process than a comprehensive design. You would not want a doctor to prescribe medication before making a diagnosis. The design process finds the problems and provides a cure in the form of a well thought out landscape plan.

It is unfortunate that some companies skip the design process and rush to the building part of the project. There are some very "heavily landscaped" yards that have no rhyme and no reason; landscapes that solve no problems, but only create more. Barnes Park Landscape plans solve problems and define spaces that allow the client to enjoy their home to the fullest.

Site Work: We define site work as light conditions, soil conditions, sun direction, planting zone, elevations, and hydrology. Each site has its own individual characteristics and will most likely have multiple micro-climates. Our plant knowledge allows us to define what will grow in each, to insure a healthy landscape.

Building Architecture: The style of your home gives direction to the design and helps to determine the style of plants. Federal, Georgian, Bungalow, are a few of the styles used on the east coast; all of these have a slightly different plant vocabulary. The style of your home also defines the hardscape material used.

Intended Use: Defining the use of the area further directs the design. If you have children or animals, or plan to in the future, we need to take this into account, to create the perfect design. Do you entertain guests, and how many? Day or evening? (This will affect the design.) Swimming pools have unlimited design possibilities depending on your intended use.

Personal Style: The final element that defines the design is your personal style. Are you into nature, casual elegance, or are you more defined with hard lines, contemporary or English country side?

How do you see your yard? Does your yard fit your lifestyle? Do you use your yard to its fullest potential?

The size of your yard bares no relevance to the difficulty of the design. A "tight" courtyard of a townhome in Washington, DC, Alexandria, VA or Annapolis, MD may have as many design issues as a 10-acre farm.