Among the most interesting aspects of this 12-year partnership has been the level of understanding and knowledge that has been developed on both sides. The landscape contractor has learned how to live up to the Marine Corps standards, while the Marine Corps personnel have developed a greater understanding of their landscape and how to properly care for it and plan for its long term vitality.

Built in 1801, Marine Barracks Washington is the oldest active post in the Marine Corps and is the oldest building in continuous use in the nation’s capital. The Home of the Commandants at the north end of the Barracks was completed that same year and is the only original building still standing. The Commandant does a lot of entertaining of Washington’s elite, necessitating attention to detail and quick turnaround on last-minute requests.

(BEFORE) In 2011, the contractor performed a complete renovation of this area, known as the Marine Corps Family Garden. Because a portion of this site is the Commandant's residence, the site must reflect his personal style and needs as well as that of the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps emblem, which is a focal point of the Commandant's garden, was cleaned and resealed as part of the 2011 renovation.

Through the creation and implementation of a long-term, ever-evolving plan, the contractor has maintained strict precision while adding more color and plant varieties to suit the current Commandant and his wife. When a new Commandant takes on the role (approximately every four years), he is able to change and update the landscaping plan to fit his liking. Additionally, the landscape contractor is in frequent contact with the Commandant's wife regarding upcoming events and landscaping requests.

(BEFORE) The plant palette has greatly evolved over the years, from heavy use of lush tropicals…

…to bright annuals and trim shrubs. In addition to caring for the 1.3 acres of turf on site, crews spend eighty percent of their time on detail work: hand-pruning, deadheading, weeding and clean up.

With every visit, crews inspect plant material to ensure viability in the warm, city microclimate. Plant materials are monitored for insect infestations including rose rosette, one of the most invasive plant diseases in the region. The contractor proactively cleans pruners with a bleach solution to prevent cross contamination and is constantly monitoring for signs of disease which, if found, is removed immediately—resorting to chemical application only as necessary.

With linear precision essential throughout the property, these boxwoods must be kept at the exact same height, requiring string lines, hand pruning, and sheering to create a perfect A-frame shape. Over time, the contractor has installed additional boxwoods in between the residence quarters which, although not visible to the public, must be just as precise as the public-facing ones.

(BEFORE) In addition to the Barracks, the property includes visiting quarters and the residences of several high-ranking officers, all of which must meet the high standards and remain uniform with the entire site. At an earlier stage in this project’s evolution, trees and other plant material were allowed to grow large and lush.

Now, because the residence gardens double as a public entrance to the parade deck, the contractor often thins the trees to improve sightlines, which is an important aspect of security on this site.

11. The interior of the main entrance is a high-impact area, as the first place VIP’s see when they come for parades and other events. This is also the entrance to Colonel Truman W. Crawford Hall, the new headquarters and rehearsal area for the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. As another important security checkpoint, the contractor is asked to remove low-hanging branches and thin trees here as well to maintain a clear line of sight.

Colors and varieties of annual rotations are chosen six months to a year ahead of installation. Because parade season starts a month earlier than a typical spring installation, the landscape contractor elicited the help of its grower to custom grow annuals to ensure viability and availability for installation at the start of parade season in late April. Plant material is rotated out as soon as it starts to fade, requiring anywhere from two to five rotations a year in a given area.

One of the recent enhancements that helps underscore the historic significance of this site is this Iwo Jima memorial that the contractor installed in the Commandant’s garden, which includes actual sand from the battle ground.

In 2011, White Oaks suffering from bacterial leaf scorch were removed and replaced with the Swamp Oaks seen here on the left side of the field. These 8” caliper, 25’ tall trees, with rootballs in excess of 7000 lbs, were installed using a 40,000 lb forklift, so that a crane wouldn’t have to be brought in and disturb Barracks activities or the inconvenience the surrounding community. Earlier this year, when the large oaks on the right side of the field also began to succumb to disease, the contractor removed and replaced them with new oak trees.

This site incorporates many landscape features—blending formal expanses of turf, sitting areas, gardens and walkways with complimentary punctuations of vivid annuals, bountiful perennials and formal hedges—all of which work in concert to create a formal yet inviting site that’s ideal to showcase the Marine Corp’s military precision.