The Excellence in Landscape Awards, sponsored by the Landscape Contractors Association of Maryland, DC and Virginia, recognizes exceptional garden design throughout the region. This annual competition is judged by industry experts who vote in more than a dozen residential and commercial categories. All winners of the 2020 residential awards are listed below and four projects are covered in-depth:

TIMELESS RETREAT
Long-lived plantings lend depth and beauty to a Bethesda garden
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SAVVY SOLUTION
D.A. Dunlevy turns a challenging lot into an inviting, private retreat
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PLAY SCAPE
Surrounds, Inc., designs the ultimate retreat for fun and relaxation
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WORK OF ART
Shorb Landscaping maintains an elegant garden with an eye to ornamentation
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The Excellence in Landscape Awards

DECADE AWARDS
McHale Landscape Design, Inc.—Swinks Mill
 Residence for Outdoor Living Area—Vienna Residence for Residential Maintenance—Bodkin Point Residence for Residential Maintenance—A Bethesda Residence for Residential Maintenance

HERITAGE AWARDS
D.A. Dunlevy—Historic Kensington Residence for
 Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
Pinehurst Landscape Company—Historic Guilford Renovation for Total Residential Contracting

GRAND AWARDS
Chapel Valley Landscape Company—Private 
Residence in Fairfax, Virginia, for Outdoor Living Area
D.A. Dunlevy—Georgetown Secret Garden for Outdoor
 Living Area/Design-Build
Lehnhoff’s Landscaping—Phoenix Residence 
for Outdoor Living Area
McHale Landscape Design, Inc.—A Broomes Island Residence for Total Residential Contracting
Planted Earth Landscaping Incorporated—A McLean Residence for Residential Maintenance—A Baltimore County Residence for Total 
Residential Contracting
Surrounds, Inc.—Munsun Place for Total 
Residential Contracting/Design-Build

DISTINCTION AWARDS
Maxalea—Bass Residence for 
Craftsmanship/Design-Build—Reitberger Residence for Total Residential
 Contracting/Design-Build
McHale Landscape Design, Inc.—Alexandria Residence for Outdoor Living Area—Potomac Residence for Total Residential Contracting—Hunting Cross Residence for Residential Maintenance—Centreville Residence for Outdoor Living Area—Great Falls Residence for Front Residential Planting and Entranceway 
—Crest Lane Residence for Total Residential Contracting—McLean Residence for Outdoor Living Area—Crest Lane Residence for Total Residential Contracting—A Bannockburn Residence for Residential Maintenance
Pinehurst Landscape Company—Lutherville 
Backyard Sanctuary for Outdoor Living Area
River’s Edge Landscapes—Stavish Project for Total Residential Contracting/Design-Build
Rossen Landscape —Modern Marvel Outdoor Gallery 
for Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
Shorb Landscaping—A Residence in Bethesda
 for Residential Maintenance
Surrounds, Inc.—Backyard Playground and Hangout for Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
—Towlston for Total Residential 
Contracting/Design-Build

Best in Show - HONORABLE MENTION AWARDS

Great American Landscapes—Turkey Run Estate for Residential Maintenance/Design-Build
Kane Landscapes—McVey Residence for Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
Lehnhoff’s Landscaping—Fallston Property for Craftsmanship/Design-Build—Cockeysville Residence for Craftsmanship/Design-Build—Pocket Garden for Outdoor Living Area
Maxalea—Bass Residence for Outdoor 
Living Area/Design-Build—Bass Residence for Total Residential 
Contracting/Design-Build
McHale Landscape Design, Inc.—Edgewater Residence for Outdoor Living Area—Calvert County Residence for Front Residential Planting 
 and Entranceway—A Twin Shields Residence for Outdoor Living Area
Planted Earth Landscaping Incorporated—Spring Valley Residence for Total 
Residential Contracting
Rossen Landscape—McLean Sophisticated Entertainment for Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
River’s Edge Landscapes —Ornamental Production Garden for Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build