Denison Landscaping & Nursery Inc.

Denison Landscaping & Nursery Inc. (Denison) is a full-service, family-owned and -operated company serving the Mid-Atlantic region. With over 700 acres of growing nurseries and a nine-acre wholesale facility in southern Maryland, Denison has made significant progress since its founding in 1973. After 40 years in the industry, Denison upholds its commitment to family-run values through its involvement in the Fort Washington, Md., community.

What started out as a three-man operation has blossomed into a full-fledged landscaping company. “Today, during peak season we employ anywhere from 400 to 470 individuals,” shares Josh Denison, operations manager at Denison. “We have offices in Pittsburgh and additional branch locations in Delmar, Del. We operate throughout the Mid-Atlantic in all phases and facets of what we do from commercial installation to residential design-build and snow removal.”

As a family-centered enterprise, Denison treats its employees as such. It’s no surprise the majority of Denison’s team has remained with the company for anywhere between 25 and 38 years. According to Josh, there are six individuals who stand out in particular: John Denison, owner; Frank Denison, head of residential sales; Duane Denison, executive vice president; as well as Randy Fowler, vice president of nursery production; Elbert Monroe, vice president of commercial projects; and John Gallahan. The hard work and dedication of these people and the rest of the Denison team ensure a wide range of services is possible.

Running the Gamut

“The different areas of what we do really set us apart,” reveals Josh. “There isn’t anything you could put in front of us that we couldn’t figure out how to do.” This diversity has lead to a well-recognized standing in the industry and several awards. “In 2011 we won first place for the AGC Subcontractor of the Year in commercial work,” adds Josh. “We came in second the following year.”

The company engages in commercial and residential activities, ranging from irrigation to enhancement, lighting to erosion control. Denison’s homebuilding division also performs numerous site-work services, including preconstruction to entranceways and fencing, gazebos, playgrounds and many other recreational public spaces.

Some of Denison’s most recent ventures include all of the landscaping and site work for a high-end townhouse development in Symphony Park, as well as the landscape installation and irrigation at National Harbor and site work at Liberty Park on Andrew’s Air Force Base.

Denison’s wide range of services lends to the adaptability of the company, especially in today’s troubling economic situation. “The economy and current government regulatory actions will make business very tough in the future,” admits Josh. “Luckily, we have the ability to shift and divert work into different locations and applications. We have the ability to ebb and flow to survive.”

Thanks to the company’s flexibility, Josh is confident Denison can remain a force in the industry. “We’re looking to stay stable and maximize our profits,” he details. “We’re going to come out of this bad market, survive and maintain our presence.”

Hometown Roots

Community involvement is extremely important to Denison. The company feels a deep dedication to the area in which the family owners and employees live and work. Over the years, Denison has donated a great deal of time, effort and money to various community organizations.

For the past few years, Denison has been a major contributor to the Legislative Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C. This event helps recognize the contribution that fallen heroes have made by improving Arlington National Cemetery. Denison has donated crews, equipment, seed and fertilizer to make the worthy cause possible.

“We have also supported our local Boy Scout Troops, assisting them in obtaining Eagle Scout badges,” shares Josh. “They help us during festivals that are held three times annually. In addition, we provide more than $20,000 in Christmas trees for the troops to sell that proves to be a profitable fundraiser for them.”

Denison partnered with the Charles County Hospice House in Waldorf, Md. The company helped redesign the outdoor landscape, from rough grade up, irrigation, all hardscape and lighting, totaling around $75,000. Other numerous organizations include the Sisters of Mercy, where Denison provided tree and leaf removal on a 10-acre facility in Clinton, Md., as well as for local school districts. The company also donates 85,000 bags of mulch on an annual basis along with $20,000 in materials to assist in the completion of the Prayer Gardens to the St. Barnabas Church in Oxon Hill, Md.

As an active member of the community, Denison remains rooted in the family traditions the business was established on. For over 40 years, the company has been the go-to landscaping contractor in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore metropolitan area. Denison Landscaping & Nursery Inc. continues to uphold a commitment to customers through a diverse range of services, delivering everything from backyard getaways to big-ticket recreational facilities.