Precision Planning and Planting Create Stunning Impact for a Busy Washington DC Corridor

The massive flower displays on bustling Connecticut Avenue in downtown Washington, DC are so impressive, they stop traffic. 

Literally. 

More than 5,000 flowers, plants and stunning displays add vibrant visual appeal to the striking Connecticut Avenue medians that beautify this major DC thoroughfare — each median six to seven blocks long and 10 feet wide. 

Installing them is a massive undertaking by Level Green Landscaping, involving more than 50 crew members, a fleet of trucks and literally shutting down lanes of traffic for a few hours on a Saturday morning. 

All in one morning? The planting, yes. But the intricate planning starts months ahead. 

It’s just part of the expansive business improvement district landscaping work the client trusts to Level Green, including meticulous weekly maintenance and a total of 19,000 flowers planted not just in the impressive medians, but in planters and mini parks throughout the business district. 

A few of the Level Green team members responsible for the flower-filled feat walk us through how it all happens. 

First, Welcome to the Urban Bustle

The story unfolds in a vibrant, high-visibility 44-block business district in downtown Washington, DC, bordered by the White House, Dupont Circle, and 21st Street NW. 

It’s home to thousands of businesses, shops, restaurants, hotels and cultural institutions, and is managed by a DC non-profit business improvement district tasked with maintaining a clean, safe, and vibrant environment and promoting economic development in the area.

Drivers navigating the busy Connecticut Avenue get an up-close view of the impressive planted medians, packed with a mix of bright annual flowers, showy perennials, shrubs and exotic tropical trees. Stop at a crosswalk, and you might look out your window at a 14-foot banana tree surrounded by an explosion of colorful flowers.

“It takes months of planning,” says Josh Burton, the Level Green Landscaping account manager who helps plan and execute the massive and intricately designed DC urban landscaping displays. 

Then, on planting day, it’s all hands on deck, with 50-60 Level Green team members descending on the Connecticut Avenue medians in a swarm of trucks, flower flats, shovels and efficiency. 

Thousands of Flowers, A Few Hectic Hours

“Our start for the operation is sunrise,” says James Kole, manager of Level Green’s DC branch. “We have our entire branch operation there, over 50 employees in every truck that our branch owns, plus some from other branches.”

Trucks are loaded at the Level Green headquarters in exacting detail, each truck destined for a specific median location. Each crew member has a specific task and a detailed chart of where each plant goes to ensure the massive job on the busy street goes as quickly — and as safely — as possible.

“There are multiple managers on site walking back and forth for quality control,” Kole says, making sure every plant is installed exactly as planned. 

The busy street is reduced to one lane of traffic on each side of the medians, as crews plant thousands of flowers, plants and small trees according to the detailed plans.

“The design is a little formal, a little modern, with large blocks of the same kind of plant,” Burton says. “People see these plantings as they’re driving past, so they need to really stand out.”

Plants are typically planted in groups of 100-200 of the same type, including angelonia, zinnia, coleus, sweet potato vine and Persian shield. 

“If there were smaller blocks or if we used a wider variety of plants it would just get lost to motorists as they drive by,” Burton explains. “So you want a strong block of purple, then maybe a strong block of orange.

“People might think, ‘Oh, you have all this space, you can use 29 different kinds of plants,’” he says. “No, let’s use six kinds of plants and have really big impact.”

Some of the 5,000 median plants are perennials that remain year-round, while others are annuals that get switched out seasonally, with new displays installed in the DC urban landscaping each spring and fall. 

Beyond the Medians 

While the Connecticut Avenue medians are the show-stopping installations that highlight Level Green’s organizational and installation skills, the landscaping company also plants and maintains a multitude of other areas in the business improvement district, from mini parks created for outdoor dining and lounging to rain gardens that help with water management to impressive planters that beautify the area. The business improvement district landscaping efforts serve as green retreats amid the bustling city landscape.

Meanwhile, the business improvement district is LEED certified, committed to sustainability and environmentally responsible landscaping practices. 

“They’re one of the only LEED-certified business improvement districts in the world,” Kole says. “Whatever we can do to support that sustainability and make sure that our designs and work are sticking with that practice is really important to us.”

The Massive Maintenance Challenge

 “It’s a huge job,” Burton says of the ongoing DC urban landscaping maintenance. 

Crews visit weekly to weed, remove trash, check on the irrigation system and replace any plants damaged by pedestrians. 

Landscaping outdoor spaces in Washington, DC is a logistical challenge. All the landscape maintenance has to be done between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to avoid the heaviest traffic on the busy city streets. 

Safety is a top priority, Burton says.

“We’re on site only during certain hours, we use large signs to alert motorists to our presence and we position our vehicles to serve as buffers for our crews while working,” he says. 

The DC urban landscaping environment is tough on plants, with foot traffic, hot pavement and wind taking a toll. 

“There’s an almost constant breeze created by traffic,” Burton says. “City streets can be wind tunnels. And there’s reflected heat from the hot pavement.”

The planted medians are in a bar district with lots of foot traffic. 

“Plants get trampled and pulled out, and we have to replace them,” Burton says. 

Plants have to be tough. 

“Sure, some of the plants are exotic and they’re eye catching, but we choose them because they’re practical,” he says. 

Solid Communication is Crucial 

Burton is in frequent communication with the district’s street operations manager, his main point of contact for the client. 

“We communicate almost daily, either by text, email or phone,” Burton says. They walk through the district together monthly for an up-close inspection to pinpoint any needs. She has a multitude of job responsibilities, he says, and is constantly busy. 

“If I can make things easier for her, she appreciates it,” he says. “It’s what has helped build their trust in Level Green.”

Burton says the business improvement district has consulted with city garden staff in the past for their massive planting design, choosing the plants themselves and buying them from retail nurseries, while hiring Level Green solely for the planting. 

Next year, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the district is trusting the entire operation to Level Green, from design to purchasing plants to installation — including a massive patriotic landscape design in red, white and blue. 

The move will save the district money, as Level Green purchases from high quality wholesale plant growers, Burton says. 

“Over time, we built trust,” says Burton, who has a degree in ornamental horticulture and more than a decade of commercial landscape experience. 

“I bring a lot of horticultural knowledge to this job,” he says. “They’ve realized they’re less likely to need to consult with the public gardens. 

“We’ve created a significant difference there,” Burton says. “Our predecessor that did the planting used to take four days to do the median job. We do it in one. And it’s not because we’re doing less work. It’s a monumental event. We gather the resources to be able to do it in one day. The client notices.

“She made a joke the other day about how people are less likely to want to talk on the phone than they used to,” Burton says. “But she said, ‘If it’s James or Josh from Level Green, I always pick up.’”

A Winning Operation 

The entire operation is a win-win for the business improvement district and for Level Green, says Doug Delano, managing partner at the Maryland-based landscaping company. 

Commercial landscaping in Washington DC is high visibility, with residents, visitors and tourists appreciating the results. 

“It lets us showcase our talents for organization, and I think it makes the city look a lot better,” Delano says. “Connecticut Avenue is one of the main roadways into the city, and it's great that they've improved it. 

“It gives me a very warm feeling to see us improving the landscape throughout the Washington, DC area.”

Looking to take your commercial property to the next level? Contact us today and see how Level Green Landscaping can help.