Let’s create a fulfilling and sustainable landscape together.
About Me
My name is Galen Lawson, and I am a landscape designer for homes in the DC Metro area. With decades of design experience, I see landscapes not just as living spaces but as canvases bursting with potential. My background, honed by pixels and palettes, translates nature and materials into tangible designs that resonate. Lawson Yardscapes isn't just about planting trees and shrubs, it's about crafting landscapes that sing, create moods, roar with color, solve a problem, or build a vision. So, when you invite me to design your outdoor haven, you're not just getting a landscape designer – you're getting an artist with a kaleidoscope of experience, ready to paint your vision into reality.
“Galen was an excellent choice to upgrade the landscaping in our yard! He developed a beautiful design for our yard. He is professional in his demeanor and work ethic. He worked with me in a collaborative manner, so I had input in the design process throughout the project. I would definitely hire him again!”
I am a certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional
My Focus
Collaborating with clients who are new to landscape design, as it allows me to be a guide through the process and share my expertise as their spaces come to life.
Minimizing grass lawns or suggesting alternatives to lawns that have little to no benefit for the local ecosystem.
Inclusion of native and pollinator plants that will benefit the local ecosystem and be less maintenance long-term.
Unique living considerations like small/large spaces, complex light/shade needs, privacy, slopes and water runoff, and microclimates around your yard.
Explanation and illustration of processes and technical issues along the way. I can tailor my designs to be presented in lush detail, technical schematics, 3D renderings, and so on.
Arrangement of elements that provide multiple seasons of visual interest. This includes staggered bloom times throughout the year, evergreens, ornamental grasses, boulders, artwork, etc.
The use of pet/kid friendly plants that aren’t dangerous for our loved ones.
Guidance for choosing a landscaper or contractor and making the estimating and installation process stress-free.
What types of projects?
Pretty much anything you can think of. It can be as small as a tiny rain garden, or a vast estate with new patios, water features, fire pits, flagstone pathways, and lush pollinator gardens. It all fits under the umbrella of “yardscapes.” Visit my Projects page for more.