Business Details
45 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Landscaping Experts in Madison, WI
Founded in 1981 by Mark Barnes Inc, our company has grown from a small operation to a thriving business with over 150 employees and $14 million in annual sales. We take pride in being locally owned and operated, maintaining our core values while expanding our expertise in lawn care, landscaping, and snow removal. Our team consists of skilled professionals including certified arborists and landscape designers who create customized solutions for both residential and commercial properties. We pioneered the use of alternative fuels in our industry to provide environmentally responsible services without compromising quality.As an employee-owned company since 2017, we maintain a unique culture of accountability and commitment to customer satisfaction. Our 40+ years of experience and comprehensive service offerings make us a trusted partner for seasonal property care. We operate year-round, serving over 2,000 customers while maintaining our founding philosophy of proactive communication and turning client visions into reality through professional site design and implementation.
Services
Landscaping Services
Snow Removal
Holiday Lighting
Tree Care
Lawn Maintenance
Commercial Mowing
Shrub Pruning
Residential Landscaping
Commercial Landscaping
Fertilizer Application
Details
- Year established: 1981
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of local landscaping expertise
- Our employee-owned structure ensures accountability
- We pioneered alternative fuel technology in the industry
- Comprehensive seasonal services for all property types
- Certified arborists on staff for tree care needs
Services
Landscaping Services
Our professional landscape design service transforms residential and commercial properties through customized outdoor solutions. Certified designers collaborate with horticulturists and construction crews to create functional, aesthetically pleasing environments. We handle complete projects from initial consultation through installation and long-term maintenance.
Snow Removal
As Dane County's largest snow removal provider, we maintain safe access through plowing, shoveling, and ice management for residential and commercial clients. Our 100+ person winter crew uses modern equipment to clear snowfall measured by official tracking sources while minimizing property damage risk.
Holiday Lighting
We provide complete holiday lighting solutions including design, installation, and storage of decorative displays. Certified installers use professional-grade equipment to create customized lighting schemes for homes, businesses, and public spaces while offering secure off-season storage solutions.
Tree Care
Our certified arborists deliver comprehensive tree maintenance including pruning, removal, and disease prevention programs. We employ climbing specialists for safe tree trimming while implementing integrated pest management strategies and structural assessments to preserve tree health and property safety.
Lawn Maintenance
Professional lawn care programs include weekly mowing, edging, seasonal cleanups, and shrub pruning services. Our technicians apply proven horticultural techniques to maintain healthy turf while offering customized scheduling options for residential and commercial properties.
People
Mark Barnes
Founder
Founded the company in 1981 and pioneered alternative fuel technology implementation. Transformed business to employee ownership in 2017. Established long-term vision for customer-focused landscaping services.
Steve Kamps
Chief Financial Officer
Manages financial operations with over 15 years of experience in corporate finance. Oversees financial planning and strategic initiatives for continued growth and sustainable expansion of services.
Andy Fritsch
Director of Operations
Supervises daily operations across all service divisions. Implements efficiency improvements while maintaining quality standards. Coordinates logistics for equipment management and seasonal workforce deployment.
Questions
What services do you offer?
We provide complete landscaping, snow removal, holiday lighting, tree care, lawn maintenance, and commercial grounds management services for residential and business clients.
Are you currently accepting new snow removal clients?
We're not accepting new residential snow removal customers at this time but continue serving existing clients and commercial accounts.
Do you use environmentally friendly practices?
Yes, we pioneered alternative fuel usage in our vehicles and equipment to reduce environmental impact while maintaining service quality.
How do you handle large tree removals safely?
Our certified climbers use specialized rigging equipment to control tree limb descent and prevent property damage during removal operations.
What makes you different from other landscapers?
We're employee-owned with 40+ years of experience, offering comprehensive seasonal services through certified professionals using sustainable practices.
Can you help with holiday lighting storage?
Yes, we store your holiday lights at our facility after seasonal removal to preserve equipment and save home storage space.
Videos
Reviews (7)
Greg Ash
May 08, 2022
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Critical: Professionalism Mowed clippings into the street and onto apt residents cars and did not clean up after themselves. Rain from the day pasted the clippings down good. As a motorcycle rider I find their quality of work to be dangerous and potentially liability inducing.
Ben Sandee
Jun 08, 2020
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Pretty bad experience. I can't recommend them. I'm not sure if the size of the job was the problem (relatively small delivery of materials) or what, but they just go radio silent for weeks on end. The only way they work is through voicemail and email, which is understandable given the pandemic right now, but at least respond to people.
Chuck Meoska
Mar 30, 2018
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I requested that Barnes come to my home to give me an estimate on some lawn work and give suggestions about my trees. I made it clear when requesting a home visit that I wan't a tree expert and that I'd like to get some direction from an arborist. They sent a guy who wasn't helpful at all and just kept telling me they could do whatever I wanted them to do to the trees. Then when I gave some negative feedback the owner rather than making it right acted as though it was my fault and dismissed my feedback. He then rescinded his original quote saying he wouldn't work with me. If I could give them a lower rating I would
Awake Phoenix
Nov 27, 2017
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The finest landscaping company I have worked with thus far. Tree removal crew was professional, thorough, and clean! The front office communicates very well. Advice from Mark himself is invaluable. Bridget has been a great guide as well. They are by no means the least expensive, but I understand why now. They do great work! I am highly impressed.
Bradley Michaels
Jun 07, 2016
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These guys do not know how to keep commercial lawns healthy. They cut the grass during a 3 week drought turning healthy green grass into dead brown mess. They cut it regardless every week no matter how dry it is. They have teenagers spray pesticides all over our complex with no protection all around a pond, an area with a lot of woodland animals. Why? Do you not think these animals are not going to eat those toxic bugs you are killing?
Do you spray pesticides onto your property, right next to your open window, next to your picnic area? During the wintertime, they love to layer every inch of walkway with huge rock salts, every day there is precipitation, to the point where the grass dies off two feet from the walkway. I notice they use extra salt so they dont have to go back and shovel the walkways. Our office floor is covered in salt dust during the snow season due to over salting. I bet the pond in our complex just loves that salty runoff. Thank you Barnes for being so generous to our environment in Madison.
Do you spray pesticides onto your property, right next to your open window, next to your picnic area? During the wintertime, they love to layer every inch of walkway with huge rock salts, every day there is precipitation, to the point where the grass dies off two feet from the walkway. I notice they use extra salt so they dont have to go back and shovel the walkways. Our office floor is covered in salt dust during the snow season due to over salting. I bet the pond in our complex just loves that salty runoff. Thank you Barnes for being so generous to our environment in Madison.
Nicholas Davis
Mar 25, 2015
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I bought three giant granite boulders from Barnes, back in 2004. they delivered and placed them, cheaply and perfectly. I also had them rebuild a rock garden, which had fallen into disrepair. Again, they were fantastic. When it came time to move, my two sons wanted to bring the giant granite boulders to our new home. Again, Barnes to the rescue. They picked up the boulders, brought them back to their facility and stored them for us, for 8 months! now they will be bringing them out to our new home, where they will build us another wonderful rock garden.
They have been very kind to us, on many occasions. They are friendly, helpful, fair, funny and imaginative. Our experience with Barnes has always been excellent. They are good people. If you treat them nicely, and with respect, you will be amazed at how it all comes back to you.
They have been very kind to us, on many occasions. They are friendly, helpful, fair, funny and imaginative. Our experience with Barnes has always been excellent. They are good people. If you treat them nicely, and with respect, you will be amazed at how it all comes back to you.
AppleWood Self Storage
Nov 21, 2014
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Bought an X-Mark last fall to cut our 8 hours of mowing down by 40% and have loved the rig this year.if I told Troy and Mark what I've used this rig to do, they would probably tear up my warranty because this thing doesn't back down from any task (even those non-mowing things I've done with it that I won't tell them about?). Today I thought I'd get some fall mowing done and the rig wouldn't start.
I emailed Troy and Mark, thinking it was a battery issue I was going to charge the battery. By the time I got the charger out I got an email from Troy suggesting I check parking break handle.found a small twig in the way, removed it and the rig purred like a kitten.so how is that for service.was able to get right back on and get started. Thanks Troy.(you too Mark).
I emailed Troy and Mark, thinking it was a battery issue I was going to charge the battery. By the time I got the charger out I got an email from Troy suggesting I check parking break handle.found a small twig in the way, removed it and the rig purred like a kitten.so how is that for service.was able to get right back on and get started. Thanks Troy.(you too Mark).
