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9 Amazing In-Ground Pools on the Market Now
It’s official, summer is here! The pool covers are off and the water wings are out. With the start of summer also comes the sweltering heat that us Washington metropolitan area residents are all too familiar with. What better way to beat the heat than to dive into your brand new pool?! Whether you’ve always wanted a pool or you are considering a home upgrade, here’s a look at nine of the coolest in-ground pools on the market now!
4512 Dolphin Ln, Alexandria VA
Listed by Kate Patterson // 703-627-2166
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About this home: SPECTACULAR CUSTOM CONTEMPORARY ON BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED LOT WITH EXTENSIVE GARDENS, IN GROUND POOL AND OUTDOOR KITCHEN! VACATION AT HOME IN A TROPICAL PARADISE in Yacht Haven, just minutes from Old Town! This home is incredibly well designed and well-articulated, with outdoor entertaining spaces and cozy interiors with a dash of Florida and California! Enjoy living and working at home, with your own private in-ground pool, with waterfall, gorgeous lush landscaping and outdoor kitchen in a custom-designed contemporary home with open living spaces, gourmet kitchen, designer baths and fabulous family room with gas fireplace, guest quarters or home office and wine cellar. The dining room is styled as a Billiards room, with koi swimming around the central platform of the room in an enclosed moat. The lower level opens to an open air covered patio with hot tub, leading to a fabulous deck with koi pond and fire pit, just steps from the outdoor kitchen and pool! As an added bonus there is a separate over sized two car garage with full bath, guest area, and enormous party room above with fully equipped bar steps from the outdoor kitchen and pool, inviting summer parties and family gatherings! Living at home is a joy when you can live in a PARADISE like this just minutes from DC!
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19729 Ridgeside Rd, Bluemont VA
Listed by June Hambrick // 540-878-8220
About this home: Ultimate opportunity for relaxed living, retreat. Exquisite panoramic views from Southern Fauquier to Tysons to Sugar Loaf and beyond. Kitchen features Viking 6-8 burner stove top, double convection ovens, 3 dishwashers, sinks, disposals. Marble and limestone countertops. Butlers pantry and back pantry. Loaded with upgrades. Hardwood flooring throughout, high-end solid wood doors throughout out. Marble bathrooms. 4 zone heat and air. Comfort and beauty combined near Middleburg, Upperville, Purcellville and Leesburg. Loudoun county AR2 zoning, 6-8 stall stable, paddocks, inground pool. Additional 64 acre lot available making total of 104 acres. Contact listing agent for more information, see: #VALO397222
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40850 Robin Circle, Leesburg VA
Listed by Bay Buchanan // 703-994-2323
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About this home: Grab this rare opportunity to own one of only 16 custom homes, each unique, in the parklike setting of Dunrobin. A complete entertainment center on the lower level includes an indoor heated pool, indoor basketball/racquetball court, sports bar and game room. Only minutes from the charming town of Leesburg, this beautiful French Country Manor offers the privacy and serenity of a secluded resort. Set on 3.5 professionally landscaped acres of lush Virginia countryside, you can not escape the magnificent views offered by this remarkable home. The lower level includes 3,200 sq ft dedicated to having fun. All recently renovated, there is a Sports Bar, a game room, a heated indoor swimming pool with cabana and a racquetball court with a hoop for half court basketball games. Who needs a resort when you live at 40850 Robin Circle?
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1201 Key Dr, Alexandria VA
Listed by Jodie Burns // 571-228-5790
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About this home: Invisible from the street and set on two and a quarter acres of woodland with American Elms, fig trees, pine, magnolia, wisteria and dogwood, this one of a kind property is a true sanctuary away from the bustle of modern Alexandria. With four bedrooms and four bathrooms, the low slung Main House, designed in 1939 by Frank Lloyd Wright-trained architect, Charles Callander, remains nearly unchanged from 1940. Designed for entertaining, the home features a variety of gathering spaces, inside and out, including a screened-in porch built around a giant sycamore tree, a second-story balcony overlooking the large expansive yard, and outdoor access from all main level rooms to brick seating areas and a covered patio. A separate 1700 SF two-story guest house overlooking a large swimming pool was designed by another Wright apprentice, Jone Thurmond, and compliments the design of the Main House with similar architectural details inside and out.
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5694 Winter Wood Ln, Bealton VA
Listed by Jonathan Kennedy // 202-750-4050
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About this home: The property offers multiple potential income streams, subdivision potential, and may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) are in place to include water piped directly to automatic livestock watering tanks.The star of the show, 5694 Winter Wood Lane is an early 1900s farmhouse with 3 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms on 35 acres. The home was thoughtfully restored in the 1980s. Home and guest house are surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens complete with salt water swimming pool, doggie playpen, fenced in blueberry patch with 18 healthy bushes, and a run-in shed.
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If you’re in the market for something more extravagant or you just like to dream, be sure to take a look at these properties with in-ground pools offered for sale through our international member organization, Luxury Portfolio International.
Unique and Exceptional Opportunity, Sion, Switzerland
Listed by CI Exclusive Properties | +41 (0)22 319.89.15
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About this home: Unique and exceptional opportunity in the canton of Valais.
Situated in a residential area, this brilliant property enjoys an extraordinary view on the Alps and benefits from last technologies (home automation and sound system everywhere), by upper upscale arrangements, by a security system (outside cameras, been for imprints for the entrance, the alarm) and of a system of moistening and dehumidification in all the rooms, this property of 5 rooms in the vast volumes for a total surface of more than 1’000 square meters.
An internal swimming pool with a space SPA, but also a magnificent swimming pool outside overflowing, a sublime one landscaped and enclosed garden, two big courts of separate entrances, a place setting for two vehicles, as well as a garage complete it.
Be allowed seduce by the inescapable charm of this outstanding property!
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Paradis Sur Mer Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Listed by Jeremy Hurst & James O’Brien, IRG – International Realty Group Ltd. | 345.623.1111
About this home: A truly stunning home and undoubtedly Rum Point’s most exclusive beach front Villa. Drive through ornate electric gates, hand-crafted in Africa, to a gated courtyard with double garages either side with Parking for 6-8 large vehicles. Above the garages are two guest apartment suites. Enter through the hand carved main door into the palatial living space with floor to ceiling windows and doors, presenting the gorgeous ocean views over the ultra-private pool/Jacuzzi and beach. Fully immerse oneself in the spectacular location of Rum Point, world famous for its crystal-clear cobalt waters and powdery white beaches. This beach front villa has too many luxury amenities to mention; there is a private dock with launch pad for water toys and large boats. The main house offers more than 11,5000 square feet of generous living space. There are six bedrooms all en-suite including a large master with majestic views of the ocean, pool and private beach. Hurricane-rated doors and windows enhance not only views but security too. This home is a fortress and every security detail has been carefully engineered seamlessly into its design. This is an energy efficient home, with mature tropical landscaping throughout, which does not require irrigation. ‘Paradis Sur Mer’ is a perfect destination to rival any other uber-luxury beachfront villa and destination globally.
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Fabulous Estate in the Rose Valley, Kazanlak, Bulgaria
Listed by Unique Estates | +359 882600600
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About this home: Unique Estates has the pleasure of presenting to your attention this fairytale mansion, spread on land of 98 000 sqm., between Stara Mountain and Sredna Gora Mountain, in the famous Valley of the Roses. The park is beautifully landscaped with many Mediterranean plants and local trees. To the property can be added second property with land 21 600 sqm. Through the estate is running mineral water from own mineral spring, used for healing and for bottling. Big entertainment center with indoor and outdoor pools, additional water spaces. Additional house for staff and security. The total built-up area of all buildings is 5 982 sqm.
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Villa Marine Lago, Terres Basses, St. Maarten
Listed by Sunshine Properties | (721) 544-4498
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About this home: Private Yacht Marina & 2 pools. With a superb waterfront location this beautiful villa is located in a very exclusive and secure residential community of only six villas in the heart of Terres Basses on the French side of St. Martin. With it’s own private marina Villa Marine Lago has dockage for all your water toys. The villa offers outstanding views of Simpson Bay, the Caribbean Sea and the islands of Saba, St Eustatius and St. Kitts. Situated on 2 acres this spacious open rooms, the home is centered round a generous pool and airy deck area. While the master suite enjoys it own enclave with an open deck area adjacent, with a pool . Leading from the main pool is a large open-plan living and dining area, a well- equipped kitchen. The tall patio door open to give the property extraordinary water vistas both during the day and at night time. The spacious bedrooms open off the pool area and each have en suite bath. The residence enjoys the use of a tennis court. The beautifully landscaped property is completely fenced and has an electronic gate.
Take a look at our website for all of our listings available throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
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Is It a Rowhouse? Is It a Townhouse? What’s the Difference?!
Colonial, split-level, Cape Cod… it’s no surprise that real estate has its own lingo, right down to the style of a home. In an effort to establish a deeper understanding of real estate home styles, in terms of how they’re built and what they seek to represent, McEnearney presents a series of articles to explore these differences. We’ll explain what makes a home a split-level versus a split-foyer, define traditional Colonials and Cape Cods; and learn to appreciate the subtleties of Art Deco and Victorian details.
First up we want to define very common structure types found throughout the DMV — understanding rowhouses versus townhouses.
Rowhouse vs Townhouse
The word “townhouse” traces its roots back to early England, where the term referred to a dwelling a family kept “in town” while their primary residence was in the country. The word stuck, and today, the term is used to describe residential homes that share a wall with the neighboring house.
In Washington, DC, the rows of homes lined up together that appear “attached” to one another are called rowhouses. In Virginia and Maryland, the same structures are referred to as townhouses. While the styles may look similar and the terms be used interchangeably, there are actually differences between a rowhouse and a townhouse.
Rowhouses often line a street and will extend the entire length of a block without a break. They will likely have a similar exterior front in terms of design, but could vary in color. Since rowhouses are unlikely to be part of a homeowners association (HOA), there is no set palette of colors to choose from when it comes to painting the exterior siding or bricks, doors or shutters.
From the outside, it appears as if the rowhouses share walls. Structurally, however, a rowhouse could stand on its own if the homes on either side were taken down. Rowhouses will commonly have room for parking behind the house that might be secured by a roll down garage door or a stand-alone garage.
Comparatively, townhouses are in smaller groups within the rows, and together, they will make up a subdivision or development that also has shared common space. Townhouses are also more similar in design and represent a set palette of colors because they’re typically part of an HOA. Additionally, the walls between townhouses truly are shared — one is dependent on the other and cannot stand on its own if the neighboring home was taken down. Finally, townhouses might have a one or two car garage as part of the structure or the neighborhood could offer parking in front of or near to the home.
Looking to buy or rent a townhouse in the DMV? Contact your favorite McEnearney Associate, and we’ll help you get there!
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Why Do Design Trends Become Popular?
Question: Why do design trends become popular?
Answer: As a realtor, I see a lot of the same features in the homes I visit. Sparkling white subway tile — check. Main level powder rooms — check. Ooh, a porch? Check, check! No, wallpaper really isn’t a feature that buyers are looking for — please remove it and paint your walls a light, soothing color. Walking through my community, I see more and more Adirondack chairs being planted in front yards and porches are dressed as outdoor rooms. So, how did these designs become so ubiquitous?
Disease did it.
Subway Tile
In the 19th century, as germ theory was developing amid deadly tuberculosis and influenza epidemics, the most effective way to stop the spread of a disease was through cleanliness. Wallpaper and paneled wood absorbed moisture and odors and were made to hide the dirt. Hospitals and public buildings and shops installed the tiles as dirt was easy to see and material easy to clean. A butcher shop or fish market would have the tile to communicate how clean and fresh their product was.
In 1904, designers George C. Heins and Christopher Grant LaFarge created the 3″ x 6″ tile for the very first station of the brand new subway system in New York City. As often happens, the commercial design was transferred to the residential.
Plumbing and manufacturing advances meant the end of the coffin-like tub encased in wood and lined with tin and brought in shiny ceramic tubs, sinks and toilets that didn’t need to be placed in backyard privy. The new linoleum products replaced wood floors and were considered a modern, easy to clean esthetic. Tile was installed along the walls of kitchens and baths alike.
Have a Seat
Upstate New York saw the construction of the sanitarium industry to house and treat the patients suffering from tuberculosis. At least by Victorian standards, there were large and unadorned buildings and cottages set out in the dry healthy air of the mountains. Sunlight and fresh air were the treatment, so daybeds and chairs that were light enough to be moved out onto open porches or glassed in sunrooms provided comfort. With tilting backs and seats, wide arm rests for belongings or a rest to elevate the feet, these were the forerunners of the Lay Z Boy and of course, the Adirondack chair.
The Pit Stop
Daily deliveries of coal, oil and ice were messier than the FedEx and Instacart deliveries we have today. These items weren’t dropped at the door with no contact, they were brought right into the kitchen or cellar and if the delivery man needed to use the bathroom, a conveniently located place, away from the family baths was safer. Having a sink by the front or back doors allowed hand washing by everyone — a critical part of safe hygiene back then and now.
Porches
Back to upstate New York where the sanitaria porches were used daily and in all kinds of weather — imagine being on the porch in Saranac Lake in deep February? Sleeping porches became a trend that is still seen in older homes. When a turn of the last century home has an odd little room or porch jutting out from the second or third floor, chances are this was a sleeping porch. An unheated room furnished with beds so the sleeper could be out in fresh air throughout the night — it was better than an open window!
Now What?
With coronavirus, it’s too early to tell what design changes we will see coming into public and residential spaces. Is this the end of the open concept floor plan, now that we’ve been working and taking meetings, making calls, homeschooling children, fostering animals?
Will the desire for a home office or “Zoom Room” outweigh walk-in closets or home theaters? Will furniture design for the masses include the Capsule Chair by Kateryna Sokolova for Casala? Shaped like a Tic Tac with sound insulating materials inside and out, you can work out loud in the middle of an office or home without disturbing others or being disturbed by their noise. Perfect for those Zoom meetings.
Current guidelines of masks, distancing and sanitation will create new designs and ways of living in and building our homes. Disease is once again redesigning our lives.
Kate Crawley is a real estate veteran with experience in residential sales and administration, high-end commercial management and property development, and finance. Her professional work is fused with her love for Alexandria and its residents. If you would like more information on selling or buying in today’s complex market, contact Kate today at 703-888-8141 or visit her website KateCrawleyHomes.com.
How Do I Make My Home More Enjoyable to Live In?
With more time spent at home, you might have noticed some things that you like or don’t like about your home. With the summer months heating up, now is a great time to do some minimal decluttering to help open up your space and make your home feel more like a place of relaxation instead of stress.
First, try clearing off the counters in your home. Flat spaces tend to have the most clutter. Clear off everything possible except for one or two essential things. Clearing off your desk especially will help you to focus as you continue to work from home. The counters in the kitchen are another area to focus on. More counter space means more room to prepare healthy, home-cooked meals.
After you have cleared your counters, try organizing the kitchen drawers and cabinets. Keep spices and seasonings close to the stove so that they are within easy reach when you are cooking. Go through your pantry and refrigerator and remove all expired foods. Donate any non-expired food items that you no longer need to the local food pantry. When deciding what to keep or give away among your kitchen utensils and appliances, try putting everything into a cardboard box for a month and put a utensil back into the drawer only if you use it. Anything left in the box can also be donated.
Another good idea to revitalize your living space without renovating is to eliminate extra furniture. Too much furniture can be distracting and make rooms look much smaller. Keep your space open and inviting. You can try rearranging your furniture to see what works best in your space. Replacing throw pillows and floor rugs can bring new color into a room and make it feel more welcoming.
To keep clutter to a minimum, reduce paper trails in your home. Designate one area to place any papers, bills, etc. like an inbox tray to reduce the amount of excess spread out in your home. Periodically go through your papers, scanning anything important to your computer and shredding the rest. Nowadays many businesses have events where you can bring your sensitive documents to be shredded at no cost to you.
Your closet is another area in which you can reduce clutter. Creating a capsule wardrobe or a mini wardrobe made up of versatile pieces that you really love allows you to be creative in your wardrobe choices for the day. You can mix and match items that you already own to create new and unique statement outfits. You can also organize your closet with “the Hanger Test.” This involves turning all of the clothes hanging in your closet so that the hangers face back-to-front for the next six months. If you wear an article of clothing, return it to the closet with the hanger facing the correct way. Any item not facing the correct way, you can consider getting rid of or donate. Websites like ThredUp and StitchFix will take your old clothing and give you credit to buy new pieces for your wardrobe.
Lastly, clear out your medicine cabinet. Toss any expired medication or things that you will never use again. Make sure to keep all of these items out of the reach of children.
If all of these items together seem overwhelming at the moment, download a 30-day declutter calendar. This will help you break down your to-do list into more manageable chunks. Every day you focus on only one task. By the end of the month, you will have rejuvenated your living space and made your home a more enjoyable place to live in.
Jean Beatty is a licensed real estate agent in VA, MD, and DC with McEnearney Associates, Inc in McLean, VA. If you would like more information on selling or buying in today’s complex market, contact Jean at 301-641-4149 or visit her website JeanBeatty.com.
What Can I Do To Make My Home More Attractive to Millennial Buyers?
Question: As a seller, what can I do to make my home more attractive to millennial buyers?
Answer: Millennials, those born between 1977-1994, make up the second-largest sector (24.2%) of the population in the United States. There are 78.8 million millennials in the U.S., and in 2020 they accounted for 38% of all homebuyers, a percentage that is only increasing. Some are buying their first homes, but others are now ready to move into a larger home in which to raise their family.
To maximize a property’s appeal, sellers should be tuned-in to what millennials are looking for and highlight or update those features before listing to reduce the number of days that the home is on the market and yield a higher sale price.
So, what exactly are millennials looking for in a home? What features will increase the competition among this sector of buyers? Millennials, especially in the D.C. Metro market, lead busy lives and want a move-in ready property that has already been updated. They desire and seek out homes with a design that provides easy flow between spaces, high-end and trendy finishes, and smart technology.
Kitchens and baths top the list of rooms that should showcase popular, on-trend finishes and design. Creating the coveted “open-concept” is the most dramatic design modification a seller can make to attract today’s buyer. Removing walls between the kitchen and living or dining rooms allow for greater connectivity. A large kitchen island or wide-counter peninsula that allows for better sightlines, additional workspace and bar-stool seating is preferred by buyers over separate defined rooms.
Stainless steel appliances continue to be extremely popular, as well as stone or quartz countertops in light, neutral tones. Millennials are drawn to grey or white cabinetry in the kitchen, with sophisticated, clean lines. Solid hardwood flooring throughout the main level also provides the warmth, easy maintenance and visual appeal that today’s buyers want.
Sleek design trends that create a spa-like atmosphere are what millennials look for in the bathrooms. Large, walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads, free-standing soaking tubs, and natural stone finishes are all great choices in a bathroom redo. On-trend lighting and bathroom fixtures will quickly and easily improve a bath in the way that millennial buyers will love.
As technology continues to develop, the home itself has become “smarter.” Sellers should consider installing tech-forward options such as a video doorbell, an electronic smart lock for the front door, and thermostats or light bulbs that are controlled with the push of a cell phone button or voice command.
Due to COVID-19, the home office and personal outdoor space have also become vitally important. The current work from home situation could become a long-term reality for millennials. Sellers can increase their home’s appeal by showcasing dedicated office space and areas for home-schooling.
But, when the workday is finished, millennials want to be able to escape to an outdoor oasis, whether that be deck space, a screened-in porch, or a well-manicured backyard. Sellers would be wise to spruce up landscaping and outdoor spaces to showcase the potential.
Kathy Hassett and Chris Perry, Realtors® with McEnearney Associates in Old Town, have the experience and knowledge to guide their clients through the home buying process successfully and protect their clients’ interests throughout the transaction. Contact Chris Perry at 703-286-1204 or Kathy Hassett at 703-863-1546 today for assistance in your next real estate purchase or sale.
Sustainable Landscaping’s Yin and Yang: Hardscapes versus Softscapes
As a local real estate leader, McEnearney Associates is invested in more than just helping our clients buy and sell houses. We want our clients to really love and enjoy their homes. We are always happy to refer home-related businesses and contractors who help make your house a home. We are excited to have Patrick Moran, Owner of Tactical Land Care (TLC), contributing to our blog this week with some valuable input whether you are interested in hardscaping, softscaping, or learning the difference.
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It’s no secret that landscaping is one of the most important factors of your home’s curb appeal. But the benefits of a sustainable landscape don’t end at increases in property value. They can also positively impact the environment around you and improve quality of life. But in order to maximize your impact, value, and improvements, one must understand the hard and soft elements that define a high-quality, sustainable landscape.
For this reason, we are going to dig in on Landscape’s Yin and Yang: Hardscapes versus Softscapes so that you may develop a better understanding of those components, and so that the artistic and technical aspects can be easily implemented into your slice of the world.
First, I’ll define sustainable landscaping as the design, construction, and management practices of an outdoor environment that is optimized to conserve natural resources, maximize the ecological benefit, while also reducing the required labor for upkeep. The most sustainable landscapes achieve these standards by optimizing both halves of landscaping: hardscapes and softscapes.
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Hardscapes
Hardscapes include the more permanent, non-living components of the landscape that provide foundation and guide structure. This includes patios, walkways, walls, stairways, decks, retaining walls, fences, trellis, and sculptures that are built with long-lasting materials like stone, concrete, wood, and metal. The hardscape can be thought of as the non-changing means by which we interact with the landscape: walkways lead us on intended paths; walls extend or limit our sense of space; and, stairways add levels and depth to our view. Other features like fountains, gazebos, planter boxes, and fences have the potential to further enrich our interaction with the landscape. Incorporating multiple hardscape features into your landscape is well worth the often larger investment, as it provides the bones of your outdoor space and defines it’s designated use as additional living space.
Hardscaping has excellent potential to increase the sustainability of your property, particularly as it relates to stormwater management. Sustainable hardscapes support the proper flow of stormwater runoff away from your home, while also allowing the water to permeate through the hardscape in order to recharge the groundwater soil and ultimately aquifers in many areas. This is possible through the use of open grade aggregate bases and wider joints between pavers or special permeable concrete mixes. At TLC, we follow the Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI) Permeable Interlocking Concrete Paver (PICP) standards for our installations, and I recommend that prior to hiring a professional to complete any similar permeable installation, you ensure that members of their team have completed ICPI PICP training.
In addition to recharging the groundwater, permeable surfaces also reduce the water that would otherwise runoff into municipal stormwater systems, which carry road pollution directly into our local waterways where it wreaks havoc on the ecology of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. Many jurisdictions have adopted programs to encourage these types of installations through Stormwater Utility Fee credits as is the case in Alexandria, or grants for cost-sharing as in the case in Arlington.
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Softscapes
Softscapes include the softer, horticultural, and other floral components of a landscape. Through softscapes, therein lies the opportunities to provide natural beauty and ecological engagement. Creative softscapes can also emphasize structures while softening and providing vitality.
The softscape can be thought of as the foci and accents we use to create an atmosphere and instill our sense of character into the landscape. We anticipate certain results from our softscape and its natural processes that changes seasonally and day-to-day. Flowers bloom and fade away. Leaves fall to the ground to join the mulch. While, trees continually grow upwards and outwards into the space above us. Incorporating layers of different softscape features into your landscape brings a feeling of life and vitality along with each plant’s individual aesthetic, adding ever-changing, easily-altered interest to your home for years. In short, softscaping includes all living plant components like non-native annuals, perennials, shrubs, grasses and trees, as well as as organic ground covers such as mulch.
Softscapes can drastically alter the sustainability of your property by addressing issues related to soil management, wildlife integration, and pest control. However, the most crucial philosophy in sustainable landscaping is the concept of “right plant, right place.” This is the practice of installing a certain plant in a certain location to receive a more sustainable outcome.This requires being knowledgeable about your plant choices and selecting plants that thrive in pre-existing moisture and light conditions. It also requires that we be cognizant of growth rates and spacing. Examples include installing evergreen trees like white pines or southern magnolias on certain sides of your home, which can provide shade in summer and windbreaks in winter, ultimately reducing energy costs. Likewise, water-loving trees and flowers like river birches and joe pye weed can regulate soil moisture in areas of your property where there is excessive runoff from impervious surfaces. Native flowers such as Black-Eyed Susan can thrive in dry soil, while still attracting pollinators, such as butterflies and bees.
When designing your softscape to anchor your local ecology, incorporate plants native to your region in order to ease resource usage and attract your native wildlife populations. In comparison, much of the flora that is available through common garden centers have been cultivated for their ornamental aesthetics and require irrigation and fertilization to thrive.
Softscapes are also critical because of what they do to the soil. The right softscapes can sequester carbon through the plant roots and resulting soil microbiology. A healthy soil consists of fungi, microbes, worms, and an intricate web of roots that help plants process nutrients and deposit carbon into the soil. By cultivating a permaculture of complementary and companion native plants in the softscape portion of your garden, you can cultivate your own carbon sink.
The best landscapes use both hardscaping and softscaping to achieve the most beautiful, sustainable outcome. Hardscaping offers the bones, foundation, structure, and form that is enhanced, accentuated and beautified by the flora of the softscape. These two aspects of landscaping have the relationship of yin and yang: two halves of a whole, diametrically opposed in nature, working in unison to create something novel. When choosing landscape professionals to take care of your property, choose one that understands both halves of the whole: hardscape versus softscape, aesthetic versus sustainability, art versus science, and yin versus yang.
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To learn more, we encourage you to explore resources in our local Northern Virginia cooperative extension, as well as online resources from other areas.
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension
Oregon State University Cooperative Extension
City of Norfolk, VA Rainscaping and Permeable Hardscape
Tactical Land Care
Tactical Land Care is net-zero to help protect our world and environment for all of us. We specialize in sustainable construction, conservation landscaping, and stormwater management solutions, including permeable hardscape and rain gardens. By working together, we can maximize the ecological benefit of your property.
Your yard endures a twelve-month cycle and our team at Tactical Land Care stands ready to work with you on all your fall and winter maintenance needs. Please give us a call at 703-879-7091, or email us at info@tacticallandcare.com, where someone from our TLC team will develop a plan with you to help enhance your yard or property for many years to come.
Patrick Moran, PMP, LSC, HIC, LEED | CEO Tactical Land Care
Patrick utilizes his passion for the outdoors along with his professional skills as a licensed Landscape and Home Improvement contractor in Virginia and Maryland, as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and LEED Green Associate. Patrick has a BA from Yale University, where he studied climate change and its impact on society.
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Steps to Planning Your Own Backyard Garden
Remember that gardening project you always wanted to get done when you have downtime… As a local real estate leader, McEnearney Associates is invested in more than just helping our clients buy and sell houses. We want our clients to really love and enjoy their homes. We are always happy to refer home-related businesses and contractors who help make your house a home. We are excited to have Patrick Moran, Owner of TLC Design, contributing to our blog this week with some guidance for planning your own backyard garden.
Hello Backyard Junkies!
Today, we are going to be talking about the joys of creating your backyard paradise and bringing the farm to you. Gardening is a fundamental need in our fast-paced modern life. It creates a sense of balance, and tranquility found nowhere else. Trees grow forever upward and outward, cradling nature’s creatures within. Flowers bloom and fade. Leaves turn green, fall and turn to mulch. Certain times of the year bring our favorite fruits and vegetables to the table. It is this recurring cycle that breathes depth and contentment into us. Building your own slice of backyard paradise allows you to bring your own sense of flair and individuality to your personal space. Home gardening, at its essence, is to bring calmness and satisfaction to your life.
At TLC, we are committed to offering our insight, creative design, and love of nature to making your space unique to you.
Having a home vegetable garden is such an empowering tool in times of hardship. Humans have been relying on sustainable agriculture since the earliest notions of civilization. Bringing this ancient, time-honored tradition into your backyard is so incredibly gratifying. It is the ability to provide food for you and your family at such a primal level that no other pastime activity can compete. This past summer, Nickolas Barylski of TLC had the opportunity to manage a 5-acre organic farm and shared this about the experience, “Farming, at its core, brings you back to nature in such a humbling way. Relying on my own hands to bring food to my table made me feel as if I could take whatever the world threw at me.” Statements such as this remind us how strong we all can be in the face of adversity.
At-home gardening may seem like a daunting task initially, but with the right guidance, anyone can do it. Depending on what you’d like to plant in your garden, there are three main factors that you must take into consideration: location, water, and soil.
1) Location
The location of your planter or garden bed(s) relies heavily upon the sun. Misjudging the amount of sunlight your garden receives is a common pitfall with new gardeners. Before installing your garden, watch the sun. Where does it rise, where does it fall? Most edible plants, including vegetables, herbs, and fruits, need at least 6 hours of sunlight to thrive. A helpful tip, whether you are doing your gardening in a raised planter bed or a greenhouse, is to orient long-ways facing south with any obstructions, such as fences or trees, directly to the north. This will ensure your garden gets the sun it needs!
2) Soil
Soil is the growing medium of choice for most home gardeners. The ideal growing medium is rich in organic material, and the most popular way of constantly replenishing this organic material is by composting. Leftover plant-based table scraps are your best option because of the speed at which they decompose and release carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus into the soil. Popular compost items include banana peels, apple cores, potato skins, etc. For those who aren’t ready to maintain a compost pile, there are many great organic potting mix options that have compost already mixed into the topsoil. By mixing in a layer of organic soil conditioner seasonally, you can feel confident that your patch will have he nutrients it needs to thrive.
3) Water
Plant your garden near a water source. How frustrating would it be to realize only after you’ve installed this beautiful garden that it isn’t convenient to water? Lugging a heavy bucket of water to and from your garden isn’t optimal for you or the plants. If you’re unable to plant near a water source, ensure that you have access to a hose that can extend to the garden. Many of our clients will ask us to install a drip line irrigation system connected directly to your backyard hose, or a rain barrel that collects water from your downspout. Regular watering is critical, especially when your fruits and vegetables are young.
Other topics of interest for gardeners include pollinators, optimal fruits and vegetables for our region, and the right maintenance schedule.
We at TLC are here to help! When you buy your new home with McEnearney Associates, think: where’s my garden going to go?!
Sincerely,
Tactical Land Care
Tactical Land Care is net-zero to help protect our world and environment for all of us. We specialize in sustainable construction, conservation landscaping, and stormwater management solutions, including permeable hardscape and rain gardens. By working together, we can maximize the ecological benefit of your property.
Please give us a call at 703-879-7091, or email us at info@tacticallandcare.com, where someone from our TLC team will develop a plan with you to help enhance your yard or property for many years to come.
Patrick Moran, PMP, LSC, HIC, LEED | CEO Tactical Land Care
Patrick utilizes his passion for the outdoors along with his professional skills as a licensed Landscape and Home Improvement contractor in Virginia and Maryland, as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and LEED Green Associate. Patrick has a BA from Yale University, where he studied climate change and its impact on society.
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In-Home Urban Jungles and How to Create Your Own
More and more people have been putting plants into their homes during this modern urban jungles craze that has sparked the internet. Whether you just enjoy the sight of plants or you understand the benefit of having them in your homes, people are starting to love the idea of having lush greenery throughout their home. Everyone has a green thumb, you just need to learn how to use it!
Little Leaf Shop, Washington D.C. Photo credit: Rachel Maucieri
Locally Owned Places to Purchase Plants
Little Leaf | Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
1401 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Instagram
Very chic shop that as all the necessities to start planting.
Ginkgo Gardens | Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
911 11th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Facebook | Instagram
Serves as a lush oasis in the heart of bustling capitol hill.
Greenstreet Gardens of Virginia | Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
1721 W Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22302
Instagram
Family run business that offers a large variety of plants and flowers galore .
Nature by Design | Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
300 Calvert Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
If you are looking for a plant that you can’t seem to find anywhere, chances are that you will find exactly what you are looking for at Nature by Design.
American Plant | Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
5258 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20816
Facebook | Instagram
American Plant is a great nursery to go to if you are looking for a custom arrangement.
Photo Courtesy Little Leaf Shop Instagram
Benefits of Having Plants in the House:
Urban Jungles bring many benefits besides the sheer beauty of the decor plants add to our homes. Plant care and self-care go hand in hand. Houseplants provide many positives to our daily lives in various, scientifically proven, ways. These benefits include air quality improvements, as plants bring in more oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, increasing humidity (even the Mid-Atlantic sometimes needs a little extra moisture in the air), assist in regulating air temperatures, and even boosting your immune system. There are even job benefits: productivity tends to improve as plants are present and sick leave has been found to be reduced up to 60%!
Below are some additional health advantages plants:
- Fatigue on average goes down 30%
- Perceptions of pain are lowered, on average 25%
- Coughing is reduced by approximately 35%
- Allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny noses, and dry throat are reduced by about 20%
(from The Perks of Being a Plant Lover)
If you wish to learn more about the health benefits that plants bring into our lives everyday then please click HERE for more details!
How to Create Terrariums, Kokedama Balls, and Macrame
Putting plants in your house is not only beautiful looking but it can be fun too! More and more people are getting incredibly creative with how they decorate their plants. You no longer have to have your plant just sitting in that little orange pot holder standing out in the center of your room. Instead, make a statement with your urban jungles! What most don’t realize is that you can hang your plants like a macrame, have a kokedama ball as a table centerpiece, or create a terrarium for your shelves.
No matter what your stlye is, go on youtube or type into google how to make a macrame for my plants, and there are so many options for everyone to chose and become a professional gardener. Below is an example of how to make a Terrarium.
How to make a Terrarium:
The best plants for a terrarium: Moon valley, Starfish plant, Neve plant, and Assorted cacti
Pro Tips to Keep Your Urban Jungles Flourishing:
- Avoid putting your plants in places next to heat sources (radiator or vent) or in a spot where there are likely cold drafts. Try to find a place where the temperature is always the same. Stability is key.
- When watering your plant ensure you are not over watering or providing too little. Balance is important.
- Before you purchase your new plant, make sure you do a little bit of research on it so you can find the best spot in the house for that plant to grow. Plants are alive, and one might require different care from another.
- Get to know your plant! Studies have shown that talking to your plants actually increases a plants life cycle.
- There are two types of houseplants: the dry kind and the moist kind. For example, a sago palm plant is very low maintenance because it thrives in dry, poor soil and will suffer if you give it too much water, whereas an iris needs to watered thoroughly and regularly or else they will not bloom.
- Renting? No problem! Just be sure to double check with your property management or landlord to be sure of any rules or restrictions. Read our tips for renters wanting to add a little green to their space.
Happy Planting Everyone!
Rethink Thanksgiving Leftovers
For most people, Thanksgiving doesn’t just signify a season of giving; it also signifies a season of leftovers! Fortunately for you, folks are getting creative with leftovers nowadays and developing delicious leftovers from next-day nourishment. From snacks to sandwiches and even brand-new dinners, there are plenty of ways to create something new from leftover holiday vittles.
Dude. Three words: Mashed Potato Pizza. It may sound strange, but we are definitely intrigued. Plus, it could certainly be a change from the heavy meal you ate the day before. You’ll need ingredients such as pizza dough (makes sense), garlic, basil, leeks, cheese and, of course, the leftover mashed potatoes. Like we said, intrigued. You can find the recipe here.
If it’s snacks that you’re searching for, and you really love stuffing, there’s a recipe for Second-Day Fried Stuffing Bites with a Cranberry Sauce Pesto. Breadcrumbs, leftover stuffing, walnuts, and a couple other basic ingredients make up this treat that helps you get rid of a part of the Thanksgiving dinner that sometimes goes to waste. A food processor will be your BFF with this recipe, which you can find here (the recipe, not the processor…sorry).
If you haven’t gotten your fill of dinners that look (keyword: look) impressive, try out these Pocket Pies that are chock-full of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, vegetables and anything else your heart desires. It seems to be fairly simple and kid-friendly (give little ones something to do while they’re home from school on holiday break). And you can even put some aside and freeze for later on! Click here for the full recipe.
And if you need a recipe that works well for a cold day, try a turkey soup. This Chunky Turkey-Vegetable Soup uses up cooked turkey breast and sweet potato, as well as some other yummy things, which will warm you up when cold weather has you down. It looks super easy and quick, which should be a nice change of pace from the holiday frenzy. Find the details here.
