As the vibrant colors of summer gradually give way to the warm hues of fall, it’s essential that your property is prepared for the upcoming seasonal changes. Fall cleanup and trimming perennials are crucial tasks that not only enhance the appearance of the landscape but also promote its health and longevity. Let’s explore the importance of these services and how they can make your commercial property stand out during the autumn months into winter and spring.
Author: Jay Mills
Jay Mills has been with Chapel Valley for the last four years as a business development executive. Although he is new to the landscape industry, he has been working in sales for over ten years. Before Chapel Valley Jay worked for an IT reseller selling directly to the federal government. Jay has taken many different courses throughout the years. Courses such as customer service, a variety of Microsoft courses, sales courses such as sales plus & fundamentals of selling to the IT Government to name a few.
Jay has been a part of NVAA (Northern Virginia Apartment Association) for the last two years with Chapel Valley.
Jay is happily married, has a 3-year-old daughter and two dogs who he loves spending time with going parks and hiking. In his spare time he enjoys fishing, playing video games, and bike riding.
Contact Information:
Cell: 240-468-3932
Jaym@chapelvalley.com
The Benefits of Dog Parks
Dog Parks – Property Amenity
In the 2021-2022 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 70% of U.S. households have at least one pet. With dogs continuing to be one of the most popular household pets and this number continuing to increase, dog leash laws are becoming more strict. This may leave dog owners wondering where their dogs can run and play freely. Many developments are adding dog parks as an amenity to attract dog owners and help solve this problem for the growing dog population. Here are a few pros and cons of adding a dog park to your community: Read more »
Leaf Removal
Removal vs. Mulching in Turf
As summer comes to an end, so does the tree growing season. As fall approaches, property managers are left with a decision to make. Should fallen leaves be mulched or removed? When it comes to leaf removal it may be tempting to wait until all the leaves have fallen; however, it is much better for the overall health of your lawn to remove them as soon as possible. Leaves can also cause safety issues as fallen leaves on pavements, parking lots, and patios can be slippery when wet and lead to accidents. Read more »
Three Things I Learned About The Landscaping Industry
Joining the landscape industry has been a new learning experience and after 3 years I’m still learning. Coming from a corporate IT background I never knew what went into working for a landscaping company.
While all properties are different, they all are looking to accomplish the same goal. Each property’s requirements vary based on its region. Whether you are looking at a high-rise in DC with a green roof and planters on the ground level, a gated HOA in McLean, or a new developing apartment community in Richmond, they are all looking to accomplish the same goal, curb appeal! While working on apartment communities in DC you will see many greens. In Herndon, you don’t see that very often but you do see more outdoor spaces, for example, dog parks and trails. I have learned that we need to be able to hear all of our customer’s needs and take into consideration the location. 
Coming from a corporate background new to the landscape industry I have learned that It’s a team effort from beginning to end. When it comes to preparing a proposal for a customer many parts go into the planning that I was not aware of. Starting with the initial meeting with the customer to internally estimating the property, the team physically estimating the property to finally presenting to the customer. Everyone in the team plays a big role in presenting each proposal specifically designed for each of our customers.
In my first year, I didn’t understand why there was so much conversation around snow removal. Coming from a completely different industry I would have never imagined the role that snow plays in the landscape industry. After sitting in on an operations meeting I understand all the planning that goes into a snow event. Assigning crew members and vehicles to each customer’s specific snow requirements takes a lot of preparation. Also the continued treatment of the properties throughout and after a storm. Snow is a big part of the landscape industry in Northern Virginia during the winter months.
These are only a few of the many things I have learned while working at Chapel Valley.