Author: Jay Mills

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

Jay Mills

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:

How Does a Dog Park Benefit a Community?
Dog parks make communities safer by having a place for dogs to play and socialize. Rather than running freely in an open field or cul-de-sac, dog parks are enclosed, thus limiting the opportunity for incidents. Dog parks can also help reduce the number of troublesome dog encounters by encouraging owners to socialize their pets.

How Does a Dog Park Benefit the Residents?
Dog parks can also bring the community closer by having a place for dog owners to meet and socialize while creating a dog-friendly network within a community. Dog parks can also benefit older residents and residents with disabilities who may not be able to take their dogs on long walks.

What Are the Disadvantages of Dog Parks?
Like all things, dog parks come with their own set of disadvantages. For one, while we may think we understand our dogs, we can never predict our pets’ behaviors. The potential danger from aggressive dogs and injuries from dog-related incidents are something to consider. Other things to consider are those who leave their dogs unattended or those who do not pick up after their dogs.

All things considered, any additional amenities to a community will boost the property value and attract a wider range of potential residents. As the dog population continues to grow, dog parks are beneficial and something to consider.

 

Jay Mills

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.

While both methods have their benefits, in most cases, mulching leaves is more cost-efficient than leaf removal. Mulching leaves can also act as a natural fertilizer and a beneficial organic matter, which will improve the overall health of the soil. Another benefit is water conservation, as leaf mulching helps retain moisture in the soil. Additionally, the leaf mulch lowers the soil’s exposure to the sun and wind, reducing evaporation. Leaf mulches also reduce weeds on a property, in turn reducing the amount of weeding or the need to use herbicides to maintain the property in the spring. A disadvantage to this method is that mulching diseased leaves can spread disease. Too many mulched leaves can starve your grass and plants of light and air and encourage pests.

Similarly, leaf removal also comes with advantages and disadvantages. One of the main benefits of leaf removal is that it promotes better growth. Cleaning up the leaves allows sunlight to get into the grass, helping with the overall growth. The downside of not removing fallen leaves is that the area will stay damp, leading to mold, fungus, and diseases that will damage your grass. The leaves remaining on a property can invite mosquitoes and other insects that will eat the roots of your grass, leading to several types of lawn disease. Overall, removal services in the fall will reduce the amount of time and save money on lawn services that may be needed in the spring.

Jay Mills

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.  Landscaping at Howard Hughes Medical Institute

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.