Our Experts

Howard Cohen, PLA, Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction | D. Blake Dunlevy, D.A. Dunlevy | Paulo Trindade, Grow Landscapes | Chris Vedrani, Planted Earth Landscaping

Pollinators: Laws of Attraction

“Use native plants that have not been treated
with insecticides: lavender, coneflowers, Black-eyed Susans.
They are most resilient.”
—Paulo Trindade

“What pollinators do you want to attract? Anything that has berries will attract birds,
and Monarch butterflies lay eggs in milkweed. We tend
to overlook bats, which like wet areas where mosquitoes are prevalent. ”
—Chris Vedrani

“A pollinator garden starts with trees—they are the magnets.
Consider natives like oaks, river birch and
maple as well as cherry trees, black gums and beeches.”
—Howard Cohen

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Perfect Ingredients
for an Outdoor Kitchen

“People are taking cues from indoor kitchens
with islands and waterfall countertops. Modern looks great
in stainless steel or aluminum. And Dekton is a popular
countertop surface, as it doesn’t retain heat.”
—Paulo Trindade

“Seating for a few friends is key. We try to make
the cooking space social with a counter and bar stools.”
—D. Blake Dunlevy

“Stone countertops and veneers are invincible.
We typically run gas from the home, not from a separate tank.
And remember to install an electrical outlet so you have power.”
—Chris Vedrani

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The Ins + Outs
of Pool Installation

“Hire someone familiar with local conditions who will
do soil tests to avoid surprises; for instance, Alexandria may
have marine clay while Loudoun County will be rocky,
which is costly to work with.”
—Paulo Trindade

“Choose an open area with lots of sunlight
and accessibility to the house. Overhanging trees
will drop seeds and leaves in the pool.”
—Howard Cohen

“If you site a pool too far away from the house and
it becomes a destination, you won’t want to use it as much.
And your equipment shouldn’t be kept under mature trees
because of root systems.”
—Chris Vedrani

“Excited owners installing a pool may
forget to maximize the rest of the property. Think of the pool
as one piece of a much larger landscape puzzle.”
—D. Blake Dunlevy