After many years, this family was ready to upgrade to their dream home in the northwestern suburbs of Washington D.C. Their wish list included a modern, luxurious space for entertaining. Additionally, they wanted a low-maintenance landscape that would fit their travel schedule. For the design and installation, the owners reached out to Rossen Landscapes, based in Great Falls, Virginia. Rossen’s finished project earned them a gold award in the 2025 Awards of Excellence.
Limited space was a challenge throughout this project. Like many homes in this area, the lots are narrow with small access points to the backyard. The new home was under construction while the landscape was installed, so access across the site was even tighter.
On the sides of the home, there was only six feet of access between the house and the fence along the property line. One side features an artificial turf path connecting the front and backyards. Artificial turf was used in the backyard to eliminate mowing, while natural turf is used in the front yard.
Stepping stones connect the yards on the opposite side of the home, and a screen of Liquidambar lines the fence. In this area, drifts of epimedium fill the gaps between the trees, adding more greenery along the fence.
The backyard consists of “rooms” to make the space feel larger. One example is a waterless “water feature” near the backyard pool and a Vistafolia greenwall on the rear fence. Golf is a favorite pastime of the owners, so an artificial putting green occupies about 350 square feet near the pool.
Another challenge was the mature heritage oak, which occupies the rear corner of the backyard. Careful steps were taken to preserve the oak’s massive system while creating an elevated deck around the impressive specimen. This was achieved using Ipe decking without deep footers. The result is a place to hang out and enjoy the views of the pool and putting green. Rossen used the existing topography to their advantage across the property. For the backyard, the pool and spa are on the ground level, while the home’s patio is elevated for a better view.
Since the property has limited space, the planting design had to be just right. An emphasis was placed on dwarf species that would fill the gaps without causing problems. Parts of the property have a small plant palette because of shady conditions, especially in the backyard. These areas were planted with drifts of hakone grass, nandina, and panicle hydrangea. Seasonal planters are interspersed near the home and the fence to provide new color every few months.
The front yard had its own design challenges. Two drainage ponds had to be installed to comply with local requirements. Each pond has a concrete exterior, giving the space an industrial feel.
To soften the appearance of those structures, Rossen planted grasses and evergreen specimens along the perimeter of the concrete walls using Corten steel planters. The impact of these planters is notable, as they slope downward along the wall. And finally, the site’s elegant ambiance is reinforced by a stand of mini bamboo and a Bloodgood Japanese maple near the home.
Interested in participating in the Awards of Excellence? Enter your projects by July 31, 2026.
