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NON MAINTENANCE (GARDEN) AREAS In addition to Rules and Regulations in the preceding section, the Rules and Regulations of this section additionally apply to the Non Maintenance Areas (NMAs, commonly called "garden areas"), as defined and provided in the Declaration of Covenants and Bylaws. Landscaping within NMAs is the responsibility of the unit owner. Landscaping of NMAs shall be governed as provided herein. Per the Declaration of Covenants, the unit owner may choose the type of plantings within their NMAs, but must maintain such plantings. All plantings in NMAs must conform to a uniform appearance throughout the Association. Flower planting within NMAs is encouraged. Boundaries of NMAs shall be those of the Builder's original locations throughout the Association. Per the Declaration of Covenants, contents of NMAs are the responsibility of the unit owner. Contents (other than original rear patios) shall be maintained as originally designed with living plant life in keeping with the purpose of beautification, and of type to promote uniformity throughout the Association. To keep uniformity throughout the Association and for economic considerations, unit owners are encouraged, but not required, to obtain options for NMA landscaping through the Property Manager. However, all costs shall be at the unit owner's expense. As a last resort, the Association maintains the right to enter and correct the contents of NMAs if repeated violations occur, and to charge back expenses incurred to the unit owner's assessment account. Plantings within NMAs shall not exceed eight feet (8') in height except by written variance from the Board. Contents of NMAs may not impede operation of common area sprinkler systems, gutter downspouts, or walkways. To keep uniform appearance throughout the Association, and as provided in the Declaration of Covenants, trimming of plant life within NMAs shall be performed by the Association's landscape contractor. Unit owners who desire to trim and maintain their own NMAs may indicate such decision to the Association's landscape contractor by installing a round blue reflector, no more than three inches (3") in diameter placed into the ground in an inconspicuous yet visible location within each NMA (front and rear). Regardless of unit owner's choice for maintenance, all NMAs must be well maintained and conform to the requirements herein.
Clinging vines may not adhere to the side of any building. Additionally,
lattice work may not be affixed to any building. Temporary lattice works
no more than forty eight inches (48") high may be used in the rear
Ground cover such as mulch, bark, or decorative stone, if used, must be neutral earth-tone or white in color. "Street-side" border edging, if installed by the unit owner, shall only be light gray (sometimes called 'natural') in color, brick retaining wall style, eight inch (8") or twelve inch (12") in length. Matching capstones may also be used. The border must run continuously along the entire length of the NMA, be well maintained (level, upright, and uniform) with a maximum total height no higher than three inches (3") above the front stoop, including any capstones. If two rows cause the border to be higher than three inches (3") above the front stoop, a written variance for the second row may be requested (but not necessarily automatically granted) from the Board prior to installation. With the exception of 'grandfathered' variances below, borders of shared NMAs must be continuous, uniform and run the entire length of the shared NMAs. (You may not have half of a shared NMA with a border. It must be all or nothing.) On end units, if side borders are also installed, both the front and side borders must be the same style, continuous, level, upright and uniform. NMA borders along all garage and entry sidewalks shall be a black plastic ribbon type for the primary purpose of preventing soil erosion. "Rear-side" NMA borders only may vary in style from the above street-side borders, must only be cement type material, light gray (sometimes called 'natural') in color and run the entire length of the NMA, be well maintained (level and upright). However, any other materials, i.e., fence type borders, wire, plastic, rocks, wood, construction brick, etc. are prohibited. Units with existing border edging, and currently under the same ownership as that prior to September 1, 2000, may be 'grandfathered' by variance until such time as (a) the unit is sold to a new owner, or (b) the border edging fails to be properly maintained (level and upright), or (c) falls into disrepair; at which time of any one such occurrence, the 'grandfathered' variance shall expire, and such border must be immediately removed at the owner's expense. Garden hoses in NMAs with a total length of five feet (5') or more must be kept on a reel when not in use, and must not obstruct operation of the sprinkler system or interfere with the duties of the landscape contractor or will be subject to confiscation at owner's expense. Lawn (Malibu) lights, if used, must be within the NMA border, upright, uniform, evenly spaced, maintained in good working condition, and less than fifteen inches (15") in height, or if a border edging is used, extend no more than twelve inches (12") above the top of the border. Lawn lights cannot interfere with lawn care or snow removal and are installed at the risk of the homeowner. The light bulbs should be neutral in color, with the exception of temporary holiday decorations as defined and regulated herein. Temporary planters and other seasonal garden decorations must be removed from December 1st to April 1St of each year. ---------------------------------
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES The landscape maintenance services include spring clean up, mowing, turfgrass fertilization, weed spraying, sidewalk edging, shrub bed and tree ring cultivation, tree and shrub pruning, trimming, and fall clean up. The services are normally performed weekly April 1st through November 30th (weather permitting). Sometimes residents may notice our crews doing pruning work during the winter months (December – March), this is because we are performing a very special task commonlyreferred to as “Dormant Pruning”. Dormant pruning specifically includes rejuvenation, renewal, and heading back methods of pruning. These professional methods of pruning are essential to improve the health, appearance, longevity, and natural form of the plant materials. The weekly mowing is usually performed on the same day (s) each week. Your scheduled mowing day (s) will be finalized by the last week of April and will remain the same throughout the growing season. In the event of holidays, rain, or other factors, Best Lawns may need to reschedule to another day. This will usually be the next business day. We observe three holidays during the landscape season: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. The fertilizers and herbicides used by Best Lawns are classified by the E.P.A. as General Use products. These products are always applied by licensed personnel, used in accordance with the label instructions and will not harm the applicator or environment. Lawn application notice “flags” will be placed out whenever lawn applications are made. The flags state “STAY OFF THE GRASS UNTIL DRY” and are usually removed on the next scheduled visit to the property. Sidewalks are power edged once monthly. Shrubs are pruned and/or trimmed up to four times per season. The timing of the shrub pruning may vary based on the flowering cycle and/or growth habits of the various plant species. Sometimes during the pruning cycle, one specific type of plant may be trimmed, while other different varieties may be skipped until after they flower. Shrub beds and tree rings are cultivated and/or edged bimonthly (four times per season) and weeds are generally pulled/sprayed weekly. Normally, if the homeowners border the shrub bed or tree rings with decorative fences, plastic edging, stones, or mulch; or if they install other plants, flowers, vegetables, perennials, etc., the planting bed becomes the responsibility of the homeowner. Also, should the homeowners install tulip or daffodil bulbs, they should contact the property manager and let them know. After Best Lawns receives notice that bulbs have been installed, we will place a small 3”x2” red flag in the planting bed to remind our crews not to cultivate the bed. In addition, it is not uncommon for the landscapers to place the red flags when they notice other plants were installed by homeowners. NOTE: Always check with your property manager and/or the Association board of directors in regard to the Association’s rules, regulations, and policies about installing flowers and other plant materials or installing decorative fences, stones, or mulch. Please pick up after your pets and do not place any dog stakes or chains in the lawns areas. Prior to the scheduled mowing day, please remove any hoses, swimming pools, play sets, BBQ grills, lawn furniture, etc. out of the work area.
Any special request or
other landscape work, such as tree and shrub replacements, sod repairs,
installation of drain tile, etc. are only accomplished upon the
authorization of the Association. Should you notice any dead trees or
shrubs, please report them to the property manager. Also, if you notice
any significant plant damage, disease, or insect infestation, please let
the property manager know.
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