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title: 5 Rules To Include In Homeowners Association Landscape Guidelines

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# 5 Rules To Include In Homeowners Association Landscape Guidelines

Here is your roadmap for creating [HOA landscape maintenance](blog.dtelandscape.com/hereonearth/most-common-hoa-landscape ) guidelines that will cover all the key maintenance bases, while staying focused on budget, quality and results. Be sure to cover these 5 landscaping tasks in your landscaping rules to set a high standard for maintenance on your HOA grounds.

#1 Weekly Mow, Edge & Blow

Commercial properties including HOAs require weekly mowing to keep lawns healthy and attractive. If your landscape contractor suggests bi-weekly mowing, think twice about signing that contract. When we care for properties every two weeks, we must spend just as much time on the grounds as if we had visited weekly. Plus, the work becomes more of a cleanup project because of excessive growth and buildup of debris. Things just get messy if landscape maintenance only happens every other week.

#2 Attention To Detail: Picking Up Debris

Some HOA landscaping guidelines neglect to address debris on the property and who’s going to pick it up. We believe the landscape contractor should take ownership of removing debris from the property. That includes trash that collects in drainage grates and along curbs, and green waste like clippings and other “stuff” Mother Nature deposits on the grounds.

#3 Regular Pruning—As Needed

Some shrubs require pruning more often than others. For example, azaleas are generally trimmed back once a year after they bloom. But fast-growing shrubs that might interfere with walkways or sight lines must be managed more frequently. First, be sure pruning is included in your landscape guidelines.

#4 Appropriate Fertilization—Not Too Much, Not Too Little

You’d be surprised how often some HOA property managers believe their grounds must be fertilized to thrive. Some HOA guidelines that suggest fertilizing 10, 12 and even 15-plus times per year. That’s way too much fertilizer! 

#5 Irrigation System Maintenance

Don’t forget to address irrigation maintenance in your HOA landscaping guidelines. During the growing season when sprinkler systems are hard at work, you’ll likely need to adjust some watering times and possibly make some repairs to fix broken sprinkler heads, valves or other parts. Without figuring in these costs, you could quickly blow your landscape maintenance budget. 

Source: https://www.highgrove.net

