Planned Development Services

Spring is just around the corner. How’s your landscaping?
Now is the best time to look at the “spring cleaning” matters in landscaping.

As a homeowner in an HOA, look around your property’s landscaping, then ask yourself……

Do your plants just need trimming maintenance? Arizona Municipal Water Association gives these easy tips for how to prune which plants, properly. They also have a handy maintenance schedule you can follow.

Have you applied appropriate chemicals for a weed-free yard this summer? Non one wants to pull weeds when it’s over 100 degrees! Consider visiting the local home improvement store for product recommendations, and ask for options, such as pre-emergents, that are safe to use near children and pets.

As water rates continue to increase, an irrigation audit will be helpful to make sure you are watering plants efficiently. If you haven’t yet, update your irrigation system to operate on a smart controller, which uses local weather data to water plants appropriately, can be a great way to reduce water wastage (azcla.com).

Do you meet the minimum plant requirements in your HOA? Do you need to add plants to bring your lot into compliance? If unsure, check with the Community Manager for the approved plants and process to make changes needed. Your manager is there to help you! Take advantage before making unnecessary costly changes. Your HOA may have the tools you need already at your disposal.

Do you have enough decomposed granite? The Arizona Landscape Contractors Association reminds us that now is the time to replenish bare or sparse areas of decomposed granite. Maintaining 2” helps reduce evaporation from soil, reduces erosion and suppresses weed germination. It also provides a ‘finished’ background for your plants!

What’s happening with the HOA landscaping?

You may have noticed landscaping companies completing “Renovation Pruning” during this time of year. This type of pruning can be done in the winter or early spring to help rejuvenate shrubs and ground covers to encourage growth after the dormant period. It can also help manage plants that have outgrown the space, are encroaching over sidewalks, or are obstructing lines of sight.

Here are a few additional benefits to help better understand why renovation pruning is taking place in your neighborhood (provided by azcla.com):

• Promotes healthy plants by eliminating frequent pruning schedules
• Frequently pruned shrubs are in a continuous state of stress, requiring more water to recover
• Allows for natural seasonal flowering
• Plants that are not sheared resist stress better than plants routinely and excessively pruned
• Promotes sustainability by reducing waste that goes into landfill

There are a number of reasons why the HOA Board prunes common area plants and trees; however the ultimate goal is to encourage natural growth, form, and flowering of plants in our Arizona landscape. Promoting healthy plant growth and maintenance in our landscape is one of the first steps to help preserve our precious natural resources, as well as protect HOA’s landscape investment and maintenance budget.