2007 Apr
2007 Apr Vol. 5, No. 4
Focus on...Landscaping & Lawn Care
Getting Rid of Nuisance Plants
Springtime means many things—warmer weather, switching from clunky boots to sandals, picnics and baseball—but it also signifies the start of many weeks of arduous work toward the ultimate goal of creating a lush, beautiful turf. Unfortunately, waiting underground, ready to ruin that flawlessly manicured landscape, are mean green aliens—otherwise known as weeds. Cutting, spraying and mowing seems to temporarily keep them at bay, but eventually they rear their ugly head again. Can weeds really be tamed? Read More
Protecting Plants from Bugs & Critters
They say nothing ruins a picnic like ants. And nothing
ruins a lush, green landscape like swarms of insects and hordes of
burrowing animals. With spring in full bloom, now is the time for co-op and
condo association landscape crews to start scouting the greenery to find
problems before they escalate. Read More
A Look at the Art of Landscaping
Just as she abhors a vacuum, Nature loathes lawn mowers, weed-whackers, pruning shears, hedge clippers…anything used to control the chaos she prefers. This state of overgrowth and disorder may be nature's default setting, but doesn't make for good landscaping. Planting bulbs and pruning trees may seem easy - or at least fairly straightforward—but there is a complexity to the landscaper's art that belies its natural simplicity. There's a great deal of information to know, a great deal of plant life to manage and a great deal of work to do to make your building or association's grounds look their best. Read More
The Value of Landscape Design
First impressions are vital in the search for a home. The landscape of a condo or housing association says as much about a community as its architecture. While the mere arrangement of shrubs may not seem like something that should be high on the priority list of any HOA or management company, the various elements of a landscape's design do have a great effect on a community. From safety and functionality to morale and resale value, the layout, materials, and upkeep of a community's landscape affect residents in many ways. Read More
Top Questions to Ask Your Lawn Care Professional
After the winter snow has thawed and the warmer spring weather is starting to show, the attention of property managers and homeowners turns to one common task—to create a healthy, attractive lawn. It's a major concern, but it can sometimes be a major headache as well, especially when preventing weeds, diminishing brown patches and the debate over whether or not to use pesticides are just some of the regular issues that need to be addressed annually. Read More
Maintaining Fences, Decks & Siding
If you have lived through a New Jersey winter, you know that some mighty bad weather can hit the area—and it's not just people who suffer from it. When strong wind, heavy snow, rain, salt water and freezing temperatures arrive, they can cause properties to look a bit, well, under the weather. Years of wear and tear from such elements will affect just about every exterior aspect of a condo and co-op, but the three most common outdoor maintenance issues concern fencing, decking and siding. Read More
The National Arbor Day Foundation
Since it was founded in 1972, on the centennial
anniversary of the very first Arbor Day, the National Arbor Day Foundation
(NADF) has been steadfast in its mission to "plant, nurture, and
celebrate trees." Read More
Getting to the Root of the Problem
Imagine how stark life would be without the sheltering
beauty of trees. From the majestic architecture of large shade trees to the
soft colors of spring blossoming ornamentals, trees are major contributors
to our landscapes, and our lives. Read More
Q&A: Adults-Only Pool?
My client has children and lives next to their HOA’s swimming pool, which the whole family enjoys very much. In fact, they purchased the home specifically because it was next to the pool. Their association has since been turned over from the sponsor to the homeowners, and a rule has just been circulated that all persons under 18 years of age can no longer use that pool. Minors must use another pool on the other side of the development that is about 30 percent smaller. The neighborhood has children, but not a lot. Both pools are common areas, and of course under the HOA’s covenants, all homeowners have the right to use the common areas. The homeowners have just hired a local property management company to run things for them. Read More
Q&A: Too Many Pets
I live in a 100 percent owner-occupied condominium. Our bylaws and house rules very clearly state that unit owners may have no more than two pets, only one of which may be a dog. One of the unit owners (who is also a board member!) keeps four dogs in her unit as her pets. Since she is a board member, the board will not take any action against her. Do you think her menagerie could have a negative impact on the value of the property? What is a unit owner to do? Read More
