Grounds care is arguably the most talked about subject
in every community, and rightfully so. Grounds care can
have a significant impact on the value of a home in an
association. In fact, studies have shown that well-
maintained landscaping and outdoor spaces can
increase the value of a property by up to 20%.
A well-maintained landscape with healthy plants,
trimmed trees, and vibrant flowers can create a
welcoming atmosphere and make the community a
desirable place to live. So how do you hold your
professional grounds care service provider
accountable for creating the inviting and visually
appealing community that you hired them to do?
What’s the Plan: Being proactive with communication
is vital to the success of your grounds care. Prior to the
beginning of the season, you need to inspect the
grounds with your service provider. Review the plan for
the year and make modifications based on the needs
NOW, because changing a plan mid-season is reactive
which leads to slow improvements. Please share the
yearly plan on your association’s portal/website so all
owners can be kept in the loop about this important
element of your association.
Pre-emergent treatments: If you want to prevent
weed growth in your community's flower beds and turf,
make sure you include pre-emergent treatments. This
proactive treatment is essential for keeping your
community's flower beds looking their best. A question
we get often is should an association forgo pre-
emergent treatments in order to have spring seeding
done to bare spots. We say NO. A lawn without weeds
is much more desirable than one with a few bare spots.
Add these locations to your fall service list and consider
an overseeding in the fall if your turn needs a boost.
Perennials: Perennials are starting to grow now. Take
a good look at them and make the necessary changes
now. This will give you a full season with them looking
their best. Perennials are great for adding color at a low
cost.
New shrubs: Always remove dead shrubs and take an
inventory. The curb appeal is much greater without a
shrub than with a dead one. Monitor this regularly and
inventory so you can have a fall installation. This
batching of services will also help save money.
Trees: Schedule inspections now for May to identify
any potential issues with your community's trees. Early
detection can prevent costly damage and keep your
trees healthy and beautiful. This early timing is
important for getting on the arborists service list before
the rush of client calls bombard them. When meeting
with the, see if there is a way they can prune trees to
keep them away from buildings and walkways for a 2-3
year period. This helps save money since they only
need to do work every three years instead of annually.
Irrigation: As the planting season approaches (usually
in May), it's important to get your irrigation system
ready to ensure that your annuals are properly watered.
Your landscaping contractor can help you prepare your
irrigation system for the upcoming planting season.
When the system is operating properly, the visible
results are great and you save money by not wasting
water.
Following and communicating the annual plan will build
trust with the owners and will provide visible results.
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