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HOA Community Management: What to do With Extra Budget in the New Year

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With the New Year just around the corner, its time to start thinking about what you can do with budget for 2021.

When it comes to the landscape of your HOA community, there are quite a few options on where budget can go to ensure that it is being optimized this year. We recommend putting that budget into elements that will save money for your community in the long run, increase community value, and/or upgrade the neighborhood.

Some great ideas when it comes to spending on your landscape include focusing on enhancements that you may have put off, dedicating budget to arbor care, and/or budgeting for plant replenishments.

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Enhancements projects can range from irrigation installation and upgrades to pest prevention/control. These projects go above and beyond the everyday landscaping maintenance of a property and involve upgrades to the community that will not only save you money in the long term but also will increase the overall value and appeal.

ELS has its own division dedicated to enhancements projects with a team of professionals who are able to analyze your property’s needs and make recommendations that will be best for you and your budget. Request a bid for any of your upcoming projects today!

Plant Replenishments technically fall under the enhancements umbrella as well. However, plant replenishments are noteable in their own manner as they are a great way to give your property a noticeable upgrade in a quick yet impactful way. Your landscape management company can help you achieve this by taking a full inventory of your current plants and offering recommendations on which to remove/replace or which areas of your community would benefit from additional plants.

ELS has a wholesale nursery with a large variety of plants and trees that spans over 30 acres. ELS can partner with your community to review plant palette opportunities and create a contractual grow plan for your property in advance. Request a bid on your plant replenishment project!

Arbor Care is another great way to spend budget! Trees are the largest asset to any HOA community or property and investing in trees will always increase value. Hiring on certified arborists for your property this year will ensure that your trees are well cared for, properly pruned, and are able to provide years of shade, beauty, and value to your community.

ELS has a division of certified arborists and tree climbers who are dedicated to ensuring quality tree management and services to HOA communities and commercial properties. Our experienced and certified climbers take your tree care to the next level with precision pruning techniques and adherence to strict safety guidelines. To request an Arbor bid, click here.

Now that you have a good idea of options when it comes to your 2021 budget, we hope you feel equipped to make the best decision for your community.

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Ornamental Grasses Image

Ornamental Grasses in Your AZ Landscape

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This holiday season we are talking more than ornaments for your tree! Ornamental Grass is a great addition to any Arizona Landscape and is an aesthetic plant material that thrives in the Winter, providing some green to your community while other plants struggle through the colder temperatures.

Ornamental Grasses are low water use and require little maintenance outside of pruning. They add texture and color to a landscape, specifically in the Winter season as other plants go dormant during the cold. These grasses come in a variety of types to choose from and are great for providing privacy, filling up dead space, and making a landscape look unique.

Maintenance of Ornamental Grasses in an AZ Landscape

Due to their frost-hardiness, Ornamental Grasses should not be pruned during the late Fall/ early Winter timeframe that most plants are. Instead, they should be attended to in the Spring after the frost has lifted and temperatures begin to rise. They can be lightly pruned to ensure they are looking their best at this time.

Water usage should rise slightly in the summertime for these plants to help them survive the hottest months of the year, however otherwise they are low water usage grasses. This is great for a desert landscape to help save on water use that would typically be higher for other plant material and regular grasses.

For more information on landscaping tips to maintain ornamental grass, visit the Arizona Landscape Contractor’s Association blog post.

If you are interested in an AZ landscape management company to help you with the maintenance of your HOA community or commercial property’s landscape, click here.

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Landscape AZ., Types of turf

Types of Turf for Your AZ Landscape

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There are a variety of turf options when it comes to the choice for your landscape, however here in the desert southwest it is important to be aware of the kinds which survive best through our hot Summers and short Winters.

We recommend choosing between Bermudagrass, Midiron, and St. Augustine for the Summer turf in your AZ landscape. These are best used in general areas and are strong warm season grasses that will survive the heat!

Breaking Down Your Options- Warm Season Turf

BermudaGrass:

  • High heat tolerance
  • Grown from seed
  • Dormant in the Winter Months (Typically Nov.-March)
  • Does not always need Overseed in the Winter
  • Requires around 8 hours of sunlight/ a day to thrive
  • Maintenance Includes: Regular weed control and fertilization, mowing to ensure height of 1-3 inches, regular irrigation, and Winter Overseeding.

St. Augustine

  • Thrives in shadier areas
  • Requires only about 3 hours of sunlight a day to thrive
  • Available in Sod form as well as plugs or stolons
  • Not a strong candidate for Overseeding but does retain some green color in the Winter months
  • Maintenance Includes: Regular fertilization, mowing to ensure height of 1-3 inches, no overseeding, placement in mostly-shaded areas.

Mid Iron

  • High heat tolerance
  • Can handle quite a bit of foot traffic making it great for use in parks and high traffic areas
  • Requires 8 hours of sunlight per day to thrive
  • Available as Sod
  • Maintenance includes: Regular fertilization and weed control, regular irrigation, monitoring for pests and disease, Winter overseeding, and mowing to height of 1-3 inches depending on intended use.

Winter Turf Options for Your AZ Landscape

In the late Fall months it is recommended to Overseed both Bermudagrass and Mid Iron turf. When overseeding, it is important to choose a strong cold season grass that will ensure your landscape looks its best throughout the Winter. We recommend choosing between Annual and Perennial Ryegrass to Overseed your lawn.

Annual Ryegrass:

  • Fast germinating
  • Green color is bright and aesthetic

Perennial Ryegrass:

  • Fast Germinating
  • Heat and drought tolerant
  • Hardier turf than Annual Ryegrass

Take these characteristics into account when choosing the right turf for your Homeowner’s Association landscape and be sure to reach out to a professional with any questions before laying down your new turf.

For more information on the steps in Overseeding visit our article here.

Looking for a landscape management company for your Homeowner’s Association or Commercial Property? We’re here to help!

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