HOA landscaping can be a challenge to maintain. Here we have gathered expert opinions on strategies to maintain your HOA’s landscaping. Residents tend to be interested and invested in landscaping because it affects their living space. For potential residents, the landscaping of outdoor areas are one of the first things they notice. Ensuring that outdoor spaces are taken care of and will increase property value is crucial to your role. So we gathered ten useful tips from experts working in the HOA landscaping industry just for you. 

1.Landscaping improves properties’ value

Landscaping improves a home’s overall value by as much as 12%, according to Realtor® Magazine. This is a huge amount, and something that the board must bear in mind when they’re deciding where to allocate their budget.

Just to add to that, Serpico Landscaping reports that for HOA communities this value can be even higher. So for HOAs, which on average already have homes valued at 5% to 6% higher than those in non-HOA communities, this increase is even larger. 

Any potential buyer that enters an HOA will base their first impression on the landscape and outside areas. Having a nice and well-kept community area is important for residents as it makes them feel happier about where they live. 

2. Dedicate part of the HOA website to FAQs about landscaping issues

According to Yellowstone Landscape most residents get confused over what their responsibilities are when it comes to landscaping. It’s not clear whether some responsibilities are theirs or the landscaper’s. 

For example, some residents may expect a landscaper to cut their grass. Normally, it’s the residents’ who should do that. This information is most probably stated in the HOA guidelines or bylaws. But, we know that residents often overlook these documents. So, having a specific place where residents can look for this kind of information in one click can avoid confusion and save board members’ time. 

A good place to post this information is in your website or secure portal. Vinteum allows board members to create, update and manage your website with just a few clicks. Without any need for technical knowledge or coding. Click here to find out more. 

3. Great communication is the key

Brightview said, “there’s no excuse for poor communication.” We completely agree with that!

There are plenty of best communication practices. A great one is for board members to have only one point of contact in their partner landscape company. This would particularly prevent miscommunication. If you live in a large HOA, setting up a Landscape/Maintenance committee could make the communication more fluid between the board members, the residents, and the landscape company. 

As Holden from Greenscape says “The best relationships I see are where there’s a strong HOA board, a strong property manager, and a strong landscaping company,” Holden says. “It’s a circle, where everybody is supporting the community.”

One idea is to have a seasonal newsletter letting residents know what is going on in their community. This could include events, meetings, and scheduled maintenance. You could post this newsletter in your community’s portal and email it to everyone.

4. Avoid working with multiple contractors

John Dougherty from Juniper Landscaping said he has rarely had a good experience working with multiple contractors for one HOA. This is probably because the more people work on a project, the more complex it gets, especially communication. Sticking to one company may be wiser for your HOA to keep track of the whole process, maintain costs and build a long-term relationship. 

It’s also helpful when you have to assign different tasks to different contractors. You may get confused as to who should do what.

5. Make a plan and have a written schedule

As a board member, you need to define your partner landscape company’s schedule. You should also make a plan with them on what they will do and when. This will allow both parties to be aligned and know exactly what to expect and when to expect it. Knowing who does what is very important when dealing with large projects. Having a clear plan and schedule will help easily keep track of the work being done. When you have a written schedule it clears any confusion or questions residents may have.

6. Consider preventive landscape maintenance 

Landscaping represents a large part of the annual HOA budget. Board members would do whatever it takes to avoid unexpected maintenance costs as it can become very costly. So, the idea of preventive landscape maintenance is to avoid problems before they arise, which saves a fair amount of money. 

According to Yellowstone, here are three good ways to apply preventive landscape maintenance:

• Keep your irrigation system tunes up
• Invest in growth regulators 
• Prune tall trees on schedule 

This is something that you can talk to your landscaping company about so that you can ensure that you’re both on the same page.

7. Choose native plants for your HOA landscaping

Native plants have developed, occur naturally, or existed for many years in an area. They grow better and more easily in local conditions compared to non-native ones. This doesn’t mean that they don’t need to be looked after. They just require less nurturing and adapt well to the local environment and climate. 

According to NativeLandDesign, “adding native plants to areas or your HOA site means less maintenance and water use and a more sustainable property.” 

It’s also definitely something you can include on your website as a point of interest in your community. If you have a lot of seasonal residents, then being surrounded by local plants is a bonus!

8. Get your trees ready before hurricane season 

Here, Brightview advises us to schedule an assessment with a certified arborist before the hurricane season to understand which trees are most vulnerable to damage. 

Falling trees pose a major threat during Hurricane season. Removing weak and dead branches can drastically reduce the risk of damage or injury.

They also suggest discussing a pre-authorized plan for post-storm clean-up with your landscape partner. This will save you time and money after a storm when you need work done quickly.

9. Palm trees are not regular trees

If you live in Florida or California, it’s normal to have palm trees in your HOA. As John Dougherty from Juniper Landscaping mentioned during our webinar, 

“Palm trees are not like regular trees. First, you need to fertilize palm trees at least three times a year.” 

Something to look out for is lethal bronzing, a disease that is spreading fast and could affect your palm trees irreversibly. The good news is that trunk injections can prevent lethal bronzing. But be careful, only certified professionals should apply trunk injections as it requires specific knowledge. Applying trunk injections without having the proper know-how can have detrimental outcomes.

10. Two words: less water

Water is our most precious resource on earth, and we are all aware of how limited it is and how important it is to preserve it. In 2021, we can’t afford to be unsustainable anymore. Thanks to technology and innovation, you can use smart irrigation systems that reduce water consumption. All landscaping companies mentioned in this article offer the latest irrigation technologies that provide precision and save water and money. 

“Heavy and less frequent watering encourages deeper roots to grow,” says John from Juniper Landscaping. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, although it’s easy to see why proper landscaping practices matter in an HOA, it can be a complicated process to put in place. Being organized is also an essential aspect. Making proper plans and schedules will help the landscaping projects go smoothly. It’s clear that preventive landscape maintenance and smart irrigation systems will help you save money and be more sustainable. Additionally, prevention is better than cure, so make sure to be well prepared before hurricane season. Communication plays a huge role, and it’s the board’s responsibility to ensure it’s effective. That’s where Vinteum can help you! We are an award-winning communication platform. We create personalized, modern websites for HOAs, and have a 97% resident satisfaction rate. 

Hopefully, these ten tips will help you manage your HOA landscaping more easily. Following these tips will help you keep residents satisfied and hopefully attract new ones. Feel free to share it with your board colleagues or even residents. We really appreciate sharing clear and helpful information. 

By the way, have you read our latest article about Community Garden. A community garden is a great activity for residents to get together and relax. We strongly encourage you to learn more about it.