Landscaping Committee
LANDSCAPING LIAISONS
Mission
The Landscaping Committee is established for the purpose of reviewing all common areas within the Districts, and to further make recommendations regarding the care and maintenance of the common areas within the Districts.
Resolution Establishing Landscaping Committee - September 26, 2017
The focus for 2021 will be:
Spring: Replace evergreens identified in 2020 and spring 2021. Repair beds identified in the previous year (2020) for repair.
Summer: Identify deciduous trees for replacement or remediation in the fall. Identify rock beds to be remediated in the spring of 2022.
Fall: Replace or remediate deciduous trees identified in the summer. Identify evergreen trees for replacement in the spring of 2022.
The Landscaping Committee is established for the purpose of reviewing all common areas within the Districts, and to further make recommendations regarding the care and maintenance of the common areas within the Districts.
Resolution Establishing Landscaping Committee - September 26, 2017
The focus for 2021 will be:
Spring: Replace evergreens identified in 2020 and spring 2021. Repair beds identified in the previous year (2020) for repair.
Summer: Identify deciduous trees for replacement or remediation in the fall. Identify rock beds to be remediated in the spring of 2022.
Fall: Replace or remediate deciduous trees identified in the summer. Identify evergreen trees for replacement in the spring of 2022.
Landscape Committee
Chair:
Pete Hendel petehendel@mac.com
Members:
Katie Jones
Leean McGraw
Linda Johnston
Pat Brewster
Daniel Dominic
Susan Murphy
*Anyone interested in joining the committee team should contact Pete Hendel at petehendel@mac.com.
Chair:
Pete Hendel petehendel@mac.com
Members:
Katie Jones
Leean McGraw
Linda Johnston
Pat Brewster
Daniel Dominic
Susan Murphy
*Anyone interested in joining the committee team should contact Pete Hendel at petehendel@mac.com.
Summer 2020 Irrigation Tips
Key Point: Don’t water excessively
The best part of the day to water your lawn is early in the morning while it is still cool. There will be a lot less moisture lost to evaporation and the grass will be more resistant to fungal disease. Turf grass responds best when watered between the hours of 9pm and 7am. The goal is to give the lawn the lowest amount of water possible, while still keeping it green. For normal 85-90 degree summer weeks, 2-3 nights a week usually keeps the grass green. The
best thing you can do for an irrigation system is to make sure that all the heads are adjusted correctly, with correct nozzles and no leaks.
Pop up sprinkler heads should run for a max total of 5-8 minutes per start time or you will see a ton of runoff. The best way to irrigate the clay soils in Solterra is to setup a “cycle & soak” schedule. One start time would be at 8pm and run the sprinklers for 5-8 minutes per zone for that start time. Then set another start time 4-6 hours later and let the zones run for another 5-8 minutes each. The break in between the start times allows the irrigation water to soak in to the
clay soil and saves run off.
Note: For flat areas next to sidewalks and streets, the best way to figure out how long to water is to watch the zones run and time the zone until run off (not the overspray) just starts to occur. For hill sides or sloping areas, it will take a while for the water to be visible as runoff, so it is best to start with a lower time, and if the grass looks stressed after several weeks of watering,
increase the time.
Drip irrigation should always be used for plant material in landscape beds. Most drip irrigation only needs to run for 30-45 minutes a week for established plant material. Split the 45 minutes up into three watering days with 15 minutes per day. New plantings may require more water. The best way to determine if you are under watering is to just watch the plants. If they look stressed add a few minutes per day.
For all irrigation control systems, make sure the rain sensor is working and is enabled so you do not water when it is raining. Also, during the times of high winds, you should not water.
Every homeowner should monitor the area around their property to ensure that there is no excessive runoff from the irrigation system. If the soil is saturated or walks are flooded after
the irrigation cycle runs, there is excessive runoff and the run times should be decreased.
Be aware that if there is excessive runoff, it is a violation of the Solterra Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, Section 4.6p
"All landscape irrigation by an Owner shall be limited in amount and frequency to that which is reasonably necessary and appropriate, and shall not be allowed to result in flooding, saturation or other adverse effects of, on or to other property."
Key Point: Don’t water excessively
The best part of the day to water your lawn is early in the morning while it is still cool. There will be a lot less moisture lost to evaporation and the grass will be more resistant to fungal disease. Turf grass responds best when watered between the hours of 9pm and 7am. The goal is to give the lawn the lowest amount of water possible, while still keeping it green. For normal 85-90 degree summer weeks, 2-3 nights a week usually keeps the grass green. The
best thing you can do for an irrigation system is to make sure that all the heads are adjusted correctly, with correct nozzles and no leaks.
Pop up sprinkler heads should run for a max total of 5-8 minutes per start time or you will see a ton of runoff. The best way to irrigate the clay soils in Solterra is to setup a “cycle & soak” schedule. One start time would be at 8pm and run the sprinklers for 5-8 minutes per zone for that start time. Then set another start time 4-6 hours later and let the zones run for another 5-8 minutes each. The break in between the start times allows the irrigation water to soak in to the
clay soil and saves run off.
Note: For flat areas next to sidewalks and streets, the best way to figure out how long to water is to watch the zones run and time the zone until run off (not the overspray) just starts to occur. For hill sides or sloping areas, it will take a while for the water to be visible as runoff, so it is best to start with a lower time, and if the grass looks stressed after several weeks of watering,
increase the time.
Drip irrigation should always be used for plant material in landscape beds. Most drip irrigation only needs to run for 30-45 minutes a week for established plant material. Split the 45 minutes up into three watering days with 15 minutes per day. New plantings may require more water. The best way to determine if you are under watering is to just watch the plants. If they look stressed add a few minutes per day.
For all irrigation control systems, make sure the rain sensor is working and is enabled so you do not water when it is raining. Also, during the times of high winds, you should not water.
Every homeowner should monitor the area around their property to ensure that there is no excessive runoff from the irrigation system. If the soil is saturated or walks are flooded after
the irrigation cycle runs, there is excessive runoff and the run times should be decreased.
Be aware that if there is excessive runoff, it is a violation of the Solterra Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, Section 4.6p
"All landscape irrigation by an Owner shall be limited in amount and frequency to that which is reasonably necessary and appropriate, and shall not be allowed to result in flooding, saturation or other adverse effects of, on or to other property."