SUMMER SEASON GROUNDS GUIDELINES
We ask for your cooperation with these guidelines and if you have any questions please contact a Board member
THANK YOU

LAWN-CARE
➢ the lawn is cut short for the FIRST & LAST cuttings of the season and the clippings are bagged, homeowners are notified prior to the first and last cuttings so you can ensure your windows and doors are closed during this time
➢ at the first-cutting of the lawn, along with being cut shorter and bagged, the lawn will be THATCHED
➢ once into the lawn-cutting season, the lawns are generally CUT WEEKLY, mulched and/or bagged as needed
➢ weather permitting lawns will be cut on MONDAY of each week, please no watering on the day previous-Sundays
➢ in the event of INCLEMENT WEATHER, the lawn-cutting will generally take place the next weather-cooperative day
➢ WEED-WACKING is done to the point the lawn meets the rock-beds and along the white Association fencing
➢ weed-wacking is NOT DONE along the house foundations so as not to damage siding
➢ making sure that DOWNSPOUTS are up and down at the right-time is a cooperative responsibility of both the homeowner and the lawn-care and snow-removal crews
➢ there will be FOUR LAWN FERTILIZATION/WEED-KILLING applications during the season, as follows:

1. early to mid-May, usually not water-dependent
2. late June/early July, water-dependent and homeowners will be notified prior to application
3. mid-August, water-dependent and homeowners will be notified prior to application
4. late September, early October, usually not water-dependent

Very important to having a GREEN lawn, keeping weeds to a minimum, and promoting deep-roots is to WATER REGULARLY, and our experience over the past years has resulted in these WATERING GUIDELINES:
➢ set sprinklers to water TWO TIMES PER WEEK, early AM on Wednesday and Saturday mornings
➢ when temps 80 degrees or hotter and/or very windy, manually start the sprinkler system giving the lawn extra water
➢ lake-side twin homes, all sprinkler zones are set in the 35-40 minute range
➢ school-side twin homes, front & back zones are set at 25 minutes, in between the homes set at 10 minutes
➢ park-homes, front zones are set at 25 minutes, and in between the homes at 10 minutes
➢ if your lawn is NOT GREEN, it likely needs an extra drink of water, so manually start your sprinkler system

THOSE SYSTEMS SET BY OUR SPRINKLER VENDOR WILL FOLLOW THE ABOVE SETTINGS. WE ASK THOSE OPENING THEIR OWN SYSTEMS TO DO SIMILAR. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE OPERATING YOUR SYSTEM OR HAVE QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS, CALL OR EMAIL A BOARD MEMBER

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION IN KEEPING A HEALTHY GREEN LAWN. Thank You!
In the event the City imposes WATER RESTRICTIONS, they are generally to specify watering days for odd and even numbered homes. Because we are a private development, we do not have to follow the even-odd system, as long as we are watering no more than the allotted times per week, and that allotment is usually 3 days per week and our sprinklers are set at 2 days. If such a restriction is placed we shall immediately notify homeowners.

STREET-CLEANING
➢ AFTER the first lawn-cutting, the development roads will be cleaned by a professional street-cleaner to remove winter sand and debris. We do try to use a service that uses water when sweeping the roads, but even then it can get dusty so we will notify homeowners PRIOR to the street-cleaning taking place so they can keep doors and windows closed, and to ensure that homeowners nor their guests are NOT PARKING ON THE STREETS during the short period of time that it takes to do the street-sweeping.

FRONT-YARD TREES, SHRUBS, BUSHES, FRONT-YARD PATIO
➢ front-yard trees were initially provided by the developer and they are the only AUTHORIZED front-yard trees, they are: Thunderchild Crab Apple (plum-colored – pink blossoms) & Springsnow Crab Apple (green-colored – white blossoms)
➢ at some park-homes there is also an Amur Maple tree in the three-tree clumps in the front-yard between the homes
➢ requests to plant additional trees must be made to the Association Board of Directors prior to buying the tree
➢ these trees are pruned, trimmed and fall-root-fertilized and replaced if necessary by the Association, and sprayed yearly for apple-scab
➢ homeowners should feel free to give the front-yard trees an extra dose of fertilizer from time to time during the summer
➢ edging and the rock-bed around the trees are also provided by the Association, if you wish more contact an HOA board member
➢ the shrubs, bushes, plants in the rock-beds in front of the homes, originally planted by the developer, are to be maintained by the homeowner who is free to place their own plantings (within reason) and at their cost.
➢ a park-home rock -bed with flowers-shrubs-bushes-and/or an approved patio can extend up to a maximum of 15 feet from the front foundation of the park-home. A patio must be the “developer” approved style and permission of the HOA Board of Directors is required prior to the installation of a patio. Front yard patios at twin-homes are not allowed.
➢ twin-home front rock-beds with flowers-shrubs-bushes are as designed by the developer and the size nor usage can be changed without Board approval first. Twin-home owners are free to place (within reason) their own plantings and at their cost.

BACK-YARD TREES, SHRUBS, BUSHES FOR THE SCHOOL-SIDE TWIN-HOMES
➢ the homeowner is responsible for the garden-beds in the back-yard and on the side of their homes
➢ small ornamental trees or bushes (e.g. lilac bush/ornamental tree, etc.) are allowed with PRIOR Board approval
➢ keep in mind that cutting the lawn in the back-yard is fairly tight, especially with the patio’s and decks.

BACK-YARD TREES, SHRUBS, BUSHES FOR THE LAKE-SIDE TWIN-HOME
➢ if planting on your property, please consult with your neighbors on both-sides of your twin-homes
➢ if wishing to plant on the city park-board property you MUST advise the Association Board of Directors, advise the homeowners on both sides of your twin-home, and permission must be granted by the City who owns the property.

UTILITY BOX PLANTINGS (applicable to twin-homes only)
➢ yes, they are “ugly” however they are placed near our streets for easy access by the utility companies especially in the winter months
➢ while the utility companies prefer no plantings around these boxes, they have been open to allowing small plantings and small-rock or mulch with the understanding that if and when they need to access the boxes they may damage any plantings, mulch, rock and the replacement of same is the responsibility of the Association
➢ the Association is the only party authorized to do these plantings and place mulch or rock and replace as needed
➢ appreciate nearby homeowners ensuring the grasses are watered regularly and fertilized from time to time.

SOLAR LIGHTS AND OTHER LAWN ORNAMENTS, ETC
➢ solar lights, lawn ornaments and the like are NOT to be placed where they might interfere with or delay the lawn-crew from doing their job. For example, solar lights lining the driveway would interfere with the work of the lawn-crew and for that matter the snow-removal crew also. Such lights and ornaments, etc are best kept in the rock-beds near your home or around the trees — if in doubt, prior to placing such items you may wish to contact a board member.

ATTACHMENTS TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOMES
➢ a reminder that the home structures are insured through the Association, who must follow some standards, that being said, homeowners often wish to individualize their home and that is allowed within reason
➢ we understand the tastes of homeowners differ in this regard, so we have to be understanding of our neighbors
➢ attachments to the home (name signs, etc.) must be removed when the home is sold and any holes or damage to the brick, dryvit or siding must be repaired by the seller or negotiated with the buyer. Failure to comply results in the Association making the repairs and deducting the amount from the selling homeowners Association closing refunds if any or be charged for the repair.

RASCAL SPOTS AND OTHER LAWN SPOTS
➢ rascal spots normally occur as the result of dogs and normally will fill-in with proper care. To assist with the repair of these spots, there is a product called Rascal Spots which is carried by the local hardware stores who also carry Scotts E-Z Seed which seems to grow magically with little water. It is homeowner’s responsibility and the neighborly thing to do to repair these spots and always pick-up after your pet in a timely-manner
➢ other lawn spots are often the result of rodents or damage to the lawns which is unavoidable during the snow-removal season. We do assess those spots and often apply black-dirt and seed, and cover with burlap, and then turn to you, the homeowner, to ensure these spots are watered on a regular basis.

FLOWER-BEDS AT THE NORTH-END AND SOUTH-END OF THE DEVELOPMENT
➢ the flower-beds on the north and south ends of the development have assigned volunteer caretakers – thanks!
➢ the flower-beds are beautiful, and we ask that you leave the care of these flower-beds to those assigned.

BOULEVARD TREES AND LARGE EVERGREEN TREES
➢ the large evergreen trees and the trees on the boulevard are tended to by a commercial service, who prunes and fertilizes the trees. We ask homeowners to leave these trees to the care of the commercial service to ensure that the warranties provided by the commercial service are not interfered with, which happens if a homeowner should take it upon themselves to provide some care to the trees.

HOLIDAY LIGHTING ON HOMES & DECORATIONS
➢ holiday lighting and clips are to be removed following the holiday and winter season..

VEGETABLE POTS & PLANTINGS
➢ they are prohibited in the front yards by the Covenants, allowed on the side of the park-homes, allowed on the side and back-yard of the twin-homes.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR REVIEW AND COOPERATION WITH THESE GUIDELINES!!!