We are receiving a high volume of trimming requests. Please note that these special requests will be completed when our pruning crew is scheduled in that area. If the crew gets ahead of schedule, we will do our best to complete those requests sooner.
Friendly Reminder: Our landscape crews trim palms up to 14 feet overall height. Palms taller than 14 feet require a ladder and must be serviced by a tree crew. The HOA coordinates trimming of palms over 14 feet once each year prior to hurricane season.
We have received several concerns regarding the appearance of the soft edging around mulch beds and the lack of a sharply defined edge. Our current maintenance approach is intentional. Over the years, repeated edging has gradually pushed the turf line farther away from the landscape beds, causing many beds to become wider than originally intended. Our goal is to allow the turf to naturally re-establish and fill back into these areas. Crews are edging only enough to prevent grass runners from growing into the mulch while still allowing the turf to recover. Once the turf has filled in and the bed lines have returned to their intended dimensions, we will redefine and sharpen the bed edges for a cleaner, more finished appearance. We appreciate your patience as we work to restore the proper balance between the turf and landscape beds.
Due to the recent high temperatures, I have noticed some heat stress and mower tire tracks in certain areas. We are continuing to rotate our mowing patterns to help minimize this issue.
I have also observed signs of Take-All Root Rot in several lawns, primarily in areas with compacted soil that holds water after rainfall and does not drain properly. These conditions create an ideal environment for the fungus to develop. Unfortunately, once significant damage occurs, the affected turf typically requires replacement.
Our tree crew has been trimming palm trees throughout the community this month and is nearing completion.
Pruning:
Third Round
Section 1 has been completed. We performed rejuvenation cutbacks on all hibiscus, firebush, and bougainvillea. All other shrubs were evenly trimmed and cleaned up. Clusia hedges were selectively cut back where needed. During this round, Clusia will only be trimmed if necessary.
We began Section 2 this week, starting on Yellow Birch and continuing through Apple Blossom (3003). We will continue rejuvenation pruning of hibiscus, firebush, bougainvillea, petunias, and copperleaf. All other plant material will receive light trimming and cleanup.
Please note that rejuvenation pruning is performed by hand using pruning shears, making this process more time-consuming than routine hedge trimming. Once these cutbacks are completed throughout the community, future maintenance cycles will be much smoother and more efficient.
Mowing:
We have received questions regarding driveway edging. In many locations, we are intentionally allowing the turf to grow back to the edge of the paver driveways. Exposing the concrete border through excessive edging is not the desired appearance and can create an inconsistent look.
We have also received questions regarding our mowing height. St. Augustine turf is maintained at 4½ inches, which is the recommended height for healthy growth. Mowing any lower can scalp and weaken the turf, making it more susceptible to stress, disease, and tire tracking. We continue rotating our mowing patterns during each visit to minimize wear and improve the overall appearance of the turf.
IPM / Fertilization:
Our next scheduled Integrated Pest Management (IPM) service is the second week of August.
During this visit, we will apply insecticide to flowering plants and continue spot treatments for weeds and turf diseases as needed.
We have noticed several lawns with goosegrass and crabgrass. These annual grasses are currently producing seed heads and spread rapidly during this time of year. Standard weed control applications are not effective against these grasses. The most effective solution is to spot-treat them with a non-selective herbicide and replace the affected sod where necessary.
Chinch bug season has begun. While our regular IPM program includes treatment for active infestations, damage is often visible only after it has occurred. We recommend a preventive chinch bug and grub treatment for residents who wish to protect their lawns. This service is available for $125 per application and includes a 90-day guarantee.
I have also observed signs of Take-All Root Rot in several areas throughout the community. The combination of frequent heavy rainfall, high temperatures, and standing water creates ideal conditions for this fungus to develop and spread. We recommend a preventive fungicide application to help protect healthy turf from infection. This service is available for $125 per application and includes a 90-day guarantee.
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