2012 April
2012 April Vol. 10 No. 4
Focus on...Landscaping & Lawn Care
The New England Condo Expo
The topics are timely, the advice is free—and it’s all done with a personal touch. Hang up the phone, close the laptop. Come get
the latest information about community association operations at the 2012 New
England Condo Expo!
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Eco-Friendly Landscaping
In the face of rising water costs, maintenance costs, and a continued depressed
housing market, many community associations are finding long-term savings
through new landscape strategies that also help our environment. Eco-friendly
landscaping practices are not just the domain of the nature lover anymore. They
can mean significant returns on your investment.
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Chemical Concerns
Since the 1950s, American lawns have been “hooked” on petroleum-based and synthetic chemicals. A plethora of pesticides,
herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers have been eagerly embraced by both
homeowners and landscape professionals, who cannot resist the dramatic results—an almost instantaneous, lush, green lawn. But many industry experts today view
this practice as akin to a drug addict who cannot function without a fix.
Grasses became dependent on an endless feed of chemicals for their sustenance
as the underlying soil became sterile.
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Treating Trees
Months have slipped by, but it’s not easy to forget the damage that last year’s brutal weather brought to the trees in the New England area. In June, severe
tornadoes touched down in Massachusetts, leaving total devastation in their
wake. Hurricane Irene swept through the area at the end of August with its
120-mph winds and flooding rains that caused heavy property damage. Then, in a
nasty one-two punch, a historic October snow and ice storm weighed down both
strong and already-weakened trees, snapping them in half and often pulling them
right out of the ground.
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Feeling Flowerful?
The phrase, “April showers bring May flowers” is a classic—but in real-life condo communities, beautiful, abundant flowers are a bit more
complicated than merely a little bit of rainfall, and don’t just spring up overnight. Colorful flowers are the first true sign that spring
is officially here after a long, harsh winter. And while they are aesthetically
pleasing, they can be also be a headache for condominium boards, mostly because
of all the decisions involved.
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The Big 10
Part of the job of a condo board is to keep your association’s grounds or lawn looking healthy and attractive. After all, curb appeal can do
wonders when it comes to appraisals and even the morale of your community
members. But most condo boards—whether urban or suburban—are populated by volunteers, few of whom are likely to be professional
landscapers or horticulturalists.
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The Insurance Puzzle
Insurance sounds like a simple concept: you pay a premium to your insurer, and
then when you file a claim, your insurer pays you. Simple. Insuring a
condominium or association property shouldn’t be much different than insuring yourself—just on a bigger scale, right?
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Catering to Man's Best Friend
Pet owners certainly love their dogs and consider them a part of the family.
With an estimated 40,000 dogs in the city of Boston alone, (as per
allstateanimalcontrol.com), it’s no wonder businesses and city dwellings are jumping on the dog-service
bandwagon.
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Sustainable Initiatives for Condos & HOAs
Unless someone strenuously objects, I‘d like to start an argument. When it comes to sustainability and the “green” theme, condominiums and HOAs don’t get no respect. Read More
Q&A: In Violation of the Rules
Our rules and regulations state that owners may not have more than 2 pets, one of which may be a dog. One of the unit owners who also happens to be a board member keeps 4 dogs in her unit as pets. Since she is a board member, the board will not take action against her. Not only is this unfair, it is against the rules. What can we do? Read More
