Spring Fun: A Window Egg Hunt

Just because we have to socially distance doesn’t mean we can’t do something fun for the kids. This year, we’ll be having a Window Egg Hunt. Here’s how it works:

Between now and Sunday, April 4th:

• Cut out and color one or more eggs (make sure they’re at least half a letter-sized paper). A great template is available on the portal under Shared Documents > Newsletters.

• Place the eggs in your windows or front door.

• Families can “hunt” for the eggs all month long when they’re on walks.

Have fun and stay safe!

Holiday Lights and Contest

Many people are getting an early start on their holiday lights this year to help create a festive atmosphere while spending more time at home. We’ll be having a Holiday Lights Contest in December for a chance to win gift certificates to local businesses, so start planning your display if you haven’t yet! Judges will be from other local neighborhoods. Be sure to take evening walks to enjoy the lights and wave to your neighbors.

Remember, all holiday lights and decorations must be taken down by January 15th.

Fall Yard Care

We saw many sprinklers in the yards all summer -- thank you for watering and keeping grass green! Now just get your rakes ready for autumn leaves, and spend a weekend tidying up your plants now that the air has cleared.

Yard Maintenance

• Until the wet weather settles in, tend to your grass by continuing to mow while growth is still visible and edge one more time.

• Apply a winterizer fertilizer to help strengthen your grass and choke out those pesky weeds.

• Fall is the best time to prune most trees and shrubs. And if you lost any plants to the heat, remove them.

Side Yards

• Homeowners are responsible for keeping side yards clean and tidy. Don’t use them for storage, and be sure to weed them occasionally.

Street Trees

• If trees get too tall or wide, it’s the responsibility of the homeowner to prune.

• If you notice “sprouts” growing at the bottom or out of the tree, they need to be cut.

Preparing for Snow

• Purchase a snow shovel and deicer now before everyone rushes to the store.

• If it snows, it is YOUR responsibility to keep your driveway and sidewalks clear. The HOA does NOT plow streets, that is the responsibility of the city.

Tips for Keeping Your Flower Beds Weed Free

For many homeowners, weeding feels like an overwhelming chore. It can be hard to tell the difference between a weed and a plant, and it seems that the weeds you pull grow back the very next week. Here is a helpful list of some of the most common weed culprits (complete with photos) so you don’t have to procrastinate tiding up your flower beds. We’ve also provided some things you can do to help keep the weeds at bay, while simultaneously keeping in moisture:

1. Fill your beds with perennials, annuals, and shrubs to have fewer places for weed seeds to take root. Adding perennials with thick foliage mean less watering you’ll have to do.

2. After weeding, add a THICK layer (2-3 inches) of fertile mulch to help suppress new growth and hold the moisture in.

3. Don’t stir/rake up your mulch once you lay it. Just pluck out any weeds that may grow through and keep any top layer weed seeds from taking root in the soil.

Lawn Watering Schedule

Don’t you love how green everyone’s yards are this time of year? But all too often we get “summer busy,” neglect watering them, and end up with more brown than we’d like. Let’s get ahead of the game. Now is a great time to create a watering schedule. This will help keep grass healthy in the coming dry months, conserve water, and prevent overwatering that leads to disease. Here are some quick tips for sprinkler use:

1. Water every 2-3 days for at least 15 minutes.

2. The best time to water is before 10 a.m.

3. Consider buying an automatic sprinkler timer for your spigot.

Thanks for making our neighborhood beautiful!