Landscape Contracts for Community Associations

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1 Landscape Contracts for Community Associations Considerations for Florida-Friendly Landscaping to reduce maintenance and enhance plant health Updated March 27, 2012 Florida-Friendly Landscaping is the statewide standard for responsible landscaping. It utilizes practical principles of landscape design and maintenance that are aimed at creating attractive landscapes that protect natural resources. Community-managed landscapes reflect the quality of a neighborhood and can set the community standard for responsible landscape management. A deed restriction or covenant may not prohibit or be enforced so as to prohibit any property owner from implementing Florida-friendly landscaping on his or her land The Legislature finds that the use of Florida-friendly landscaping and other water use and pollution prevention measures to conserve or protect the state s water resources serves a compelling public interest and that the participation of homeowners associations and local governments is essential to the state s efforts in water conservation and water quality protection and restoration A deed restriction or covenant may not prohibit or be enforced so as to prohibit any property owner from implementing Florida-friendly landscaping on his or her land or create any requirement or limitation in conflict with any provision of part II of chapter 373 or a water shortage order, other order, consumptive use permit, or rule adopted or issued pursuant to part II of chapter 373. (Florida Statute ) Beautiful, long-term landscapes must start with: o Suitable soils o Appropriate design o Quality plants o Proper installation Quality maintenance of landscapes is essential to keeping landscapes attractive and healthy. However, it is important to note that maintenance techniques cannot make up for failing landscapes due to unsuitable soils, poor landscape design, poor quality plants, improper installation, or previous improper tree pruning. Landscape maintenance cannot fix unsuitable soils, bad landscape design, poor quality plants, improper installation, or improper pruning.

2 Pg. 2 Hiring qualified landscape contractors The minimum education standard for Florida landscape professionals is certification in the Green Industries Best Management Practices. The Best Management Practices training and certification is offered statewide through University of Florida Extension offices. State law also requires that all commercial fertilizer applicators have a license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Florida Statute ). To obtain the license, each applicator must first be certified in the Florida Friendly Best Management Practices for Protection of Water Resources by the Green Industries. Some community associations prefer to have one comprehensive landscape maintenance contract because it seems simpler to manage one contract and deal with one company. However, there may be benefits to hiring individual contractors that specialize in particular areas of landscape maintenance. Selecting individual contractors allows a community association to ensure that they are hiring the most qualified professionals within each area of landscape maintenance. Tree work, in particular, requires very specific knowledge of tree species, tree biology, and proper pruning that most landscape maintenance workers do not possess. Florida-Friendly landscaping maintenance specifications (Note: These specifications do not cover landscape design or perennial plant installation, as these services are usually not covered under typical landscape maintenance contracts.) Ponds Find certified landscape professionals: FYN_CertifiedLandscapeProfessionals.shtml Notes for property managers: Too many nutrients in ponds cause problems with severe algae and overgrowth of vegetation. Nutrients enter water from grass clippings, yard waste, fertilizer, dog waste, and non-native duck populations that stay at ponds. All efforts should be made by all landscape and pond managers to limit nutrient inputs into ponds. The emphasis of pond management should be on preventing nutrients from entering the pond, not on chemical treatments. Allowing a small vegetative buffer around a pond will decrease nutrients, pollutants, and algae in water, decrease trash in ponds, decrease erosion, and increase water clarity. This simple practice will ultimately decrease the need to use chemical treatments as well, saving on maintenance costs. Property managers should also be aware that algae blooms occur naturally in the spring and fall. Natural algae blooms do not require treatment, as they will dissipate within a month.

3 Ponds will be monitored monthly for vegetation issues, and vegetation managed as necessary. Herbicide treatments will only be applied if undesirable vegetation is present and requiring treatment. Pg. 3 A 2 foot wide vegetative buffer shall be allowed to grow around ponds (as measured from the high water line outward). Desirable native plants will be allowed to grow in the vegetative buffer. The vegetative buffer shall be maintained as follows: o Cut back desirable vegetation when plants seasonally die back (approximately twice per year, or more often as desired to keep a maintained appearance). All cut vegetation shall be removed from the site. o Remove or spot spray undesirable plants o Remove trash from the vegetative buffer on a basis Floating-leaved aquatic plants (such as spatterdock or lilypads) are acceptable for up to twenty percent (20%) coverage of a pond s surface. Coverage in excess of twenty percent will require management of the aquatic plants to maintain them at a reasonable coverage level. Presence for hydrilla should be monitored, and if present, shall be managed with grass carp. Copper-containing chemicals shall not be used. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) shall be provided to the contract manager for all chemicals applied to ponds and pond perimeters. Anyone applying chemicals to manage aquatic plants in a pond, or on a shoreline or bank shall have the appropriate aquatic herbicide applicator certification as required by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Turf, shrubs, plant beds Grass shall be mowed at the highest recommended height for the species to encourage a healthy root system: Turfgrass Species Mowing Height Bahiagrass St. Augustinegrass (Non-dwarf cultivars) Zoysiagrass Centipedegrass Bermudagrass Seashore Paspalum All trash within turfgrass areas will be removed before mowing.

4 Pg. 4 Turfgrass edging with a blade edger will be done along all paved surfaces. Mowers shall be operated so that clippings are not thrown towards streets and water bodies. No grass clippings or leaves are to be deposited or left on streets or other paved surfaces, into water, or into stormdrains. Mowing shall be done as often as necessary to keep turf areas neat and prevent weeds from setting seed. Mower blades must be kept sharp. No blade edgers will be used around tree circles. Weed trimmers may be used for maintaining turfgrass at the edge of mulched areas. Maintain mulch at three (3) inches deep. Cypress mulch shall not be used on property. No mulch is to be applied within six (6) inches of plant bases. A minimum of a four (4) foot wide mulched area shall be maintained around all trees. Larger mulched areas may be maintained for larger trees as necessary, to protect tree trunks and surface roots from lawn equipment damage. No fertilizer shall be applied to streets or other paved surfaces, in swales, over stormdrains, or within 10 feet of any water body. No fertilizer or pesticide treatments shall be applied if rain is expected within 24 hours. No fertilizer containing phosphorus will be applied to any part of the landscape unless a soil analysis indicates it is necessary. If the soil analysis indicates that phosphorus is needed, no more than.25lb. of phosphorus per 1,000 square feet may be applied per application, not to exceed.5lb per year (per the statewide Phosphorus Rule) Fertilizer applied to turfgrass must be based on soil analysis. When nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied to turfgrass, at least half of the nitrogen must be in slow-release form. No more than.5lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet may be applied at any one time.

5 Pg. 5 If the landscape is irrigated with reclaimed water, then amount of fertilizer applied should be decreased. Rotary-type fertilizer spreaders must be used to apply fertilizer or granular pesticide to any part of the landscape. Deflector shields must be used when applying granular products next to paved surfaces, swales, or other non-target areas. No routine pest treatments shall be applied to the landscape. The entire property shall be inspected weekly for any emerging pest issues. Any significant pest issues shall be diagnosed and spot-treated with the least-toxic method available. The maintenance company will be responsible for replacement of the following at no extra charge: o Young trees damaged by lawn equipment operated by the company s employees o Any irrigation system components damaged by lawn equipment. Any irrigation components damaged by the company shall be repaired within 24 hours of the damage. Irrigation Irrigation zone run times systems will be programmed to apply 1/2-3/4 inch of water per irrigation cycle. Irrigation system programming will conform to all state and local watering restrictions. Irrigation system will be adjusted seasonally. Irrigation will not occur more than one day per week in the cool season, no more than two days per week in the growing season. A monthly check of all irrigation zones and rain shutoff devices shall be performed. Regular maintenance tasks shall be performed as necessary, including: o Removal of any turfgrass preventing irrigation heads from correct operation. o Correction or replacement of any misdirected emitters, or broken/leaking pipes or heads shall be done within two (2) days of the inspection, or when otherwise reported. o Replacement or cleaning of irrigation head filters. o Capping unnecessary irrigation heads.

6 Pg. 6 Trees and Palms The primary reasons to prune community trees are to improve tree structure, and to provide clearance underneath large trees. Individual s preferences of how they want a tree to look should not guide how trees are pruned. No thinning, topping, hurricane pruning, or lollipop pruning should be performed on trees or palms, as they decrease tree health and safety, and cause more maintenance by producing excessive sucker growth. The Osceola County Extension provides free consultations for community associations to help determine what tree work is necessary, and what specifications will be needed. Sample pruning specifications can be found at: The following are basic specifications, but more detailed specifications should be included in a contract based a community s needs for tree care. An International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist must be on property supervising any tree or palm pruning. No thinning, topping, hurricane pruning, or lollipop pruning will be considered acceptable on trees or palms under any circumstances. All above-ground tree supports or other attachments (stakes, ties, tags, etc.) shall be removed within six (6) months of tree planting. Trees with a trunk diameter of six (6) inches or less in diameter shall be pruned once yearly to encourage a stable structure. On palms- only flowers, seeds, and brown, dead palm fronds may be removed. No cutting into palm trunks shall be permitted if palm boots are removed. All landscaped areas within 30 ft. of established landscape palms, including areas with turfgrass and landscape plants, must be fertilized ONLY with palm fertilizer containing 8%N 2%P 12%K 4%Mg + micro-nutrients. All landscape debris shall be removed from the site upon completion of the job.

7 Pg. 7 Services that may not be covered under typical landscape maintenance contracts: o Plant replacement o Turfgrass renovation -overseeding, sod removal/replacement o Landscape design and installation o Control of certain difficult weeds, such as sedges and crabgrass o Fire ants in the landscape o Tree recovery pruning after storms o Landscape debris removal after storms o Aquatic midge management o Stormwater pond infrastructure maintenance (i.e.-cleaning out inflow/outflow structures, etc.) o Stormwater pond erosion management or removal of sediments o Aquascaping of ponds Services frequently offered which are only necessary under specific circumstances: o Turfgrass aeration o Turfgrass dethatching o Ornamental tree/shrub fertilization University of Florida/IFAS, Osceola County Extension 1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee, FL Jessica Sullivan, Florida-Friendly Landscaping Agent jsul@osceola.org Landscaping Resources for Community Associations: