Worries about fire risks and frustration with her HOA's landscaping caused an HOA resident to seek advice from a law columnist at the Los Angeles Times in March 2017. Despite small fires there related to landscaping, highly flammable trees remained on site, such as Arborvitae, Eucalyptus, and Fan Palms. Furthermore, dead Arborvitae were still standing in the property’s windbreak. The expert answered that when put on notice of dangers, an HOA has a legal duty “to correct the problem and maintain read more...
Blog
Learn all about best practices for drought-friendly landscaping, irrigation management, tree care, landscape enhancements and on-going maintenance for HOA and Commercial Property communities in the SF Bay Area.
Attractive Green Landscapes Are Healthy for Mind and Body
Scottish-American naturalist John Muir, who often is referred to as the “father” of America’s national parks, once said “In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.” We’re thinking about Muir and the benefits of time spent in outdoor greenery, because the leafing out and blossoming of Spring is around the corner. It’s time to get going on improving and maintaining public and private green spaces, particularly because science supports what Muir said. Being surrounded by read more...
Landscape Rejuvenation Requires Careful Winter Pruning
Shrubbery should be more than a pretty face. If pruned properly, there aren't a lot of dead branches beneath a thin veneer of leafy growth. When out walking and admiring gardens, we've all seen attractive globe and box-shaped bushes that appear vibrant until we notice that one side is hacked away and reveals nothing but dead limbs. They are the victims of dead-wrong trimming. At Serpico Landscaping, we practice renewal pruning to keep greenery healthy and natural looking. Right and Wrong read more...
Serpico Helps HOAs Improve Property Value With Colorful Autumn Landscapes
It's time for Bay Area HOAs to bloom again. Color in landscapes not only lifts spirits, but improves property values. Adding xeriscapic flowering plants to the common areas of HOAs is also a good way to celebrate the end of California's four-year drought. Xeriscape is the art of selecting plantings that are adapted to the highs and lows of regional precipitation patterns. However, even if a plant is well-known for being drought resistant, it needs regular irrigation in its first months for deep read more...
Wood Pests In Downed Trees Live For Years After Storms
DURHAM, N.H., February 9, 2017 – Potentially damaging, wood pests in downed trees are wood-inhabiting insects -- they survive in trees cut into logs after storms to live for much longer than thought. These likely tree-killing pests live for up to several years following a major weather disturbance, a recent U.S. Forest Service study concluded. In June 2011, a powerful EF3 tornado tore a 39-mile path through western Massachusetts, damaging or killing thousands of trees. After the storm, Forest read more...
Recycled Coffee For Landscaping!
From Irrigation and Green Industry News Serpico Landscaping recycles our plant material, grass clippings and tree bark, and today's latest news deals with a great eco-smart idea for recycled coffee for landscaping. Our teams of dedicated tree care experts and commercial landscaping professionals at Serpico Landscaping love all things repurposed wisely to save money for the HOA, retail, municipal, and corporate business park communities we serve. Using a recycled coffee bean byproduct for read more...
Rain Gardens, Bioswales & More — Stormwater Ideas From The EPA
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, green infrastructure is a cost-effective, resilient approach to managing wet weather impacts and it provides many community benefits. Single-purpose gray stormwater infrastructure (that is, your average, conventional piped drainage and water treatment system waterflow mechanism) is designed to move urban stormwater away from built environments...however, green infrastructure reduces and treats stormwater at its source -- while delivering read more...
Plant Water-Logging & Flooding
From the Royal Horticulture Society Few garden plants will survive water-logging or flooding. Prolonged periods of sitting in ground saturated with water causes yellow leaves, root rot and death. However, conditions can be improved using various techniques to promote drainage and prevent damage. Quick Facts Common name for this problem: Waterlogged or badly drained soil Plants affected: All except a few tolerant ones Main causes: Heavy rain combined with difficult soil read more...
Insider Tips: Working Effectively With A Landscape Professional
From LoveYourLandscape.org The work done by your landscape professional will be a big part of your association's property life for years to come -- as it will influence the look and feel of outdoor living spaces -- and more importantly, how your community and stakeholders use and enjoy the results! Once you have selected the right firm for your project, there are a few things that can be done to ensure your work with a contractor is effective. Here are some of the things landscape read more...
Butterfly Weed | 2017 Perennial Of The Year
Since first being introduced in 1990, the Perennial Plant Association has announced 2017's Perennial Plant of the Year™...and they have selected Butterfly Weed 2017 Perennial of the year! Insider 411...Butterfly Weed Butterfly Weed is a North American native plant. Asclepias tuberosa plants are butterfly magnets, as shown in photo below. The flowers are a nectar source for many butterflies and leaves are a source for the monarch butterfly caterpillars (very good to know this). read more...
