The Situation
Valley Terrace HOA needed to renew its community of more than 300 condominiums by improving landscaping around all of its buildings and commons. Due to inefficient irrigation and years of drought, watering restrictions and high water costs, the property looked tired. Some areas were bare or plants were dying from exposed roots. The Board reported that loss of plants was leading to erosion and muddy, slippery sidewalks during rain.
Project Objectives
The HOA Board asked Serpico to design an affordable plan for making its grounds attractive and safe again by:
- Upgrading a decades-old irrigation system
- Installing a variety of colorful, sustainable plants
Planning with the HOA Board Members
Serpico’s information gathering process before, during, and following completion of a project includes regular property walkthroughs with HOA Board Members and Managers. During walkthroughs, we discuss problems, community preferences and potential solutions. This is how planning for the Valley Terrace project began in 2017.
Serpico’s landscaping solutions
Valley Terrace’s spray irrigation system was at 40 percent efficiency for sustaining plantings and conserving water when Serpico began work on the HOA’s watering system. The Board decided to upgrade to a high efficiency drip irrigation system combined with some spray watering. The result is 95 percent efficient irrigation.
Listening closely to community preferences, Serpico suggested a combination of plants from carpet roses and Dianthus to dramatic grasses and shrubs that add color and texture while requiring low to average watering. Combined with excellent drip irrigation, these plantings create a pretty, waterwise environment. Plant palettes and planting design maps helped the HOA Board and Manager in visualizing changes to come.
To improve sustainability, especially during the dry season (May through November), application of fertilizer is built into the water system. This is called fertigation. The Valley Terrace HOA Board also requested installation of a WeatherTRAK® digital data system that reports on watering needs based on daily weather and soil moisture levels.
A very happy HOA
The Valley Terrace HOA Board in December 2018 sent Serpico a thank-you letter regarding their project’s results. They reported improved “street appeal” and walkway safety as well as reduced vandalism in their clubhouse/pool area. Regarding irrigation, they said that “the change out to a full drip irrigation system should save on the monthly water bill.”
“Valley Terrace undertook a major re-landscaping project as part of the overall refurbishment of our complex. The landscaping project has reaped many benefits for the Association including reducing incidents of vandalism in the clubhouse/pool area; eliminating the hazard of slippery, muddy sidewalks in areas where the landscape had been removed and not replaced; and improving the street appeal of our complex to the point where realtors advertise “lush” landscape. The Change out to the full drip irrigation system should save on the monthly water bill. It has been refreshing to experience the level of customer service exemplified by the Serpico Landscaping Team. One of the sentiments expressed by the Board President and the chair of the Landscape Committee is, “Serpico listens to us!” Thank you!
– J. Barnes, President Valley Terrace HOA
– C. Hensiek, Landscape Committee
Did you know Serpico Landscaping was created specifically for HOAs?