As summer approaches, I’m sure some in our community have wondered when our bushes are going to be pruned and fresh mulch laid. The timing for this has slowly changed over the years due to the leaf removal during the fall and into December. Our trees have grown over the past 16 years, and they now shed a tremendous volume of leaves. Many of our streets are lined with London Plane trees (right) and they start to shed midsummer.
After all the leaves are picked up for the season, the grounds crew does their final cleanup, trims our bushes and places fresh mulch. This service puts us in January. Roughly six months later (July), we again have a service of cleanup, pruning and mulch. A mulch/clean- up any earlier would typically be done in late March and seems senseless being so close to the January service. One benefit of the later service is that the crew can clean up spring bloomers that have died back, allow the bushes to thrive in the spring growth cycle, and prepare our yards for the hot summer weather.
As I walk the neighborhood, I’m happy to see some residents out in their ‘yards’ adding annuals and doing minor yardwork. Some of us, including myself, have had to get the hedge trimmers out and give our fast-growing bushes a spring haircut. The weekly landscape service doesn’t include weed removal, so as a homeowner, you will need to periodically pull weeds, seedlings and pick up debris. Those who have trees, you will need to trim branches hanging low over sidewalks and branches hitting your neighbor’s home.
As a reminder, homeowners are required to have shrubs along the front, sides (if applicable) and behind the houses. Ground cover is not a substitute for shrubs. A list of hardy replacement bushes is posted on the PG website. A reputable garden center can advise you as well. During droughts, please remember to water your plants. Even established trees and shrubs need water during dry spells. You will notice hydrangea bushes especially suffer in the heat. Having a hose hooked up in the front of your house makes it easy to water small areas.
— Katrina Berdelle, Landscape Chair