How HOAs Can Prepare Their Landscape for Summer Heat
Get Your Landscape Ready for the Summer!
Summer is here — Can you feel the heat? Your landscape can feel it, and with the higher temperatures come specific requirements to ensure it weathers the summer heat in style. In San Diego County, HOAs should implement strategies to minimize water waste with proactive irrigation audits. There are other things HOAs and commercial properties should do to keep common areas vibrant and protect property values.
We understand that there is an ongoing water shortage throughout California. Water budgeting is a must. Of course, you also want your landscape to look healthy and vibrant. So, what can HOAs and commercial property managers do to prepare their landscape for summer heat and keep water costs low? Here are some suggestions:
Optimize Your Irrigation System
Schedule an irrigation audit: Irrigation audits are valuable year-round, especially in the summertime. There are strict mandatory water restrictions in place during the summer. During an irrigation audit, water evaporates quickly, and any broken, clogged, or tilted sprinkler heads can waste water. During an irrigation audit, the technician will pinpoint any inefficiencies in the irrigation system.- Adjust watering schedule: During the summer season, it makes sense to move watering to the morning, before 8am. By shifting the watering schedule to an earlier time, you can help minimize water loss from evaporation and wind.
- Upgrade Controllers: Irrigation controllers are rapidly advancing to help reduce water waste and lower utility bills. Your HOA or commercial property in San Diego County should consider upgrading to smart, weather-based controllers. Smart controllers can automatically adjust how often to water based on the current weather conditions in your area.
Adjust Lawn Maintenance Practices
- Raise lawn mower blades: Allow grass blades to get longer. The reason is that longer blades can shade the soil, retain water more effectively, and protect underground root systems. To cut turf grass higher, you’ll want to raise your lawn mower blades to about 3 inches.
Protect Soil with Mulch
- Protect roots: Spread a fresh layer of organic mulch around tree bases and over all the plant beds in your landscape.
- Regulate soil temperature: Applying mulch can insulate the soil and can dramatically reduce the soil temperature. Reducing the soil temperature will prevent the sun from roasting the ground.
- Retain moisture: Mulch helps retain moisture, preventing rapid water evaporation. By retaining moisture, watering is minimized.
Pro Tip: You can prevent rot by keeping mulch about 3 to 6 inches away from the direct base of trees and shrubs.
Strategize Pruning
Do you really want to start a heavy pruning project in extreme heat? Probably not. And, by avoiding heavy pruning before or during extreme heat waves, you’ll be helping inner bark and leaves from being scalded by the sun.
Review Drought-Tolerant Plant Ideas for Your Community
Whether it’s an HOA in Vista or a commercial property in Carlsbad or Poway, drought-tolerant ground cover and plants are an excellent option for landscapes in San Diego County. Drought tolerant ground cover and plants drastically reduce water use and require less maintenance. Here are a few suggestions:
Drought tolerant ground covers for San Diego County HOAs and commercial properties:
Kurapia: An excellent alternative to traditional turf grass.
Dymondia: A silver-green and dense mattha produce tiny yellow flowers.
Trailing Sagebrush: An excellent native ground cover that can be used for erosion control on slopes.
Drought tolerant plants for San Diego County HOAs and commercial properties:
Agave attenuata: Also known as the Foxtail Agave, this drought tolerant plant grows to about 5 feet wide. They don’t grow thorns, making them a welcome addition to walkways and public spaces.
Aeoniums: Dark purple species’ (Zwartkop), look incredible as borders or mass plantings.
Aloe species: Aloe’s are an excellent addition to landscapes. They thrive in full-sun environments, too.
California Lilac: Deep blue spring flowers light up landscapes. Grown as shrubs or ground covers.
Trailing Lantana: A common drought tolerant plant seen throughout San Diego County HOAs and commercial properties.
Experience Quality Service. The Difference...Is Growing
Do you manage a commercial property in Carlsbad, Vista, or anywhere in San Diego County? Time to take bids for a new HOA landscape maintenance company in Oceanside, San Marcos, or San Diego? Westturf Landscape Management has maintained and optimized landscapes for the summer heat since 1972.
Ready to get started? Contact us to start the process for a free quote at 760-650-3120 or send us a message.
Let's work together
Need weed abatement services ASAP? Do you have a landscaping project in mind? Time for a new HOA landscaping company? Westturf Landscape Management Inc. is ready to help. We offer a wide range of services, from synthetic turf installation to weed and brush clearance and complete landscape transformations. When it comes to quality, efficient landscape maintenance services, we have you covered.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Westturf Landscape Management Inc.
701 Mercantile Street
Vista, CA 92083
Phone: 760.650.3120