Springtime is the perfect time for sprucing up your landscaping.  This time of year everyone has different challenges to tackle as it relates to their yard.  In support of those homeowners who will not be able to come out on Saturday (April 26, 2008) and participate in the Neighborhood Beautification Day, here are a few tips from different sources on the Internet to help improve your lawn.  If you find that they improved your lawn, drop us an email at grounds@wellesleycommunities.com to share your success! 

Easy Gardening Problem-Solver Tips

Problem:
How do I keep weeds and grass out of my pine straw/mulch beds?

Rake back your pine straw or mulch, then apply newspaper (at least 5 sheets thick). Mist with a garden hose to hold it down while applying. Then simply re-apply your pine straw or mulch on top. This is an HGTV™ tip!

Problem:
I want to have a nice edge on my pine straw/mulch beds, but I don't want to use cheap plastic edging. What can I do?

This is an easy one! If you've ever taken a drive through more expensive neighborhoods, you'll notice almost no edging is used there too. Here's their secret to get the "professional, clean edge look":

1. First scalp a swath about 6" wide between your pine straw/mulch bed and your lawn with a weed eater (You'll want to go all the way down to the dirt).

2. Next, carefully apply vegetation killer (i.e. Round Up™) in the swath between your pine straw/mulch bed and your lawn --- be extra careful not to let the vegetation killer run out of the swath and onto your grass!

3. If you feel extra ambitious, you can dig the swath (about 3" deep) with a shovel vs. using a weed eater. Either way, this will turn out GREAT, look better and be easier to care for than cheap plastic edgings.

Problem:
How can I keep my yard green and weed-free the easy way?

1. Apply weed 'n feed every 3 months (spring/summer)

2. Apply Ironite once every 1 or 1 1/2 months -this is the real secret!

3. Make sure your lawn gets water at least once a week.

Remember, a healthy Bermuda lawn will naturally choke out most weeds!

Problem:
I have an unsightly, dry hill area that I need to do something about but I don't know what to do.

First you'll need to remove the dead grasses or weeds on the hill ---you may want to have a professional do this part to spare your nerves. Next, here are 2 easy options for turning an ugly, dry hill into something you'll be proud of:

Plant Caroline Jessamine at 2-3 ft. intervals across the top of the hill and also mid-way down the hill. This easy-care evergreen vine will cover your hill in no time!
- OR -
Cover your hill with newspaper (at least 5 sheets thick). Mist with a garden hose to hold it down while applying. Then apply cypress mulch over the newspaper. Unlike pine straw and other mulches, cypress mulch will not slide off the hill! You may also want to "dot" the hill with yuccas to add a splash of easy-care, evergreen color. This is an HGTV™ tip that works!

Problem:
As I look around my yard in winter I see that I lack color and drama. What can I do?

Plant something evergreen! And no, this doesn't mean just pine trees. There are a lot of awesome choices and they all will look great in your landscape year-round -with no leaves to rake. Professionals recommend that 90% of your trees and shrubs should be evergreen choices.

Try one of these: Wax Myrtle, Southern Magnolia, Live Oak (the state tree of Georgia), Sabal minor palm, Needle palm, Windmill palm, Hardy Eucalyptus (Omeo Gum), Yucca (several varieties), Leyland Cypress or Italian Cypress -all of them will thrive in Atlanta's USDA zone 7b climate.

Where can you find these at good prices? Try:

www.neoTropic.com  
www.yuccaDo.com  
www.plantDelights.com  

Problem:
I still have left over dead leaves in my lawn. Do I need to rake them?

Mow, don't rake your leaves. Raking leaves is a waste of great fertilizer. Instead of raking your leaves mow them into your grass. Dead leaves are an excellent natural fertilizer.

Atlanta Continues Ban on Outdoor Watering
The Department of Watershed Management (DWM) announced today that Atlanta will continue its current ban on outdoor watering.

Although the governor approved loosening restrictions – including one 25-minute hand watering per day – the state maintained local utilities reduce usage by ten percent, and gave local utilities the responsibility of deciding how best to meet that goal.

“We are still in a Level 4 drought. It would be irresponsible for us to relax our outdoor watering restrictions,” Mayor Shirley Franklin said. “We still are under an obligation to cut our use 10 percent. We can’t allow outdoor watering and meet that goal.”

A 30-day exemption for new landscaping is still in place, but the City will not continue to exempt watering for lawn over-seeding and aeration. Pools are exempt from the restrictions, effective immediately. “Atlanta gets very, very hot during the summer, and we want children and families to have access to pools,” said Mayor Franklin.

During a news conference, where she joined DWM Commissioner Rob Hunter, Mayor Franklin said: “Lake Lanier levels have dropped significantly over the past three years. On February 17, 2006, the lake was 1.97 feet below full pool. A year later, it was 4.85 feet below full pool. On February 17, 2008, it was 18.32 feet below full pool.”

“In other words, Lake Lanier is 13.5 feet below where it was at this time last year, and it is .2 feet lower than it was in November,” Mayor Franklin continued. “We are still in a very serious drought. Atlanta is a city that leads by example and best practices. Conservation is a best practice.”

Conservation tips are available at www.atlantawatershed.org. The City’s water usage figures are posted on www.atlantawatershed.org every weekday.


This information was taken from the City Newsbytes website dated February 19, 2008.  For more information on watering restrictions, you can access the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management's website (http://www.atlantawatershed.org/drought/) . 

Exterior Architectural Modification
Violations are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please do not construct any external modifications or landscape changes based on what you see in your neighbors' yard. Homeowners who make external modifications and/or landscape changes without prior authorization can be fined $125 for failure to submit an ARC modification request form. The following changes can be made without submitting a request for approval:

• Addition or replenishment of landscape rocks, pine straw, or mulch
• Black Iron mailbox (see Iron Mailbox Form)
• Bushes 3' tall or less
• Landscape edging (i.e., black plastic or bricks ONLY, can not be placed within a 10’ circumference of utility structures)
• Seasonal flowers (i.e., tulips, petunias, etc.)
• Professionally installed sprinkler systems that are underground and on a timer
• Storm doors (excludes etching and wrought iron security doors)
• Iron rails on the front porch from white to black (i.e., homes off of Alredge Rd.)

Additionally, homeowners need to include an approval from Fulton County along with their ARC modification request form for Tree Removal. For more information please contact the Fulton County Chief Arborist at (404) 730-7531.