Know Where You Want To Go With Your Sustainable Landscaping Initiatives
As the effects of climate change become harder to ignore, more community associations are ready to move past debating the pros and cons of converting to sustainable landscaping and finally start the ball rolling. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for every association. Multiple factors come into play, including geographic location and the owners’ appetite for change.
“It’s not a tough sell for boards, who are trying to save money,” says Paul Grucza, director of education and client development at the Seattle-based management company CWD Group, Inc., “but it can be for owners who just see changes in the environment they bought into that leave it less pleasing.”
“All good results come from a well-designed plan,” says Tim Trevillian, owner of Horticultural Elements, Inc., in Seattle, Wash. The company focuses on designing, building, and maintaining sustainable organic landscaping.
Trevellian has experience working with associations as they shift to sustainable landscaping.
“Tim is working with one of our clients right now on a landscape modification program,” Grucza says.
“They’re systematically replacing plants with those that are attractive but require less irrigation. It’s reducing the maintenance costs and requires fewer utilities on the water and power side, while simultaneously keeping an appealing environment.”
Trevillian says associations should begin by understanding their objectives. “Know what you want, then understand what you have and how you can maximize the environment as naturally as possible.”
Read the full article and learn how associations ready to convert to sustainable landscaping can suss out the degree of change their communities can tolerate and some of the initial issues to consider once that determination is made:
Sustainable Landscaping: How to Get Started
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President