Landscape Schedule

Mowing Schedule:

October to May = 2 cuts per month
September = 3 Cuts per month
June to August = 4 Cuts per month
July = 5 cuts per month

Shrub Trimming is once per month, usually by the end of the month, highly dependent on the weather.

The landscapers do not rake the grass trimmings from the lawns as these glass clippings will break down fairly quickly and deposit important nutrients back into the soil. Because of this, your grass will look greener, and grow stronger and healthier.

Kindly note, that the owners on the Estate side of the community pay $91.00 per month and the owners on the Mediterranean side pay $79.00 per month, in their maintenance payments for landscaping services. This includes:

Mowing of the grass areas 32 times per year
Edging
Trimming of hedges 12 times a year (once a month)
Chemically treating beds for weeds (once per month)
Fertilization of grass and hedges (three times per year)
Trimming of the robellini palms (every three months)

This contract provides standard commercial services and NOT personalized gardening services. They are not contracted to hand pull weeds, rake up grass clippings, or separate bushes that have grown inside other hedges due to seed droppings. These are just some examples of tailored, individual services that if owners wish to have, they will need to contract for on their own like some owners in Whittier Oaks already do.

Please note that the Association documents are clear that the Association is only responsible for developer installed landscaping. There are many, many homes in the community that have replaced some or all the landscaping at their homes. The Association continues to maintain that as part of the commercial landscape contract. However, if these new plantings require additional upkeep and/or owners wish for them to be maintained in a specific way, the individual owner is responsible to do this themselves or hire someone to perform this specialized service.

Whittier Oaks is in South Florida where the summers are filled with rainy days and constantly changing weather forecasts. The landscape contractor is asked to do everything in its power to maintain the service schedule and cut and trim as best as they possibly can under the conditions. Sometimes, a cut or trim is delayed, missed, or interrupted due to such inclement weather.

Landscaping Guidelines for Whittier Oaks

It is intended that everything, including homes, structures, landscaping and other improvements constructed within Whittier Oaks shall be architecturally compatible and aesthetically pleasing so as to preserve the overall appearance and continuing value of property within the Community.

Landscape improvements owners wish to make that change the appearance of the exterior of their homes must be approved by the Board.

Guidelines:
That which aesthetically pleases the observer is beautiful (to the observer). In the absence of a set of rules to govern aesthetics, it is left largely to the Unit Owner to determine what is pleasing to their eyes and what will serve their purpose in establishing new landscape elements. So, generally, the Board will not express judgment on the aesthetics of a proposal. However, the Board must also consider the rest of the community and may reject a proposal they believe will be objectionable to the community as a whole.

**All owners shall keep the exterior of their property in a neat and orderly condition, including landscaping. All sod and planting areas must be maintained to be healthy, attractive, and kept in a manner for which they were designed (ex. Shrubs cannot be let grown into trees; hedges cannot be unruly or too high, mulch cannot be used as a substitute for grass, etc.) No weeds, underbrush, dead plant or grass material, refuse pile or other unsightly growths or objects will be permitted to grow or remain on any lot.

The City of Parkland Environmental Services has numerous resources regarding landscaping issues, including a list of approved landscape material which can be found at:

https://www.cityofparkland.org/201/Plants-Approved-for-General-Landscaping

To have all landscaping approved by the ARB Committee, please complete an ARB form and email to mpalombi@rmcflorida.com

Owners shall promptly report to the Management Company any leak or malfunction in the irrigation system. All owners are responsible for the pumps, valves and timers for the irrigation system on their lot. Owners must ensure that these items are maintained and in good working order at all times. Sufficient water service must be provided to the lawn and landscaped areas in order to maintain them properly. Owners are ultimately responsible for watering their lawns and landscape if the system is not operating.

Note:

Any resident that has modified their system, so that their irrigation is pulled from the lake are solely responsible for any and all irrigation matters that occur on their property.