Page 6 - Chicago Cooperator Spring 2020

6 THE CHICAGOLAND COOPERATOR —SPRING 2020 CHICAGOCOOPERATOR.COM LANDSCAPING Cultivating a Community Garden Planting Value BY MIKE ODENTHAL Whether a community is surrounded involved. “In my experience, landscaping by suburbs or big-city high-rises, a little is often left to the managers,” says Janice greenery can go a long way in adding vi- sual appeal—and value. In fact, given the vice Residential in Chicago. “Sometimes lack of space and the challenge of keeping there are committees or board members plants healthy and thriving, urban gar- dening is perhaps even more valuable. Many community associations tend ing the manager with the responsibility. garden plots of varying shapes and siz- es—some on roofs, others in backyards, that the board takes a very active inter- others still dispersed throughout sprawl- ing townhome developments. And while maintenance of the property’s appear- it may seem simple to plant a few shrubs ance. Our community has won awards for and leave it at that, the cultivation of a beautification, and passers-by often stop garden actually requires the participa- tion of several different factions who ing. Landscaping is not an inexpensive must band together to reach an aesthetic budget item, and the more the commu- consensus and plan how to take care of nity is involved, the better maintained the the project throughout the year, in good property.” weather and bad. If your association is considering a are garden or landscape committees that garden project—or just looking for tips tend to be very hands-on,” says Natalie on how to maintain an existing one— management professionals across several cia Mid-Atlantic in Mount Laurel, New regions are here to offer some sage advice Jersey. “One association that I managed that may be helpful. Taking Charge An early step in any community gar- den project is deciding who will assume the responsibility for organizing and to pitch in on a garden or landscaping planning. Like any project, this will likely project is a heartwarming image, more depend on the shape and size of the as- sociation. “Garden renovations can be small- or tially outsource the whole thing, and then large-scaled,” notes Chuck Schumacher, sit back to admire the final product. “It’s general manager of The Monaco Beach always best to hire a third-party contrac- Club, Inc. in Naples, Florida. “In my tor,” says Susan Fitzpatrick, director of experience, on those projects that are residences at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, small—under $10,000, for example—the Westchester, in White Plains, New York. landscape vendor will recommend the “It removes liability from the association, right plan for the right place, and the as landscaping requires tools and equip- manager will present that plan to a com- mittee and/or board for approval. For we do at Ritz-Carlton is ‘best in class’ so, large-scale renovations over $10,000, a lo- cal licensed landscape architect/designer scaper. Any time you’re utilizing more should be retained, and they should work than light tools, or are using chemicals closely with the landscape maintenance like fertilizer or weed killer, you should vendor to ensure that the community is use a professional. receiving the best design and plantings for the area.” “With smaller buildings, the board joy having a stake in the planting of the typically handles the logistics,” adds Bart property,” Fitzpatrick continues. “If you Steele, a portfolio manager with Barkan have light tools and a light job, you can Management Company, Inc. in Boston, always involve the community—espe- Massachusetts. “In the larger buildings cially retirees—with a weekend planting. that I’ve managed, there are separate Supply some shovels, mulch, and a design committees that often handle the garden- ing decisions.” Management should also be heavily to use caution around potentially buried Avery, a property manager with FirstSer- who chime in and help with some deci- sions, but that interest can wane, leav- In my current community, I’m fortunate est in the planning, decision-making, and to take pictures with our lush landscap- “In my established associations, there Fries, a community manager with Asso- had a farmer/arborist on the board who knew a lot about flowers and plants, and that community was absolutely beautiful.” While a community coming together affluent associations (or those whose residents are just really busy) can poten- ment that can lead to injury. Everything for us, we always use a third-party land- “That said, there can be light work on the premises, and residents may en- plan, and have volunteers do light trim- ming, mulching, and planting. Make sure gas lines, and be careful with children and us with plants that flourished in the shade tools—have them plant flowers or small and flowered despite pedestrian traffic. trees which they can watch grow over the On our rooftop, there was little room for years. And offer some food: cookies, lem- onade, bags of chips, and water to give to to include planter beds and planted orna- the volunteers as they work.” Tight Spaces Much of the above assumes that as- sociations have lawns, or at least plots of some plant life but don’t have much in the open ground in which they can plant. But way of available fertile soil. “When we’ve for some communities, space is at a pre- mium; they may need to get more creative add flowers and planters to add color in order to introduce a greener element to where you could not otherwise grow any- their property. “My last community had space con- straints,” says Avery. “The property was of sun—but they do need to be watered beneath an elevated train intersection, frequently, which can be difficult if there’s so natural sunlight was a real problem. no ready roof water access. But I find that In addition, the City of Chicago installed plants and flowers in urban settings add oversized concrete planters, but didn’t ac- tually plant anything in them. There were otherwise brick-and-concrete jungle.” eight or ten of these planters, and the property was not served well by leaving them empty, so as the manager, I was able even just a shared aesthetic delight—can to obtain a small budget for landscaping help bring a community together and after showing the community this missed strengthen its bonds. opportunity. Using this budget, I hired a landscaper who delighted our commu- nity with holiday plantings, and wowed containers, so we had seating constructed mental grasses to beautify the roof deck.” Boxes and planters are indeed a poten- tial fix for associations that want to add had space issues, we’d have a landscaper thing,” says Steele. “Rooftop gardens and plantings are also great, as they get lots a lot of value and curb appeal among the Plant-Based Lifestyle Having a project to rally behind—or “Gardens are visually appealing and relaxing,” says Steele. “They add mone- continued on page 14