Many South Carolina residents live in a community that is managed to some degree by a homeowner’s association. And while it’s easy for a HOA to just take time to ensure that everyone’s property looks nice and that road maintenance is funded, the best HOAs out there will actually start getting involved in improving the community as a whole.
This can involve a lot of different things, but one that deserves attention is the overall enjoyment that residents get from their community common areas. Landscaping these common areas can make them much more attractive and ensure that everyone who uses them can get the most from them.
After all, these common areas are there for you to enjoy. Whether it’s pavilions for community events, flower gardens, suburban residential gated communities or commercial complexes or apartments, common areas are instrumental in the overall ambiance of an area.
With that in mind, it’s important to spend some time improving upon them. Landscaping is one of the most cost-effective ways to do so, and taking steps to improve the landscaping with the help of a landscaping contractor is well worth doing. Here are 4 ways that your HOA can work to improve the common area landscaping and in the process, improve everyone’s enjoyment of it.
One: Place Plants Properly
Most community areas have one or two focal points that will stand out. These could include entrance areas, stop signs, corners, or shared facilities like the clubhouse or pool. Beautifying these focal points is easy to do, and even placing some classy decorative container plants is a good way to go about it.
The key is mingling the right plant varieties to get colors, textures, and heights that stand out. Once your landscaping contractor helps you with the proper placement, you’ll need to care for the plants regularly to keep them looking their best. Certain plants are a better option than others, and can involve less maintenance, year round foliage, and more. If you’re unsure of what kind of plants to go with, a landscaping contractor can help you choose the best ones.
Two: Keep It Seasonal
Properties that are managed by HOAs are used around the year. Don’t let the seasonal change leave you with a communal property that has nothing to stand out and look beautiful. Change up plants based on the season to keep color present in a big way and ensure that people are always finding something beautiful in your communal areas.
For example, during the summer and spring you can use plants like:
- Duranta
- Zinnias
- Begonias
- Lantana
Then, as the South Carolina temperatures drop a bit during the winter, you can use plants like:
- Daffodils
- Cabbage
- Tulips
- Pansies
Changing or adding plants based on the season is a fast and easy way to get more out of common areas.
Three: Mulch For Beauty
Most people don’t think of mulch as a good way to improve the beauty of landscaping, but it really can be. Once that mulch gets beaten down or deteriorates over time, it can leave flowerbeds and other common areas looking run-down. Instead of fresh mulch, visitors end up looking at dirt and mud.
A fresh bed of mulch really does tidy up a common area and make it look better, and it also helps to retain moisture and improve the overall health of plants. And, it reduces weed growth as well. This makes it easier to manage common areas and keep them looking great.
Four: Update Furnishings
Landscaping can go beyond just the plants that you have in an area. The various furnishings that have been there for years can start to drag down the look of a common area in a big way. Think about updating things like benches, garbage cans, and signage so that everything matches and is new.
If you only change a few furnishings, replace them with ones that match structures and furnishings you’re leaving behind. Taking the time to update this single aspect of your community areas is huge, and often more economical than many HOAs realize.
The Bottom Line
Simply put, taking the time and effort to improve common areas is something that is incredibly important and beneficial for any HOA to do. In order to do it effectively, the first step is to actually review the potential problems that exist. Being able to admit where there is room for improvement is a key part of creating a better common area.
Pay attention to things like year round maintenance, pruning, and so on. This helps ensure that the common areas always look their best, and helps make it much easier to add new plants or structures that will elevate your areas in a huge way. These spots make a big impression on visitors and residents, and it’s important to keep them looking their best.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment so we can keep your business beautiful.
