Fall Planting Project to begin next week!!!

C & D is  scheduled to start planting trees on Monday the 13th.  They hope to get all the trees that they can obtain planted next week.  Some trees that we want to use are hard to locate a source for, so these trees will be planted later once they become available.   Shrub planting is expected to start on Thursday and Friday.  Planting is expected to finish in early December.  The schedule may need to be adjusted due to weather.

Fall 2017 Planting Project Approved

At the October Board Meeting, the Board approved the Fall 2017 Planting Project.  Trees and plants, selected from a limited palette, will be planted from the curb to utility closets throughout the south side of Brittany Landing Bay. This includes Riddell, Parfait, Damon and the South Side of Oak Park. There will also be four trees added to the pool area and one tree replacement on the North Side. The November 2017 planting includes 27 trees and 250 plants!!  

The Committee has worked with Cagwin & Dorward, our landscape company, and the BLB Board to develop a strategy that incorporates the following elements:

·         Focusing on unified design elements to promote a cohesive visual appearance.

·         Developing a limited tree and plant palette to guide the plant selection process.

·         Planting in the area that is visible from the street this year.

·         Providing wide coverage to improve landscaping for as many people as possible.

·         Planting only during fall/winter months to take advantage of the rainy season to help establish the plants.

·         Replacing removed trees

·         Alternating between north and south sides of the association.

Mulch delivery for South side delayed

The rest of the grounds were supposed to have been mulched this week, but JetMulch notified Elyce that they were not able to deliver the mulch as scheduled.   We do not have a new date, yet.

Summer Flowers at Brittany Landing Bay

Fortnight Lily

Butterfly Bush

Gaillardia (Banketflower)

Mahonia

Renovation pruning has begun with the south side

If turn right when you enter the gate, you may have noticed that a number of the plants are looking much shorter and bare.  Not to worry.  The plants are being rejuvenated and will grow back better than before.  Years of shearing the plants results in a lot of interior dead branches that have been cleaned out.

The crew has started on the south side and will be working their way through the entire grounds.

Irrigation System in on

If you notice any problems especially if there are leaks or it looks like areas are not getting water, please report ASAP.  Call Elyce at 510-865-3363 ext 355 or email her at ephilcox@harborbay.org.  If the office is closed and you see an irrigation problem that needs immediate attention, call Security at 510-865-0417.

We appreciate everyone's help with keeping an eye on things!

Renovation Pruning of Shrubs Starting Soon

Cagwin & Dorward Landscaping will be hard pruning selected shrubs throughout the property in the upcoming weeks. The shrubs will be significantly reduced in size after the pruning, but should grow back soon.  The dead wood removal and size reduction will promote healthy, green growth throughout the plant. The plants to be rejuvenated are the Escalonias, the Abelias and the Mirror Plants.  Also, members of the Landscape Steering Committee will be doing renovation pruning of the Nandinas.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Elyce Philcox, Association Manager at 510-865-3363 or at EPhilcox@HarborBay.org

Below is some information from Cagwin and Dorward on Renovation Pruning.

 Why do Renovation Pruning

• To rejuvenate plants, encouraging a healthier plant
• Removing diseased and dead branches
• Reducing the density of the branches of the plant, increasing air circulation and sunlight penetration
• To redirect growth and remove undesirable growth, create new structure
• To increase flower quality and production
• To control the size of the plant
• Utilize plants existing mature root system instead of replacing it with a smaller plant

 How to do Renovation Pruning

• Removal of not more than one-half of plants growth per year
• Some plants respond to hard pruning better than others
• Thinning cuts- removing lateral branches back to main branches
• Heading back – Removing dormant leaders back to lateral growth, below desired end height
• For basal growing shrubs/ mowing – remove one-third of largest (oldest) growth, or cut entire plant to 8-inches above ground level

 When to do Renovation Pruning

• Not all plants respond with regrowth at the same rate of speed
• Timing of each plant is very critical
• If plant is in a state of decline, complete regrowth is unlikely
• Some plants need renovation pruning yearly to extend their lifespan
• Most plants can be renovated every three to seven years
• Fall Pruning – Deciduous plants that will not be damaged by harsh winter
• Winter Pruning – Deciduous and evergreen plants that flower in summer
• Early Spring – All plants that don’t flower in spring and won’t be damaged by late season frost
• Late Spring / Early Summer – All winter and spring flowering plants

Landscape Update

The final winter planting project is being completed this week.   The 2016/2017 Planting projects resulted in 30 Trees and 243 Shrubs and ground cover planted in various areas!

The first truck load of mulch was spread a few weeks ago.  The second truck load should be coming soon.  We anticipate that it will take at least three truck loads to cover the entire association grounds.

Jet Mulch delays spreading of bark

Due to the rainy weather, the bark mulch installation scheduled for today will be delayed and need to be rescheduled.  New date to be announced.

The bark is coming!

The first truck load of bark from Jet Mulch is scheduled for February 3 delivery.  This will be spread on the north side.  Jet Mulch expects it to take two more truck loads to cover the entire property.  The bark will not only improve appearance, but also help with water conservation.Check back to see when the rest of the bark will be spread.