Category Archives: benefits

Too Much Mulch?

Springtime Tips on Using Mulch

The recent mild weather makes lawn and garden enthusiasts eager to get their hands in the dirt. One of the first projects for many is mulching. Before you spend your money on bags and bags of mulch, you might want to consider these recommended best practices.

Types of Mulch to Avoid

Besides improving the curb appeal of your home, mulch also acts as a weed deterrent. However, some mulch actually brings the weeds with it! Freshly shredded mulch, which our township will delivery to homeowners, is made of the twigs, brush, and woody plants that they pick up seasonally. They take these castoffs and grind them into a woody mulch. The color varies, depending on the kinds of wood they get. But . . .

Think twice before using this kind of mulch around your house or plants.

Because this mulch is fresh, it can be loaded with insects, strong herbicides, and plant diseases. None of those are good to have next to your house. Some people also use straw mulch, mainly in gardens. This has the same issues. If using either of these, let the mulch “age” for a few months before adding it to your landscaping. Heat and light and rain work to leach out the harmful stuff.

Artificially dyed mulch is a common addition to landscaping. But beware! Look at the bag before buying to see if the dye is natural or has sprayed-on color. Natural dye is fine, but spray colorants can be toxic, especially to pets and children.

The same is true of rubber mulch. Besides being expensive and often stinky, as this material breaks down over time, it releases toxic heavy metals and chemicals into the soil and groundwater.

Avoid Mulch Mania . . . Save Your Money

Tip #1: Don’t mulch too early in the season

It’s hard to resist getting your landscaping started when the weather is so nice. However, horticulturists recommend waiting until mid-May or later to add mulch. If you lay the mulch too soon, during the heavy rains of March and April, there is a chance that fungus will take hold in and beneath the mulch. Mulch mushrooms and white spots can ruin the look you want to achieve.

Tip #2: Take out large weeds before mulching

One of the benefits of using mulch is that it inhibits the growth of weeds. While this is true of small weeds, don’t be surprised if larger more robust weeks pop right through the mulch. Some of these weeds include: crabgrass, dandelions, and thistles. Your options are to remove the weeds before mulching (with or without chemicals) or pull the weeds over the season after they emerge from the mulch.

Tip #3: Don’t use more mulch than you need

Here is where you can save some real money. You do not need more than one inch of mulch in order for it to work well. Thick blankets of mulch do more harm than good. They hold onto the moisture rather than letting it filter through to the roots of shrubs, flowers, trees, or gardens. Fungus will set up in the middle of the damp mulch, creating a barrier that smothers nearby roots. By using just a one-inch thickness, you allow water and sunlight to work hand-in-hand for the benefit of your plants.

If you hire landscapers to do the mulching for you, make sure they know about this. You are paying for the amount of mulch they use, usually at a rate much higher than their cost. Insist that they do not use too much and you’ll save some money.

Most importantly of all, make sure they do not make the following mistake . . .

Tip #4: Don’t place mulch too close to the foundation of your house or above the sill plate

The sill plate is made of pressure-treated wood pieces (often 2x6s) that go around your house perimeter on top of the concrete slab. They are the foundation of the wood frame of the building. In brick homes, like ours, the sill plate is right behind the bottom row of bricks.

The most important tip of all is this: Keep mulch away from the sill plate. For our purposes, that means the mulch should be kept a few inches below the bottom row of bricks. If mulch is mounded above the sill plate, you run the risk of costly damage caused by insect infestations, especially termites. Landscapers often don’t abide by this rule because they think it looks better to have thick, high mulch around the house. You’re paying for too much mulch if they do this.

If you already have mulch that’s too close to the foundation, rake it away to create the safety zone described above.

Tip #5: Apply the same tips when mulching around trees

Mulch should never be mounded up against the trunk of a tree. Give the base of the trunk space for air and water to get to the roots. Otherwise, the tree is likely to rot from its base. Also, mulch against the trunk and you give insects the opportunity to invade the tree, causing disease and structural damage to the tree, weakening it. The same is true from shrubs and other plants.

Follow these tips and you will save money, have fewer problems with insects, and still have attractive landscaping.

Is Northland a Deed-Restricted Community?

Any community in which certain actions are required or not allowed is considered deed-restricted. So, yes, Northland Condos is one. Our NCOA is similar to an HOA, a home owners association. As such, the Association is the governing body that follows the rules and statements set forth in the Bylaws and NCOA Rules (sometimes referred to as Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, or CCRs).

What Does That Mean for Me, the Owner?

When you sign the deed to your property here, you, the owner, are agreeing to follow the governing documents as a member of the Association. Many of us have not lived in a deed-restricted neighborhood before. It is not the same as, say, living in Northridge or Southgate, or the city of Springfield. There, you may pretty much do what you want with your property.

At Northland, our owners have some limits on what they may or may not do. When buying a condo here, new owners will receive a copy of the Bylaws and Rules before closing on the property. By signing your deed papers, you are entering into a covenant with NCOA. If you have not reviewed the Bylaws and Rules, please take some time and do so. They are available on this website by clicking on the boldfaced words above.

What Are the Benefits of Living in a Deed-Restricted Community?

While some of us may feel a bit confined by a few of the rules, it’s good remember why having an COA, i.e., NCOA, is a good thing. Here are some positives:

Curb appeal

The rules about plants, windows, garage doors, trim wear, etc., are there to maintain some consistency to the look of our community. Of course, some of these rules also benefit the ongoing value of each condo as owners maintain their homes.

Maintenance

Remember having to mow grass—or pay others to do it? Or having no voice in how or when streets are maintained? The NCOA manages the streets, the common areas, and the lawns by hiring professionals to take care of things. A goodly portion of your condo fees pays for this.

Lower insurance rates for owners

Here at Northland, the NCOA is responsible for insuring most of the exterior of the condos, including roofs, against damage. As such, each owner’s insurance covers mainly interior damage, making insurance premiums less expensive. One exception is that sunrooms are the responsibility of the owner.

Property values

Homes in a deed-restricted community usually maintain their value (or see it improve) because of the ongoing upkeep and limits on what an owner may do.

Dispute resolution with neighbors

While we hope that our neighbors get along, sometimes issues come up that are not easily resolved on their own. If desired, the NCOA officers can serve as mediators to help.

Safety

In a community like ours, owners tend to watch out for each other. Limiting on-street parking, for example, can lessen the chance of car accidents. The posted speed limit of 15 mph is also a safety measure that we all have a responsibility to follow (and remind visitors about).

The NCOA condo fees are used to benefit the owners and the community at large. Compared to other COAs in our area, Northland’s fees are quite reasonable.

The Downsides

Most people who live in deed-restricted communities feel relieved not to have to deal with a lot of the details of regular home ownership. However, some feel that the rules and restrictions have some drawbacks:

Association dues

The dues collected from home owners pay for the amenities, upkeep, and future capital improvements for us all. Many owners have not had to pay these fees before, and it can be an adjustment. NCOA works hard to keep the dues affordable, but increases are sometimes necessary.

It is helpful to remember what owners in non-HOA houses pay for the services NCOA fees cover (numbers are average estimates based on similar yard sizes, not including common areas):

  • trash pickup: $118 per quarter = $472 per year
  • lawn maintenance: $40 per mowing/trim @ 20 times (4 x per 5 months) = $800
  • insurance: without an HOA, insurance is higher because it has to cover the entire property = about $800 per year, not counting any flood insurance
  • driveway & sidewalk snow removal: approx. 5 times per winter @ $40 = $200
  • TOTAL expenses for non-HOA home owners: $2272.00

Rules and violation consequences

Rules regarding what you may or may not do in or on your property limit owners’ choices.

Rules are enforceable. HOAs are responsible for upholding the rules and restrictions of the association. This may include giving notices and deadlines, applying assessments, and even placing a lien on a property, which can lead to foreclosure.