Landscaping: It is the responsibility of the resident to keep the landscape around their unit maintained. You can plant or remove shrubs at your discretion. If you are making changes to the landscape structure or want to plant or have a tree removed, you must fill out the Landscape Change Application on the website and get approval from the Grounds Committee. (Refer to www.brooksideowners.org, Grounds Committee Tab, Landscape Change Guidelines and Landscape Change Application.  The Brookside Tree Removal Policy is also posted under the Grounds Committee Tab.)

Weeding: This is the responsibility of the resident. You are required to weed around the front and back of your unit when needed. This includes pulling out the grass that has grown between the shrubs and into the beds. You can do this yourself or hire out.

Irrigation – Driplines: This is the responsibility of the landscape crew.If you are planting or removing any shrubs, you need to let the Grounds Committee know. We will have the landscaping crew put in or close off the driplines for those plants. You can add driplines to new plants yourself if you know how to do this at your cost. NO driplines attached to the irrigation system can be used for any personal pots on your deck or on your porch. You must put in your own drip system attached to your outdoor water source at your cost or hand water these.

If you notice that a dripline is not working around your unit, please let the Grounds Committee know so we can fix it.  (Refer to www.brooksideowners.org, Grounds Committee Tab, Grounds Committee Members for contact information.)

Shrub Trimming: This is the responsibility of the resident. If your shrubs are overgrown, they should be trimmed back. The tall grasses around your unit and throughout the common areas will be trimmed back and paid for by the HOA in the spring; the barberry hedges along the decks or in front of several units will also be trimmed by the landscaping crew. Any other shrubs should be maintained by the residents.

Window Wells – Cleaning: This is the responsibility of the HOA’s landscaping crew. They will remove saplings that have grown during the spring and fall clean-up, and remove leaves in the spring. Any window well covering is the responsibility of the residents.

Ground Cover: This is the responsibility of the resident. Any ground cover that is put down around your unit must be SOIL PEP in brown color. (Ace carries this in bags and Diversified Materials carries this in bulk.) Mulch or gravel is not permitted due to fire hazards and to keep the “look of Brookside” consistent.

Edging: This is the responsibility of the resident and not required. If you want to put edging down, it must be the metal edging in brown. This can be purchased at Lowe’s and installed by the resident or the landscaping crew. The landscaping crew can also order it for you.

Note: In the past, a few units put down cement, rock, or plastic edging before the rules changed and any new owners of these units were allowed to keep it intact. Any new edging installed must be the brown metal edging.