Fall Clean Up

Several complaints have come in about the condition of the outside of a number of homes in the Village. Summer’s come and gone and now is a good time to walk around the outside of your house and ensure that your home is in compliance with the Covenants by checking the following items:

• Check your siding for stains, cracks, dents, mold, mildew; clean as appropriate.
• Check for driveway cracks and repair as needed.
• Touch up paint, repair siding, trim, shutters, soffits and fascia.
• Remove trash cans and recycle bins from view.
• Drain and store garden hoses.
• Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary.
• Bury drain extensions or remove them.
• Check trees and shrubs for necessary trimming/pruning.
• Reseed your lawn. “Though you might be tempted to start in the spring, the fall is the best time to sow grass seed in Maryland. The time frame ranges from the end of August to mid-October. The further you go into the fall there is a greater chance of temperatures becoming too cold for germination and growth. The second-best time is late winter going into early spring. However, the later you wait; most likely, the grass will not have a mature enough root system that is able to survive the heat and drought of the summer. Summer seeding is rarely successful even with careful watering. Tall fescue is the recommended grass species for areas that receive at least four hours of sunlight.”
www.extension.umd.edu/hgic/faqs-lawns-getting-started-spring

It is essential that all property owners and especially those who own corner properties or who have yards that are highly visible to the community review their records, become familiar with the property lines and address maintenance issues to include the proper maintenance of the County rights-of-way. Avoid follow-up from the Association’s Covenant Advisor by tending to these details that make a huge difference in keeping our community looking its best.