Saturday, April 5, 2014

Dear Neighbors,

Maloney landscaping will be installing pine straw in the next week or two after all of the oak leaves are down. New spring annuals will be planted this month.

We met with James Maloney this week and looked at the azaleas. There are about 8-10 bushes that are in very bad shape. These plants are 18 years old and have never been  cut back. A few years ago he recommended what is called rejuvenation pruning. Some of the neighborhood members did not like this idea so we did not take his advice on this.  Rejuvenation pruning is an accepted landscaping  practice and is done regularly in the squares downtown. He recommends doing this for all of the azaleas so that they will grow back evenly. It will look very bare this year and will be a shock visually to some but according to James by next year they will be knee high and blooming and all of the plants should be the same size. This MUST be done in the next two weeks or the plants will not bloom next year. The Board will vote  to decide on going forward with this decision. For everyone's information we are including a link on pruning and the proper care of azaleas. I am sending this link for your information.
 http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2012/03/26/pruning-azaleas-when-how/