Hi, there!
I just moved to the neighborhood a few months ago and had never lived in an HOA before. The house we moved into had been abandoned for 6 months or so, so it was an absolute jungle. Luckily, we saw the potential and now it looks beautiful!
However the HOA has been on our case a little. First got fined for not mowing often enough (we were catching the lawn people mowing at our neighbor's house every so often, but I guess it wasn't often enough) so we then got their business card and are now keeping up with it. Don't get me wrong, I love gardening and having a nice lawn, but we are busy people, and we water by regulations, and cut when we can. We were mainly just upset (and a little offended) about this because it's obvious the house was now actually inhabited (I assume the same person has been doing rounds for a while now and knows what's the norm), and we really were trying to bring it up to par. The improvement has been, in my book, monumental, and the notice we recieved was already a fine. We were ready to dispute it but we just swallowed up our pride and accepted the scolding.
But then we got fined for not watering enough (brown spots, and bare patches, the usual) which is ridiculous because it's July in Texas and the hottest summer of my life, no kidding. I always make it a point to water (only according to city of Austin water restrictions, though). We decided that, if that wasn't good enough, we would water by hand on the days sprinkler use is prohibited, so we are now watering each and every day one way or another. While the improvement has been phenominal, I got my City of Austin Utilities bill this morning and my water bill alone is $300. WOW! So, in effect, to avoid some obscure HOA fine I'm now paying $300 a month for water? Are you kidding? I can't bring myself to do that every month. Forgive me, HOA.
I'm caught between a rock and a hard spot, so I really need some advice. How are all of you with these beautiful yards going it? Are you just paying an arm (or two) and a leg (or two) for water, using old an wives tale remedy, store-bought miracle yard treatment (I'm using Miracle Grow, too, for the record), or just blessed with miraculously beautiful grass? Help me, pretty please!
Welcome to the neighborhood! Living in a neighborhood with an HOA is a bit different and it helps to understand how it all works. Be sure to become familiar with the bylaws or rules (I think you can find them on the website under 'Documents'). The landscaping or lot inspections are not done by the HOA, but through a property management company that contracts with several HOAs, so don't expect them to become too intimate with knowing who's moving in or out of the neighborhood. Even though it was uninhabited, the previous owner was probably accumulating notices or fines. I would definitely contact the HOA, inform them that you have only had the place for the last few months, tell them that you are working to improve the yard but will need some time to do so, and ask them to waive the fines for the time being. Have a list of what you've done so far and what your plans are to get the yard in shape and they should be willing to grant you a grace period. It would be near impossible to bring a neglected yard into compliance in the current heat we've been experiencing. Even if you replaced all the grass with new sod, I don't think it would survive the current heat. It is a struggle to keep a healthy lawn alive in this heat, but it can be done without spending $300 and following the city's watering restrictions. Hopefully the heat is about to break and you'll be able to nurse some of the grass back before it goes dormant for the winter. Water deep on your watering days. Avoid watering every day (at least the same spot every day). If it will not last at least a couple of days, you probably need to water deeper.
One last thought as well.... Turn off all faucets inside and outside the house and check your water meter for movement. You may have a leaking faucet, toilet bowl seal, or even a fractured supply line between the meter and the house. The clay based soil of this area really expands and contracts depending on ground moisture. If you can, check it before you go to bed one night and write down the reading, then check first thing in the morning to see if they match. That will give you an idea of water usage over a peroid of time where there should be no change in the meter reading.
Thank you so much! That makes a lot more sense, and I will definately take your advice!
Wow...That is a terribly high water bill! I can tell you that my front yard has managed to stay somewhat green this season will deep watering on watering days. We were having small brown patches show up in our yard too and no amount of watering would take care of it. When I went to Home Depot I was told it was probably grubs eating the roots. I bought a bag of grub killer and it stopped the spots from spreading.
Good luck and definitely protest these notices you are getting!