June 2012 Page 1

Del Webb Orlando - Landscape Maintenance – Who Does What? Responsibility for landscape maintenance within Del Webb Orlando varies according to which Village

you live in. Landscape maintenance within Vista Grande, the first village to be built, is mostly conducted

by the Homeowners Association (HOA) with residents also being responsible for some components.

Homeowners outside Vista Grande are responsible for their own landscape maintenance and may

contract with vendors of their choosing.

Homeowners within Vista Grande (per the plat, Villages 3A, 3B & 3C) pay landscape maintenance fees as

part of their HOA fees. This is a “Neighborhood Assessment” under the terms of the Covenants,

Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) and is charged at $47.70 per month from 2011 to 2013.

Per section 7.2(b) of the CC&Rs, the scope of service changed on January 1, 2011. The following tables

list what is included and what is not within the HOA covered scope of service.

What is Included: Description of Service Frequency of service Vendor

Tree Trimming 1 time per year Mainscape

Lawn Mowing (Growing Season) Weekly (April thru October) Mainscape

Lawn Mowing (Dormant Season) Bi-Weekly (Nov. thru March) Mainscape

Bed Edging Every other Mow Mainscape

Shrub Maintenance Every 6 weeks Mainscape

Hedge Maintenance Every 6 weeks Mainscape

Planting Bed weed control Every 2 weeks Mainscape

What’s not included (per the CC&Rs): Description of Service Recommended Frequency Comments

a) Irrigation to the lot As needed All of the services described at left are available from individual vendors. Residents are at liberty to perform these services themselves should they choose to do so.

Many residents have purchased these services from Proscape Inc., a vendor that was researched and recommended by several residents in the community. The HOA does not administer this program or manage the vendor. That is the responsibility of the individual residents who contract with Proscape to provide this service.

All landscaping needs to meet the Community Wide Standards defined in the Design Guidelines.

b) Maintenance, repair and replacement of the irrigation system

Monthly

c) Fertilization to the landscaped areas of the lot

Quarterly for lawn 3x per year for trees/shrubs

d) Pest and Fungi control to the lot

Monthly

e) Watering the landscaping areas of the lot

As needed

f) All plant, sod and turf repair and replacement for the lot and mulch replenishment and replacement for the lot

As needed. Annually or Bi-annually for mulch, depending on the type

Landscape Maintenance Responsibilities in Del Webb Orlando

June 2012 Page 2

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Please clarify who is responsible for the irrigation system: Q: Do owners have any warranty from the builder if the irrigation system fails or develops faults within a few months of occupancy.

A: From Del Webb: “Due to the need of on-going maintenance, AFTER CLOSING, Del Webb PROVIDES NO WARRANTY on your living landscape or irrigation systems”. : Del Webb performs a plant and sod inspection at closing validating that the material is in good condition at the time of closing and the irrigation system is functioning as intended.

It is a wise investment to contract with a service provider who can service your irrigation system and provide specialist advice where needed. They will be able to help you adjust the system to the differing needs of the seasons, based on rainfall and other factors.

Q: Should the maintenance contract with my contractor include free or reduced cost repairs to the irrigation system? A: This depends on what contract you made with your provider. Many vendors will conduct a review of your irrigation system monthly and make recommendations on any needed repairs Q: Who is responsible for ensuring that the irrigation heads are giving proper coverage?

A: Del Webb performs an inspection at the closing to ensure that the landscape irrigation is functioning appropriately and there is adequate coverage. Del Webb cannot be held responsible for changes after closing. After closing it is a resident responsibility, often in conjunction with the vendor you contracted with.

Q: If a plant dies as a result of improper watering, who is responsible? A: Del Webb performs a plant and sod inspection at closing validating that the material is in good condition. After closing it is a resident responsibility this is something that you should discuss with your irrigation vendor. If they are monitoring the system effectively, improper watering should not occur.

2. How do owners get recompense/repairs from Mainscape for damage done by their grass cutting team Q: Why should owners pay for new irrigation heads when we pay for a professional grass cutting service

A: Mainscape is very responsive to problems that occur in the field and the occasional mistakes made by their crews. If you experience damage, please contact Mainscape directly via the customer service tab on the website at www.Mainscape.com

3. Q: While we appreciate the Florida Gardening Calendar in the Del Webb Orlando Breeze it does not address all of the issues raised above. Could the following be included?

a. General grass care including action specific to this community that owners could take at limited cost.

A: The article that appears monthly in the community newsletter comes from the University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS) extension service. They are widely considered one of the foremost authorities on horticultural best practices in Florida. Given the variety of grasses and shrubs that are present within Del Webb Orlando, it would be difficult at best to provide specific advice within the newsletter. Readers are encouraged to visit the UF-IFAS website at http://ifas.ufl.edu/ for more detailed information and advice. b. Is there a low cost Zoysia grass seed that owners could use on poor quality turf areas

without having to undertake turf replacements A: Zoysia seed is generally only available to commercial growers. More details can be found at: http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/comm-hort/A-ZPublications/Zoysia_LH01100.pdf or http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh011 c. If new turf is needed what are the financial pros and cons

Landscape Maintenance Responsibilities in Del Webb Orlando

June 2012 Page 3

A: New turf (vs growing from seed) provides an instant result and generally requires less maintenance during establishment. Growing from seed is only typically feasible for Bahia turf grass and requires careful monitoring during establishment. d. Advice on watering times. A: Advice on watering times differs from lot to lot, zone to zone and grass to grass. There is typically no one-size-fits-all approach. Additionally, Polk County has restrictions on watering detailed here: http://polkhort.ifas.ufl.edu/watering_restrictions.shtml

4. Is it true that some HOAs within Central Florida are changing their rules to allow a more flexible approach to ground cover design particularly in areas of high water cost or water conservation. A: Typically this is referred to as Florida Friendly Landscaping. There is a great article available from: http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/FYN_Plant_Selection_Guide_v090110.pdf

5. Can I replace our grass with Astro Turf (Zoysia variety) which needs no watering, no grass cutting and just the occasional hoovering?! A: The short answer is no! The Landscape Requirements portion of the Design Guidelines for Del Webb Orlando call for turf to be used as the ground cover in all areas outside of all planting beds. Astroturf is a synthetic, artificial grass that is not approved as an inert material within the Design Guidelines.

6. I am paying $47.70 for landscaping maintenance (cutting, edging blowing etc). Am I getting value for money? A: Periodically, the HOA solicits bids from qualified landscape maintenance companies. Cost, reputation and quality are all considered before selecting a vendor. The HOA believes Mainscape provides an appropriate level of service based on the agreed upon contract. There are a number of resources online that provide opinions on the average cost of landscape maintenance. Here’s one from a website called Landscaping Ideas Online http://www.landscapingideasonline.com/lawns/cost-of-lawn-care :

If you are looking for the very barest of basic services, the average cost of lawn care services in Small Town, USA should run somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 per week, which puts you anywhere from between $120-150 per month.

The cost of landscape maintenance in Vista Grande is $47.70 a month or $572.40 a year. That is $11/week as opposed to the national average referred to in the article of $30/week.

7. I am unhappy with the service I am receiving, can I opt-out of the landscaping maintenance program. A: Vista Grande is the only neighborhood within Del Webb Orlando that has landscape maintenance included in its monthly services. The service level is defined by the CC&Rs and is highlighted in the extract shown below. The service is mandatory for all owners in Vista Grande and cannot be opted-out of at this stage. If you are dissatisfied with the level of service being provided, please create a customer service request on Mainscape’s website www.Mainscape.com and in the unlikely event that your problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, please notify the Community Association Manager by email: dmorgan@accessyourcommunity.com Every attempt will be made to ensure that your concern is addressed effectively and in a timely manner.

8. I want to make changes to my landscaping. How do I do that and who maintains the additions? A: Changes to any aspect of the exterior of your home are subject to community Design Guidelines and an application must be submitted to the Architectural Review Committee. The form is available on the community website or by clicking the link here: http://www.delwebborlandoinfo.com/Community_Information/Documents.htm

Landscape Maintenance Responsibilities in Del Webb Orlando

June 2012 Page 4

Per the Design Guidelines, plantings of seasonal plants within the boundaries of the original planting beds do not require ARC approval. If a homeowner wishes to extend a planting bed, ARC approval is required. On the maintenance front: Design Guideline II.C.2b) “Any areas that are planted with annuals and seasonal plants must be maintained by the homeowner in accordance with the community-wide standard.

9. Who is responsible for mulch? A: Mulch is the homeowner’s responsibility, often in conjunction with their chosen contractor. Depending on the type of mulch, it may need to be applied once or twice a year.

10. Can I add borders to my planting beds? A: The Design Guidelines identify a number of approved inert materials that are suitable for use within your landscaped areas. Residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these guidelines.

11. How tall is my rear hedge supposed to be?

A: Hedges that were installed by the Developer (typically on back to back properties) are designed to provide a measure of privacy and separation between houses that back up to one another. The hedge materials vary in different parts of the community. As at the date of this document, we have predominantly Viburnum and Holly hedges in the community. In the event that a hedge is not yet at its mature height, it will be allowed to grow to that height with minimal pruning as needed. For a Viburnum Hedge: Hedge height will be maintained at approximately 6’ tall with perpendicular sides. Where there is an elevation difference between back to back lots, the height is measured from the high side. Typical Viburnum Hedge Typical Holly Hedge For a Holly Hedge: Hedge height will be maintained at approximately 12’ tall with a more pyramidal shape. Where there is an elevation difference between back to back lots, the height is measured from the high side. For other Hedge plantings (i.e. Podacarpus) the standards will be as close as possible to those outlined above dependent upon the plant.

12. Why doesn’t the HOA provide horticultural and fertilization services?

6’ tall Approx.

12’ tall Approx.

Landscape Maintenance Responsibilities in Del Webb Orlando

June 2012 Page 5

A: The application of pesticides, fertilizers and other necessary chemicals required to maintain the health of your landscaping needs to be closely managed between you and your service provider. Typically most chemicals need to be watered-in and given that the HOA does not control the irrigation to your lot, this task is better managed by you, the homeowner, in conjunction with your chosen service provider.

13. I have poor quality patches of grass in my lawn. My sprinklers are working but how can I be sure

they are working properly?

A: The importance of evenly applying water to your lawn cannot be over-emphasized. Your

irrigation system needs to be maintained and adjusted from time to time and a blocked nozzle, a

leaking pipe, a broken fitting that lets water escape through the seals, these can all impact water

pressure and impact the amount of water being delivered in individual zones. Sometimes, a

catch-can test is a good way to determine if each of the zones within your irrigation system is

delivering the right amount of water. Here’s a link to a good test that you or your irrigation

professional can perform. It will help you to understand if adjustments are needed and if

enough water is reaching all parts of your lawn and landscaping.

http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Water/files/Efficiency/Record_Sheet_For_Catchcan_Test.pdf

Landscape Maintenance Responsibilities in Del Webb Orlando

June 2012 Page 6

Extracted from the CC&Rs Section 7.2(b) The following language is extracted from the CC&Rs and specifically addresses the scope of services provided within the Vista Grande neighborhood. For a more complete discussion of all provisions of the CC&Rs, readers are encouraged to read the complete document which is available on the Del Webb Orlando website.