If you’ve been a Blossom Rock homeowner for nine months or more, you’ve reached an important mile marker. Per the Blossom Rock Design Guidelines (see section 5.8, pp. 96) your side and backyard landscaping needs to be completed within nine months of your initial close of escrow.
It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive. In fact, if after nine months you’re not ready for a full-blown landscape install, a simple layer of gravel will do. No need to match the color of the front yard gravel, so feel free to find a size, color, and price point that works within your budget.
When it comes to the landscape look of your enclosed side and rear yards, there is no specific quantity of trees, shrubs, or ground cover that’s required. When you’re ready to add vegetation, be sure to consult the Blossom Rock Design Guidelines for approved varieties (see Appendix E, pp. 138).
Why is there a specific timeline? The nine-month requirement is on the books to keep your home’s foundation, grading, and drainage in peak form, along with a few other benefits. Take a look:
Supports proper drainage
During a rainstorm, if your rear and side yards are landscaped, rainwater can seep into rock or turf and flow out more gradually — following the original grade of the lot — which helps prevent flooding, erosion, and runoff. Otherwise, water mixed with dirt will flow out of your yard, altering the grading and leading to further flooding from future storms and eventually causing foundation issues. When there’s a lack of landscape, rainwater mixed with dirt and other debris can flow out and cause blockages in the storm drains, which may lead to flooding in other parts of the community.
Prevents foundation erosion
When there’s a flow of water and dirt from your non-landscaped backyard, it can cause erosion and affect the grading on your home lot. Erosion can lead to pooling of water that can get under the foundation and cause settling issues, cracks, flooding, sink holes, and uneven land. Pooling water and flooding around the foundation can be a major issue if you have a basement, as some Blossom Rock homes do. Flooding and grading changes in your yard can also impact your neighbors if the pooling waters disrupt the side and rear yard property walls.
Cuts down on dust
As summer monsoons bring heavy winds, a landscaped yard helps decrease the amount of dirt and dust that’s kicked up in the neighborhood.
Acts as a barrier to weeds and pests
Even the most basic landscaping can help act as a blockade to weeds and pests in your yard.
Keeps it cool
A shady tree, lush shrub, and green grass all have cooling powers in the desert heat. A landscaped zone lowers the temperature of the air around it due to transpiration, more so than bare soil.
Boosts your home value
When you want to sell your home, a landscaped backyard will most likely garner a greater return on investment. And if your neighbor is selling his or her home, it helps to have surrounding yards in sight that have more than just dirt.
Please note, if your enclosed side and rear yards are not landscaped prior to the nine-month mark, it may lead to a letter and fine from the Blossom Rock Residential Association.