Residents could not ask for anything more from this one-of-a-kind HOA community in St. Augustine, Florida. Families fortunate enough to have found a home in this master-planned lakefront community enjoy unmatched access to picturesque properties, neighborhood connections, and an enviable outdoor lifestyle. The 43-acre paddle-friendly lake inside the 358-acre nature preserve is attracting families in droves who are also drawn by the area’s superb schools. With coastal vibes complemented by resort-level landscaping and amenities, this community lacks nothing for those seeking a detour off the beaten path into an ideal way of life.
Challenges
The biggest landscaping challenge will be an ongoing one until the full build out—constant construction. Northeast Florida, particularly the St. Augustine area is booming, so home shoppers are clamoring to find housing in this coveted HOA neighborhood. Daily construction comes with major utility work, and both things mean landscaping gets damaged regularly.
Another issue is maintaining perfect aesthetics where every square inch of the community has been planned to present world-class visuals. That’s difficult enough with construction dumpsters coming in and out, but add to that a highly active neighborhood. In addition to boating, racquet courts, walking paths, and biking trails, there are regular events that draw big crowds onto turf areas.
HOA communities have to keep a close eye on their budget, so another challenge is planning and budgeting emergency landscape repairs. Safety is under the microscope on large properties like this, too. Numerous aspects of the landscaping must play a careful role in keeping residents safe. At the same time, landscaping crews have to plan and pivot as needed to avoid interfering with residents actively using the countless amenities.
Results
For over six years, Yellowstone Landscape has excelled at overcoming inherent hurdles in this large-scale but neighborly HOA community. Below are the various ways we’ve managed to do so.
- Our weekly safety meetings include construction updates noted on checklists and mapping.
- Daily safety talks remind Yellowstone employees to be watchful for the many drivers coming into the community who are unfamiliar with the area.
- Over a half-decade relationship with the client means great communication for landscape repair needs due to new construction.
- Our branch managers work closely with local utility companies to stay updated on their work that may impact landscape maintenance.
- With each contract renewal, we review the amount of repair work for the prior year with the client to help them budget for the new year.
- This community’s unique branding is woven into every landscape enhancement our designers plan.
- Lush, weed-free turf is thriving through our comprehensive, sustainable turf program.
- Adaptive tree healthcare and monitoring ensure valuable trees, like the featured palms, remain healthy and provide the perfect coastal feel.
- Close attention is paid to walking and biking trails to ensure they’re debris-free to prevent tripping hazards for residents.
- Certified smart-water team members maintain over a dozen irrigated entrance planters, ensuring plant health and wise use of resources.
- Regular maintenance visits include mowing, spray applications as needed, irrigation, and monitoring the health of all landscape elements.
- Three annual flower rotations make the landscaping pop with freshness while using eco-friendly techniques to reduce fertilizer use.
- Integrated pest management defends the landscaping from infestation while protecting the inspiring nature preserve and waterways.
Resident Reviews
“Best kept secret of St. Johns County, in my opinion.”
“Great community with amazing amenities.”
“You're going to love living here.”
Promises Made Good
It’s a tremendous opportunity to provide landscaping services in one of the most sought-after communities in the county. That opportunity comes with heavy pressure on the landscaping provider to perform, day in and day out. The property owners have made enormous promises through the initial visual presentation to those who purchase homes here. Homeowners expect those luxurious visuals to be kept at premier levels that produce their desired lifestyle and increase property values.
It would be easy for any commercial property owner or HOA board to point to legitimate excuses when things go wrong. After all, digging utility line trenches is bound to leave muddy messes, and heavy trucks in and out of tight spots are going to damage landscaping. A provider could look for excuses too. Fortunately, our client doesn’t believe in making excuses. They focus on results and fulfilling promises to residents. At Yellowstone Landscape, we feel exactly the same. That’s why this relationship has been successful for over six years now.
This case study shows the positive impact that high-quality landscaping has on an HOA community. Even a neighborhood of this size, with all the amenities that cater to an ideal lifestyle, would not be all it could be if it cut corners on landscaping. By blending vibrant plants, turf, shrubs, and trees with nautical themes and amenities like a communal lake house, modern splash pad, and fitness center, this community has become all that any St. Augustine homeowner could hope for.
Need help maintaining your HOA community to the highest landscape standards? Contact Yellowstone Landscape.
