You won’t find a more unique setting than High Desert, New Mexico’s first master-planned, sustainable community resting at the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. Luxury homes complete with exquisite landscapes match the rugged desert beauty near the famed Cibola National Forest. Nature itself has been tapped as the guiding principle behind this remarkable community filled with walking trails, friendly neighbors, and the bluest skies that only pale in comparison to awe-striking sunsets that blaze the horizon.
Challenges
Initially, the core, almost incomprehensible challenge, was performing proper landscape maintenance without using power tools (restrictions have loosened slightly). Another challenge is keeping the unspoiled, wild beauty one hundred percent intact for homes that appear to have emerged from the ground as naturally as native Albuquerque plants.
Weed control is an uphill battle, as even conventional, sustainable methods don’t meet this nature-focused community’s guidelines. This makes it critical to have experienced maintenance team members who are qualified to identify weeds versus desirable native plants and grasses. Additionally, water management in an arid desert is a constant tug of war when tree and plant health is at stake. Lastly, maintaining a tidy appearance in wild-themed landscapes is challenging, as is keeping the aesthetics worthy of the surroundings, which include magnificent garden sculptures.
Results
After listing just some of the most obvious challenges our maintenance crews face when working in High Desert, we’ll leave you with a surprising positive that has come from what would seem an overwhelming obstacle for others seeking to earn a partnership with the community.
- Manual tools were utilized to maintain naturally designed landscapes.
- After many considerate discussions, a few eco-friendly power tools were eventually deemed acceptable by the HOA.
- Careful manicuring keeps the community connected to the lands that surround it, providing residents the desired look the landscape had one hundred years ago.
- Our designers with vast desert plant knowledge protect current landscape features and advise on additions based on any microclimate changes.
- Sitting in on HOA meetings and reading community updates keeps our local team in sync with and ahead of resident concerns about their community.
- Smart irrigation technology is used to reduce wasted water and produce healthy, resilient plants.
- We have regular training to cover the newest water sustainability practices.
- Targeted weed control by our most experienced crews prevents weed problems and protects native plants from accidental damage.
- With strict neighborhood guidelines on debris, common areas are meticulously maintained to prevent even stray leaves from being blown onto a resident’s property.
- Native New Mexicans employed by our local Yellowstone branch are vital to keeping this client thrilled to have us as their landscaping provider.
Residents’ Thoughts about High Desert
“One thing I love about living here is the unique desert plants.”
“Desert is nature; it’s interesting and beautiful.”
Undisturbed Luxury Living
It might surprise you to know that Yellowstone Landscape had a brief interruption of service when the High Desert HOA board decided that they wanted to see if a smaller local company could better suit their needs. Why? Their decision was based primarily on the growing size of our company and a perceived change in focus from local relationships to a national brand. Having a national landscaping brand service a community wanting to avoid perceived “norms” of landscaping (i.e., manicured turf with cookie-cutter elements sprinkled in) didn’t sit well with some of the HOA members, so the board decided to make a change.
However, within two years, they found the grass wasn’t greener on the other side when a smaller, local company was hired but failed to keep up with community standards and guidelines). Yellowstone was rehired to bring the landscaping back to the top-tier levels we had provided initially.
While it’s never good to lose a client, regardless of the reason, this scenario provided the best case study on what makes our company stand out. Yes, we’re proud to have vast resources that come with our size, but we are even more proud of our local branches' adaptability, regional knowledge, and ability to connect with property owners who live and work in the same communities where our teams live and work.
In this case study, the results were remarkable for everyone involved because our New Mexico team enjoys the pleasures of the land surrounding High Desert. Our employees revel in the blue skies and sunsets just as much as the residents we serve do.
Contact Yellowstone Landscape to partner with a company backed by unparalleled resources and local branches that provide unmatched hometown service.
