PLANTS DON'T LIKE PAINT by Randy Newhard, CLT/M, CLT/I, CLIA

Imagine hanging around enjoying the sun, the birds chirping and the pretty flowers all around you. Then someone steps on your buddy and breaks their arm and feet. You are trembling as you see this person walking towards you and you too are trampled to the ground. Boy, what a bad dream you think as you awake. Ah, just kidding!!!  I was just trying to imagine what a plant would feel like if they had feelings as a painting project occurs at an association.

As the time approaches for your community to begin soliciting bids for its painting project, there are a few items to consider.

1. Communication to all parties involved is critical. Start dates for the painting should be shared with everyone. Landscapers like to be involved in this process too. Here are a few tasks the landscape company and the landscape supervisor need to prepare for.
   
   
   1. Selective pruning of the shrubbery away from the buildings.
   2. Trimming of groundcovers away from objects to be painted i.e., light fixtures,  buildings, fences, etc. Hopefully your landscaper has a current maintenance plan in place to prevent groundcovers from encroaching on wrought iron fencing, buildings and so on.
   3. Scheduling of irrigation systems. This will be an ongoing concern as the painters move through your community.
   4. Rescheduling of any special projects that were slated for this time period.
      
      
2. Adjusting the landscape maintenance schedule as the painters move throughout the association. Is there a predetermined budget by the painters to repair damaged plants or irrigation systems? It is normal for this damage to occur. As the painter is looking upward, adjusting his ladder to the left or right, he cannot also watch his every step on the ground. STUFF HAPPENS!!!!
   
   
3. Implement a plan to correct any damage to the landscape. Notes should be taken by the landscaper or even the painters as damage occurs. As the painters complete their work in a given area these corrective items should be performed. An exception is the irrigation system repairs. Irrigation breaks should be repaired immediately to prevent any further damage to the landscape or any association property.
   
   
4. Schedule walkthru's with your community manager, landscaper and painting contractor during and at the conclusion of the painting. This proactive process will possibly save time and money for your association in the long run.

As you read through this article you will probably have noticed that most of the suggestions deal with communication. We all know that it is far better to be proactive than reactive. Sometimes we all slip and forget to do this. Spring is here and many things need to be accomplished. For most companies that means doing more with less. That is the result of everyone searching for the lowest price. As the economy is improving, I have personally witnessed that associations are not necessarily looking for the lowest price. That perception is quite different than 2 or 3 years ago when everything was price driven.

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. As allot of us have softball, soccer, Indian guides, boy and girl scouts and many other meetings and functions to attend, do not forget to enjoy the smells and sights of flowers. Roses are prolifically blooming, jasmine smells wonderful and purple and white balls of agapanthas are protruding everywhere. Once again remember, all the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.

Randy Newhard is President of New Way Professional Landscape Services in San Diego and Randy is on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Chapter of CAI.