Landscaping

Lawns

During mowing season, all lawns are mowed once a week, or as necessary. Community residents must remove all personal property from these areas when not in use.

Because there is not a community-wide sprinkler system, homeowners and community residents are encouraged to water lawns and gardens during dry weather conditions. This goes a long way toward preserving the beauty of the community.

Due to challenging ground conditions in some areas, lawns can not be grown successfully in all locations. Steep hillsides and places with dense surface roots or deep shade struggle to support grass. As the landscape of Montgomery Woods matures with ever larger trees, and as higher than average rainfall has become increasingly frequent over the past few years, the Homeowners’ Association continues to try new solutions to provide the best possible ground conditions.

Unit landscape improvements

Residents are encouraged to enhance their foundation beds and private garden areas. Because there are no fences in Montgomery Woods, efforts to beautify your home won’t just impact your own enjoyment, they will elevate the entire community.

Flowers and herbs

Resident may plant flowers and herbs in foundation beds and private gardens at any time. These do not require an application for approval from the Landscape Review Committee.

Container gardens

The use of containers does not require approval from the Landscape Review Committee, but their use must adhere to community guidelines:

Containers are limited to front decks, walkways and rear decks and patios. Containers may not be placed on large rocks or lawns. Maintenance of such containers is the responsibility of the unit residents. Empty containers must be removed and stored out of sight (such as in the garage or on the rear patio/deck) at the end of the growing season. Damage to the exterior siding, trim or a sill that is caused by containers is the responsibility of the unit owner.

Shrubs

Removing and replanting shrubs and reconfiguring of beds, as well as larger scale landscaping projects require approval from the Landscape Review Committee before any work is undertaken. This helps ensure new plantings are appropriate in the context of the larger community. Complete this form and provide to the management company along with your plans:

Application for Landscape Review Form

Recommended plants include: ilex, barberry, laurel, boxwood, rhododendron, holly, dwarf mugo pine, azalea, juniper, pachysandra, roses, tulips, lilacs, and daffodils.

Shrubs will be maintained is such a way that does not create a living fence or hedge. Generally, they should be trimmed to be no taller than 5 feet high. If a resident does not adequately maintain the size of shrubs in their foundation beds, they will be trimmed to an appropriate size by the Association.

Vegetables

Vegetable gardens near homeowner units are not permitted except for small vegetable plants (such as tomatoes and peppers, but no vine plants the shoots of which extend/grow horizontally or vertically or corn stalks) that may be planted next to the unit foundation up to a maximum of three feet out from the foundation or in pots preferably kept on the owner’s rear deck or patio. Such plantings or pots must be removed promptly at the end of the growing season, and empty pots must be stored out of sight, preferably in the garage or on the back deck or patio.

Trees

There is currently a moratorium on planting trees due to the abundance of trees in the community. Young trees are easy enough to handle but they can turn into major maintenance commitments decades down the line and make it difficult for grass and shrubs to grow and thrive. If planted in foundation beds tree roots may also damage the building’s foundation. Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis.

Mulch

The trees and beds along Blue Spring Road are mulched by the Association every spring. The beds and trees throughout the rest of the property, including all homeowner areas, are mulched by the Association once every three years. Brown mulch is used throughout to maintain a consistent, natural appearance. If you would like to add mulch during off-years, it is recommended that you use brown mulch for aesthetic continuity.

Landscape service opt-out

If you would like to opt out Association-provided trimming of shrubs and other foundation bed maintenance, you can place red flags in the areas you wish to leave undisturbed. The red flags alert landscapers that a service is not desired and are available through the management office. Red flags should not be left out indefinitely. They must be collected by the resident and stored out of sight after trimming services are complete, and re-used only when trimming and clean-ups are scheduled.

Homeowner responsibilities

While the Association provides some cleanup services to ensure beds to not get out of control, homeowners are responsible for the upkeep, removal and/or replacement of any bushes, shrubs or other plantings installed by them, or prior unit owners, in their own unit foundation beds. The Association and residents can work together to promote a pleasing appearance throughout the community.

Landscape Committee

The Landscape Committee shall consist of three or five Montgomery Woods homeowners of whom at least one shall be a Board member. Each Committee member shall hold office until he/she resigns or is removed by the Board.

Appointment and Removal. The Board shall have the right to appoint and remove all members of the Committee.

Whenever the approval of the Landscape Committee is required, the Committee shall have the right to consider all of the plans and specifications for the improvement or proposal in question.

Before beginning any planting or landscaping changes within Montgomery Woods, the plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Landscape Committee, and planting shall not commence unless and until the Committee has approved the application in writing.

The Committee shall approve the type, kind, species and size of any intended landscape improvement. The Committee may issue rules or guidelines regarding anything relevant to its functions, including but not limited to minimum standards and procedures for the submission of plans for approval. The Committee shall have thirty (30) days to approve or disapprove an application.

The Committee shall meet regularly to perform its duties. By unanimous vote, the Committee may designate one of its members to take any action or perform any duties for and on behalf of the Committee.

Common Area Beds: Residents who wish to plant new plants in existing common areas, alter an existing common area bed, or create a new common area bed must receive prior approval from the Landscape Committee.

Call before you dig!

Contact New Jersey's "One Call" system at 1-800-272-1000 for a free mark-out of underground gas, water, sewer, cable, telephone and electric utility lines before any outdoor construction or digging. Making this call before you dig will help prevent property damage and potential injuries. Plus, it's the law in New Jersey. For more information about New Jersey One Call, visit their Web site at NJ1-Call.org.