New England Condominium April 2022

Better Grass
& Lawn Care
The Right Turf for Your
Territory
BY DARCEY GERSTEIN
Creative Landscaping for
Smaller Spaces
Maximizing Impact & Curb Appeal
BY DARCEY GERSTEIN
April 2022
NEWENGLANDCONDO.COM
205 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY 10016 • CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
THE CONDO, HOA & CO-OP RESOURCE
CONDOMINIUM
NEW ENGLAND
Living in a dense urban or suburban multifamily setting often means living without easy
access to nature. Many residents in these housing environments crave some sort of outdoor
space—if not a private one like a balcony or deck adjoining their unit, then a well-land-
scaped common area. While the appeal of such spaces is undeniable, it’s often difficult for
housing associations and corporations to select, design, and maintain an area that may not
be optimally suited for the purpose thanks to everything from space constraints to soil con-
ditions to lack of sunlight. Making the most out of a challenging landscape space, therefore,
requires creativity, flexibility, and some expertise.
Plant It Right
“When creating a planting plan for small spaces with limited light, high winds, or other
challenges,” says Nicholas Carnovale, an Account Manager with BrightView Landscape Ser-
vices, with locations throughout the U.S., “picking the right plant for the area is paramount.
Make sure the water in containers or beds can readily drain, as most plants will not thrive in
wet soils. Also look at self-watering containers that need less care and have no holes in the
container to create a mess or wetness on surrounding hard surfaces.”
He continues, “The key to planning for a successful landscape is researching and match-
ing the plant material to your growing conditions. When it comes to selecting plant mate-
rial, resist the urge to visit a nursery center and buy plants that may look beautiful, yet may
be incorrect for your growing conditions. You will be disappointed. Choose plants that will
thrive in the light, wind, and soil conditions you actually have. Pay attention to improv-
ing the soil by incorporating compost. Once planted, monitor and apply only the needed
amount of water to get the most out of your plants and design.”
Keep the Dirt Clean
A Little Work
Refreshing Multifamily
Common Areas
BY A. J. SIDRANSKY
One of the enduring facts of home
ownership is that maintaining your
abode is never really done. There’s always
something that needs to be upgraded or
updated. That is doubly true in multi-
family communities. Whether you’re in
an urban high-rise or a suburban town-
home development, there are common
areas ranging from lobbies to hallways
to clubhouses that need some TLC on a
regular basis in order to remain attrac-
tive, functional, and safe.
What Needs to Be Done?
While upgrading and updating com-
mon areas can certainly be a major un-
dertaking involving permits, big equip-
ment, and weeks of dust and disruption,
that need not always be the case, says
Daniel Skolski, an interior designer and
principal of DMS Design, located in Pea-
body, Massachusetts. “The difference be-
tween an upgrade and a major project is
that [an upgrade] doesn’t require a build-
ing permit,” he says. If you’re not moving
doors, or walls, or sprinkler heads, or
fire alarm stations, it’s not a major reno-
vation. Painting, new wall or floor cover-
ings, replacing ceiling tiles without fire
rating—that’s a refresh, not a redo. Re-
freshes or upgrades happen once every
10 to 12 years, and bigger renovations,
maybe every 15 to 25 years.
“The first and most important com-
ponent in refreshing or upgrading com-
mon areas,” Skolski continues, “is to
meet with the residents and establish
design goals. What is the intent? What
does ‘update’ mean to them? Are they
in it for a new look? To address a func-
tional problem? You need to know and
understand their goals. Then we look
at the space and understand how it fun-
Ever since the end of World War II—and
the widespread prosperity that brought about
a historic baby boom, a healthy middle class,
and suburban sprawl—a vibrant, manicured
lawn has been synonymous with the Ameri-
can domestic ideal. Even for the many multi-
family communities built in that postwar era,
whether in the heart of the city or in the com-
muter hinterlands, nothing says “welcome
home” quite like a swathe of healthy grass
(with or without a literal white picket fence).
From the Robert Moses ‘Towers in the Park’
concept to the abundant golf course commu-
nities throughout the U.S., developers have
banked on the appeal of proximity to grass to
market their units.
A couple of generations later, an expanse
of green is still a major selling point for all
types of housing. But the type of turf and
where it is installed has changed over the
years. Climate, culture, and—yes—COVID
have changed what it means to have a ‘green’
community.
Grass Roots
While the options for everything from
type of grass to soil composition to irrigation
techniques will vary from one location to an-
other (and sometimes even within the same
community), one message remains constant
from those in the know: involving a compe-
tent professional is key. Landscapers and hor-
ticulturalists can advise on the ins and outs of
seeds, weeds, and feeds, as well as determine
the best time, frequency, and amount of wa-
tering, and provide optimal care throughout
the seasons to keep your lawn looking its ver-
dant best.
One of those pros is Nicholas Carnovale,
an account manager with BrightView Land-
scape Services, which provides landscape
design and maintenance to co-ops, condos,
HOAs, and other properties. The company
has locations throughout the U.S., including
New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Con-
necticut, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, Il-
linois, and Nevada. Of the Northeast region
where he is located, Carnovale lists Kentucky
bluegrass, perennial rye, and tall fescue as the
most commonly grown turf grasses. Known
as “cool season” species, these varieties are
hardy enough for the tough winters and
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According to certified landscape designer Maria von Brincken
of Sudbury, Massachusetts, if a resident of a homeowners associa-
tion—a complex of attached townhouses where each unit has a little
plot in front, for example—wants to undertake a project to install
planters or some shrubs on their plot, the first step is to review the
association’s governing documents and check with the board and/
or property manager to make sure the proposed landscaping plan
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