14 | SUNRAYS MARCH 2014
ONLINE:
SCTXCA.ORG
Landscaped Maintained Homes
By Catrin Dubois, Landscape Superintendent
Water Matters
Submitted by Carlton M Mathis, Water Management
Colder, wetter weather continued to
be the forecast for February and into
March. I hope that all irrigation sys-
tems were turned to the off position
to maximize water savings. Current
watering restrictions from the city al-
low you to water up to two (2) days
per week based on your address. Exact
guidelines can be found at their website:
georgetown.org.
STAYING INFORMED
There were several yards throughout Sun City Texas that
had been converted to ice gardens because the controllers
had not been adjusted. This situation could have been eas-
ily avoided if the controller had been turned off prior to the
arrival of the cold front. By staying informed on current
weather conditions and approaching frontal boundaries,
thousands of gallons of water can be saved.
WATER SAVING TIPS
• Monitor your water bill for unusually high usage.
Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you
discover leaks.
• Consider calling a professional service to evaluate
your irrigation system, to set an appropriate watering
schedule, and identify problem areas or overwatered
zones (i.e. between houses).
• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and
not the house, driveway, or street.
• Help your neighbors by keeping an eye out for broken
heads, lines, or overwatering.
ELECTION SIGNS
Please remember that election signs in your yard for the March
primary must be removed no later than seven (7) days after
the election.
TREE REMOVAL
If you are replacing a dead tree with a tree from the list in
Appendix E in the Design Guidelines and you plant within
two feet of the removed tree, you won’t need a permit as long
as you plant the tree at least 20 feet from any other tree and
10 feet from the property line. If you are not replacing the tree
you want to remove, or are not fulfilling all the criteria listed
in item 47 on the No Paperwork List and Section 4.3.18 of the
Design Guidelines, a B-1 Form needs to be filled out to explain
why the tree should be removed, as well as the size and kind of
tree. In addition to the application, we will need a plot plan with
an “X” marking the location of the tree that will be removed,
as well as a picture of the tree to be removed. If it is a native
tree from Appendix E, a statement from an arborist saying
the tree is dead, diseased, or causing some kind of safety issue
will also be required. Of course, all this presumes that the tree
is larger than 19 inches in circumference at 12 inches above
Developer grade; otherwise it is also a no paperwork item. For
questions, call or visit our office.
Ginny Wagner can be reached at
512-948-7462 or email
Bits of Info from Ginny’s Desk
Submitted by Ginny Wagner,
Community Standards Supervisor
CA NEWS
March is a busy month for important landscaping! Here’s
what we have planned:
• Spring fertilizer and pre-emergent need water in order
to level out the soil, so we will set irrigation cycles to one
day a week.
• Expect your tree canopies to be lifted using best arbor care
pruning practices.
• As always, you will see the team freshen up mulched beds.
Our contract calls for two (2) inches of mulch, which means
that some areas will receive new mulch; however, where
we already have two inches of mulch, the crew may only
“turn” the existing mulch.
LMH COMMITTEE OPENING
There is an opening on the LMH Committee, which means
you have the opportunity to donate your time and talent and
be part of this important team. If you have expertise in land-
scaping, finances, or water conservation, or if you are a great
communicator, you could be the missing link! If you are inter-
ested in serving the LMH community, please contact Catrin
Dubois at
or 512-948-7791, and she
will walk you through the application process.
Water Matters Town Hall
Friday, March 28, 10 a.m., SCB, FREE!
Submitted by Carlton M Mathis,
Sun City Texas Water Management
Drought conditions continue to worsen across the state with no
relief in sight. Please join us on Friday, March 28 from 10 a.m.
to noon in the Social Center Ballroom, where we will address
these concerns on a local and state level. Carole Baker, aka
the “Queen of Texas Water Conservation,” has been invited to
speak, in addition to City of Georgetown representatives. There
will also be discussion of water conservation tools by product
specialists, as well as resident testimonials. We hope to see
you there—and remember, there are a number of ways to save
water and help the environment, but they all start with you!
