Trophy Ridge Newsletter
June 2014
Water Conservation Tips
With summer temps right around the corner, and the threat of further drought and mandatory water restrictions, it's a good time to be mindful of water use around your home.
Conservation Tips
- Check household faucets for leaks. A faucet with even a slow drip takes 10 to 25 gallons of water. Just think, 15 drips per minute add up to almost 3 gallons of water wasted per day, 65 gallons wasted per month, and 788 gallons wasted per year!
- Keep showers to 5 minutes or less in length. A five-minute shower takes 10 to 25 gallons of water.
- Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. Then you won’t have to run tap water to cool it.
- Use a broom to sweep your driveway, garage, or sidewalk instead of using water.
- Use a bucket of water to wash your bike or the family car and rinse quickly with a hose.
- Water your lawn in the evening or in the early morning to avoid evaporation. Be careful to water only the lawn and not the sidewalk or street.
- Use water only when you need it. Don’t leave water running; be sure to turn it off when you are finished.
Fun Facts
- Without water, the earth would look like the moon.
- All living things need water to live. People can live several weeks without food, but only a few days without water. We should drink six to eight glasses of water each day!
- Water makes up 83% of our blood, 70% of our brain, and 90% of our lungs. Overall, our bodies are 70% water.
- A tomato is about 95% water. An apple, a pineapple, and an ear of corn are each 80% water.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
FROM THE BOARD
Please remember to keep weeds down by cutting grass regularly. And, remember that trash and recycling bins are to be put out at the curb no earlier than the night before pickup, and returned and hidden from view after collection. Cans should not be visible from the street.
FROM THE LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE
The Trophy Ridge entrance island (installed in February) is now coming into full bloom and will continue to look better as the plants grow and mature. It gives a welcoming feel as we drive into our community and adds value to the neighborhood. Additionally, did you know that this Texas native (and adapted) landscape also helps protect our native bees? Currently the nation's bee population is in serious decline. This is important because bees pollinate 1/3 of our food crops. Growing native plants and flowers, without the use chemical pesticides and herbicides as we have done in our new entry is critical to bee survival. If you are interested in learning more about the bee crisis and what you can do to help in your own yards, click on the following link:
Tree Care: Take a lesson from Nature
When I tell people where I live, quite frequently the response is, "Oh, I love that neighborhood. I love all the trees!" Our trees make Trophy Ridge an inviting place to live and add value to our homes. For additional benefits of trees see the link below:
http://urbantimes.co/2014/04/celebrating-urban-forests/
It is important to care for our trees correctly or they will not grow to their potential. I just had two mature trees die because the base of the trees had been covered up by dirt during construction. Quite often, symptoms of decline will take years to appear -- as in my trees to the left.
Take a lesson from nature. What does it look like when a child draws a picture of a tree? There is usually a flare at the base--where the trunk widens into the roots. A tree growing in nature always looks like this. Trees are not supposed to look like telephone poles going straight into the ground. If you do have a tree that looks like a telephone pole most likely it was planted too deep, was covered up during construction or has been mulched improperly. All dirt and mulch should be removed from the base of the tree until you can see a distinct flare at the bottom. Watch for any circling roots that will eventually restrict the growth of the trunk. These need to be removed. Mulch should be kept at least 4" or more away from the trunk. Please see the following link on proper mulching. It has good illustrations and explains why improper mulching is harmful as well as its benefits.
http://www.student.nvcc.edu/home/preddic/LawnGarden09/mulch.html
The two trees in the picture on the left below were planted at the same time. Because the small tree was planted too deep, vital gas exchange was compromised and its circling roots went undetected. The tree did not grow properly and has since been removed. The homeowner said it looked fine for the first few years. The picture below on the right shows the girdling roots that eventually strangled the tree.
Other practices that compromise trees are improper pruning and staking. Trees need their leaves to cool themselves and to make their food. They can be severely compromised by improper pruning cuts and overpruning. Stake only if necessary and remove the stakes within the first year of planting. See www.sanantonio.gov/dsd/pdf/ProperPruningTreeCare.pdf for more detailed information. Visit treesaregood.org or go to growgreen.org to watch short, instructional videos on mulching, pruning, tree planting etc. You can also email me, Lisa Stevenson, at natureslandscape1@gmail.com or consult a professional arborist. I recommend Etter Tree Care- ettertreecare.com, 654-8733 or Bartlett Tree Experts 273-8465.
I know there are many homeowners that would like to improve their landscape but don’t know where to start. I will continue to send out helpful information and you can email me if you have specific questions. Thank you for helping make Trophy Ridge a beautiful place to live.
Did you know?
http://www.mutualofomahabank.com/community-associations/make-a-payment
Click one of the options for "Pay by eCheck" or "Pay by Credit Card" and you will be directed to a second page, where you can sign in and set your payment preferences.
Please Pick Up After Your Pet!
It doesn't take much to remember that we have pets in our community. In fact, if you don't watch your step, you're liable to step in one such reminder! Besides being unsightly and smelly, animal waste can be hazardous to the health of children who play in the community, and other pets. One of the most common forms of disease transmission between dogs is through fecal matter.
When walking your dog in our community, remember that it should be leashed. Also, it is important to remember to immediately clean up after your pet. Take along a baggie with you to pick up waste with and then dispose of it properly. By taking a few simple steps to clean up after your pet, you can contribute not only to the beautification of our community, but also towards the elimination of one of the most irritating nuisances in our community.
Thank you for your cooperation!
MANAGEMENT CONTACT INFO
Marisela DL Delgado - Marisela@ams-sa.com
Administrative Assistant:
Naomi - Naomi@ams-sa.com
Reservations:
Cindy - Cindy@ams-sa.com
Website: www.trohpyridge.org
Location: 600 NE Loop 410, Suite 202, San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 829-8202