Strategic Landscaping Success at Memorial Drive Townhomes in Houston: A Case Study

As an HOA board member or property manager, you know that keeping a community’s landscape looking its best can feel like a never-ending battle.

The responsibility of ensuring that the community’s landscape remains attractive and well-kept year-round is no small feat. A well-maintained property not only enhances curb appeal but also fosters a sense of pride and satisfaction among residents. 

In the forested property on Memorial Drive in Houston, TX, Memorial Drive Townhomes, residents wanted their community to stand out for its natural beauty and transform into a place they cannot wait to come home to. 

Let’s explore the partnership between Memorial Drive Townhomes and our team here at Monarch, highlighting the complexities of maintaining such a unique and beautiful community and the innovative solutions implemented to overcome them.

The Memorial Drive Townhome HOA Community

Nestled in an area abundant with trees, the Memorial Drive Townhome community stands out in Houston for its natural beauty and active involvement from both its board and residents. Known for its lush surroundings, managing the landscape here is no small feat, especially during the fall and post-storm periods when leaf debris can be particularly challenging. 

At Memorial Drive Townhomes, we at Monarch Landscape Management provide a comprehensive range of services designed to meet the unique needs of the community. These include 42 regular maintenance visits annually, ensuring the landscape is consistently cared for and any issues are promptly addressed. In addition to this, our team conducts 10 winter clean-ups, essential for maintaining the aesthetic appeal and safety of the community during the colder months. 

The Memorial Drive Townhome HOA community is characterized by its highly engaged board and residents, who are deeply invested in the upkeep and enhancement of their environment. This level of involvement ensures that the landscape management services are closely aligned with the community’s needs and preferences.

Landscaping Challenges at Memorial Drive Townhomes HOA in Houston

Maintaining the lush environment at Memorial Drive Townhomes comes with its own set of unique challenges. The heavily forested surroundings, while beautiful, demand diligent and adaptive landscape management to address seasonal and unexpected issues effectively.

Changes to the Scope of Work

One of the main challenges that our experts tackled while partnered with Memorial Drive Townhomes was adjusting the required scope of work. One significant problem that necessitated this change was the loss of an in-house employee who assisted with landscape duties. This loss underscored the need for a more comprehensive and professional approach to managing the community’s landscape. 

Additionally, after the first year of service, it became evident that maintaining the expected level of cleanliness and managing leaf debris during the fall and winter months was unrealistic under the initial scope of work.

Communication Challenges

Before engaging with our team at Monarch, communication was a major pain point for Memorial Drive Townhomes as well. The community needed a reliable partner who could provide consistent updates and maintain an open line of communication.

Insufficient Irrigation Operating Systems

Another significant challenge arose with the community’s irrigation system, especially during last year’s drought. The bi-monthly inspections were insufficient to address the increased irrigation needs during the hot summer months. The community’s old irrigation controllers were frequently malfunctioning, leading to the need for controller replacement. 

Freezing temperatures had also caused repeated issues with the backflow devices, with nine replacements required over the previous two years of service.

Effective Landscaping Solutions at Memorial Drive HOA

Improving Memorial Drive Townhomes' picturesque environment required innovative and adaptive landscaping solutions. We have implemented several key strategies to address the unique complexities that were presented to the team when taking over landscape management.

Adjusting the Scope of Work

To meet the standards of care desired by the residents at Memorial Drive Townhomes, our account managers recognized the need to adjust the scope of work. Initially, we introduced an onsite gardener who is present all day from Monday to Thursday, 52 weeks a year. This change ensures continuous attention to detail with the landscape and allows for immediate response to any concerns. 

During the first renewal season, our management recommended adding 10 winter clean-ups to the maintenance plan. This adjustment guarantees that a crew is onsite weekly throughout the year, particularly focusing on heavy leaf debris management during the winter months. These proactive measures ensure that the community’s landscape remains clean, attractive, and well-maintained, regardless of seasonal challenges.

Planning for Landscaping Success: A Focus on Clear Communication

Effective communication is crucial for a community as engaged and involved as Memorial Drive Townhomes HOA. Understanding this, we implemented a comprehensive communication strategy to keep the board and residents well-informed and satisfied with their landscape services.

The presence of an onsite gardener plays a pivotal role in this communication strategy. The gardener is able to promptly address any immediate concerns and forward photos of completed tasks to both the production manager and account manager. This real-time reporting ensures that any issues are quickly identified and resolved. Clear expectations set by the board help to guide our team in delivering the desired outcomes, fostering a collaborative relationship. 

The dedicated account manager for Memorial Drive Townhomes provides weekly updates to the board and our team engages in multiple conversations with board members throughout the week. This frequent and transparent communication ensures that all stakeholders are on the same page and that the community’s landscape needs are consistently met.

Upgrading Irrigation Systems

One of the significant challenges faced by Memorial Drive was the maintenance and efficiency of its irrigation system, especially highlighted by last year’s drought. Our team adjusted the irrigation inspection schedule to include monthly inspections June to August, ensuring optimal system performance during critical periods.

The poorly performing irrigation controllers resulted in the need to replace three of the controllers in a single year. Our certified irrigation technicians recommended switching to the Weathermatic smart watering management platform, which provided both better ROI and enhanced water usage efficiency. This advanced system allows for precise control and monitoring, significantly improving the landscape’s health and sustainability. 

To prevent future costly backflow issues, we also installed isolation valves on the backflow devices, ensuring reliable operation throughout the year and protecting the system from damage.

Partnering with a Commercial Landscaping Company in Houston, TX You Can Trust

The Memorial Drive Townhome HOA community, with its lush, forested surroundings and highly engaged residents, stands as a testament to the power of active involvement and commitment to beautification. 

Our team at Monarch Landscape Management has successfully partnered with this community, addressing its unique landscaping challenges through tailored solutions and continuous improvement. This comprehensive approach to landscape management, from adjusting the scope of work to include an onsite gardener, to implementing a clear and consistent communication strategy, ensures that the landscape remains pristine and well-maintained throughout the year. 

By fostering strong relationships with residents and board members and maintaining a steadfast commitment to excellence, we at Monarch believe we not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of communities but also contribute to their overall well-being and satisfaction. Choosing our team at Monarch means selecting a partner who truly understands the intricacies of HOA landscape management and is dedicated to delivering outstanding results. 

Ready to transform your HOA community’s landscape? Get started by filling out our contact form today.