A giant shrub trimmed to resemble a stock car? Shutters painted an eye-shattering fuschia? Eight not-so-tiny reindeer blitzing across the roof? Some people's idea of design heaven is almost certainly someone else's idea of aesthetic purg…

With both history and innovation on its side, the trade association known as the Professional Landcare Network, or PLANET, is going strong midway through its fourth decade. Based in Herndon, Virginia with branches across the contiguous U…

By all accounts, the condo/co-op real estate market in New Jersey was more than robust during 2004 and experts are hopeful that the trend will continue in 2005. Whether it's Union County, Morris County or Hudson County, the feeling …

Most people would agree that even the most upscale homeowner association could benefit from some well-tended, well-cared-for green spaces. According to the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA), landscaping adds real, measur…

Decorating an association's grounds isn't an easy job; decisions needed to be made on dozens of design elements, plant species, arrangement, and so forth. Along with shrubs, bushes, and flowers, trees are central component of any landsca…

When people think of "landscaping," most bring to mind images of lush shrubs, trees, and sprinklers watering verdant green lawns. There's more to it than that, however, and in some cases, less-typical landscaping elements can not only se…

Spring is a time to start anew–and to observe the importance of lawns in our daily lives and environment. April is even designated as National Lawn Care Month. There is a lot to do to awaken the landscape from its winter slumber and to p…

It's an inescapable truth: there's no such thing as a prosperous, attractive community with unkempt landscaping. Value and beauty go hand in hand and that premise is true for homeowner associations, too. At the very least, residents want…

For many people, finding a place to call home as they enter their retirement years can be a daunting task to say the least. For many, the ideal arrangement strikes a balance between staying active and vital while scaling back the tasks t…

Anyone who has spent time serving on the board of his or her co-op or condo knows that it is a job that no one can do alone. Even if you have the most conscientious group of board members, the job is too time-consuming for a group of vol…