WaCo Landscape Committee Report for 2024

Irrigation and Planting:

In the spring, the landscape committee made a comprehensive walk-through to list projects that require attention: inadequate irrigation and water issues, areas overrun by weeds, dead trees and branches, Siberian elm suckers, precarious limbs overhanging paths, and weed mitigation in grassy areas around the Common House. We took note that some trees were dead and many stressed due to lack of water. A methodical approach was needed to prevent more trees dying due to drought, stress, and disease.

These challenges were shared with the community and the priority was put on solving the water problem first before any other projects. Some of the issues required professional work and some were handled by landscape members laying new higher capacity irrigation to specific areas to support healthy growth. This took months to do, and it is still a work in progress. Meanwhile our community stepped-up and helped with hand watering the existing trees throughout the community during the hot dry summer.

The extensive water/irrigation repairs weren’t complete until well into fall, therefore most trees and shrubs weren’t planted until then. The milder weather as well as a reliable water source gave all new plantings a better chance of survival.  In 2025, we will continue to work on improving the irrigation and planting native drought resistant foliage. Amount of trees planted:  5+ (west berm, other trees have also been planted by residents)  Amount of bushes/shrubs planted: 8+.   (Thanks to Amy and Chelsea, we paid bargain prices for large healthy plants.)

Removal of dead/dying trees and trimming branches

A little background: In 2022, the safety committee asked a representative from the fire department to visit WaCo and give recommendations for the existing fire pit and fire mitigation. While he was here, he expressed concerns about the dry undergrowth and overhanging dead branches in the wild area because of their close proximity to homes.

In 2023, Andonis Pavlantos of Arbor Concepts gave the landscape committee a complimentary visit to educate us about the species and health of our trees, how to care for stressed trees, and to identify diseased, dead or dying trees. Many of the Siberian elms (invasive specie) have a bacterial infection, slime flux, which disfigures and weakens the branches, killing the tree one limb at a time. He recommended removing the dead and highly diseased trees and dead branches, tree suckers, small Siberian Elms (less than 3’ trunk diameter) and replace them with drought resistant native understory trees in the wild area. He strongly advised removing the suckers and low branches of the mature trees, up to 6ft from the ground; they become ‘fuel ladders’ during a ground fire, burning quickly upward to the canopy. These reports were shared at ACMs and again referenced when committees were reporting their plans/work parties at the ACMs. The landscape committee with the help of the maintenance committee began the task by renting a cherry picker and wood chipper and had the assistance of more than 20 resident volunteers to work in the wild area and west berm. The woody debris was chipped and distributed around the trees, paths, and berms.

Here are some of the 2024 landscaping accomplishments

1. Weeding, reseeding & fertilizing the Common House side lawn: combination of grass and clover seed
2. Scheduling professionals to repair sprinkler and irrigation systems and converting spray to drip on east berm
3. Extending drip irrigation to trees & new plantings in common area between units 13 and 15, upgrading drip in wild area to high capacity to support future plantings, beginning work on repairs to west berm irrigation
4. Clearing the wild area & west berm of standing dead trees, branches, suckers, and dry undergrowth
5. Weeding & planting low ground cover & beautifying area in front of CH
6. Assisting in fundraising at Co-Housing Open House & 25th Anniversary-Pots n Plants
7. Requesting numerous mulch deliveries and spreading it throughout the community for moisture retention and weed mitigation
8. Planting native trees & bushes
9. Planting tulip bulbs & Utah wild flower seeds
10. Purchasing supplies, tools, and irrigation equipment
11. Organizing & maintaining landscape tools/equipment in garage

We are a committee of volunteers, not perfect, but passionate about caring for our patch of nature. We do our research, seek out professional guidance, and collaborate with WaCo residents.  We endeavor to build community while increasing our haven of beautiful healthy trees and foliage as well as keeping children and people safe and mitigating the risk to our WaCo properties. We thank the committee members and many other volunteers who supported the efforts throughout the year—we could not have accomplished all this without you.

Please join us in 2025 as we learn from each other and we grow as good stewards of Wasatch Commons.

2024 Landscape committee:

Facilitator: Kellie

Members and work party volunteers: Amy, Chelsea, Alex, Vicky, Mary, Kay, Robin, Laura, Lila, Cheryl, KJ, Tobi, Coleman, Alfred, Steve, Hannah, Emily, Michael, Scott, Jordan, Joe, Vinnie, Eliza, Jorge (Sorry, if anyone was overlooked.)

“We are committed to the synergy of aesthetic elegance & environmental harmony, in both the ways we live and in how we arrange and care for our physical environment.” Excerpt from WaCo Vision Statement & Core Values