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10 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2019 For all our residents, but especially those in the newest neighborhoods at Four Seasons, the Pass Area can present some unique landscaping challenges. I sat down with Fred Weck to pick his brain and gain insight into what new homeowners in Four Seasons need to know about our micro- climate. Fred was on the Landscape Committee for five years and served as Chairperson for two years. He organized, developed, and executed the re-landscaping of the Springdales in 2012. When he was Director of Facilities Management at the University of Redlands he oversaw the re-landscaping of the campus which subsequently won awards for landscaping beauty. Sources of information for landscaping: • The "Community Plant Guide" on our website at fourseasonsbeaumont.org. On the bar on top of the home page, choose the HOA pull-down menu and you'll see it listed • The New Sunset Western Garden Book. We are in the book's climate zone 18 Local nurseries: • Cherry Valley Nursery, 37955 Cherry Valley Blvd., Cherry Valley, Phone: (951) 845-7045 • Beaumont Garden Center, 1440 E. 6th St., Beaumont, (951) 845-1013 • Brookside Greenhouse, 38590 Brookside, Beaumont, (951) 769-2030 So, what should you consider prior to doing any planting? If you are intending to make changes to existing landscaping or add new plantings, especially trees, please refer to the Architectural Review Committee Guidelines, which can also be found on our website. • Where on your property do you want to place the plants? The north side of a dwelling is typically cooler and doesn't get as much sun as the south or west sides. The south and west sides get more sun but may also require more irrigation for the plants than those on the north side. Plants on the east side usually receive cooler morning sun and afternoon shade. • Plants in containers under a patio cover will not receive as much sun as plants in the yard, but any sun shining on the container may make it warm and require additional water for the plant. • Consider the water requirements of any trees or vegetation you plan on planting. Are they drought-tolerant or do they require a lot of water? • How resistant to cold/frost are the plants you are thinking of? The Sunset Western Garden Book states that our Zone 18 can have "average lows of 40°F to 34°F. Over a 20-year period our winter lows bottomed at 17°F. • How resistant to summer heat are the plants you are considering? Some plants that can't take summer heat can do fine if they get some afternoon shade from a wall. Remember that nurseries typically sell plants that bloom once a year, during their blooming season, so ask the nursery person or check the Sunset Western Garden Book to determine the length of the blooming season. Be careful when planting trees. Check on the height of the tree at maturity and also check on how wide the tree canopy will get. The roots of some trees will damage adjacent patio slabs and sidewalks if planted too close to them. Crepe Myrtle trees do not bother adjacent patio slabs or sidewalks which is why many cities allow them to be planted in neighborhood parkways between the curb and the sidewalk. Whatever you are planting, consider how much maintenance is required to keep your plants healthy and attractive. Flowering plants, such as Day Lilies and Agapanthus, often require periodic "dead-heading" of spent blooms. Society Garlic requires maintenance around the base of the plant a few times a year. Roses require pruning annually in January to promote growth of more blooms and require spraying for fungus, aphids, etc. Concerning groundcovers: There are many groundcovers in Four Seasons that look good the first year or two and then either build up a thick, matted appearance, get woody and unattractive, or simply die from the first frost. Myoporum Parvifolium (Creeping Myoporum) and Gazania are two classic cases in point. They look good initially but often require removal and another choice to be made. Rather than groundcover for open planter area, consider the use of garden mulch over a landscape fabric (used to control weeds). Attractive or interesting garden rocks can help add interest, especially where you also have shrubs and/or flowering plants. You may want to consider the prostrate Star Jasmine which has fragrant flowers in May/June and does well here in Four Seasons. Concerning hedges: Many shrubs can, after a few short years, provide a suitable hedge if kept trimmed. Photinia Fraseri is a good example. These hedges can be found near our main gate. This plant is easy to trim into a suitable hedge and in the autumn the outer leaves turn an attractive red color. Concerning irrigation for shrubs and flowers: Consider installing a drip irrigation system as it minimizes the loss of water and puts the water where it will do the most good, at the base of the plant. We hope this information has been helpful to you, and we want to welcome you to our beautiful community. ~ Fred Weck and Sharon Bond Flowering trees in bloom in Four Seasons Spring Planting in Four Seasons

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