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12 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | JUNE 2019 | In May, EMWD announced their "Ditch Your Grass. Claim Your Rebate" program. The program may rebate $2 per square foot for grass removal in your yard and replacement with water wise landscaping. Approval of a rebate is on a first come, first served basis and is subject to EMWD funding availability. Program details are available at bewaterwise.com. Four Seasons Architectural Standards and Regulations allow for water wise yards, but any changes to front yard landscaping is required to be reviewed and approved by the Architectural Review Committee. Four Seasons standards require a minimum of 60 percent of the yard area to be green, either with approved living plant material, or approved artificial turf. The Standards and Regulations outline the requirements for plant material and for artificial turf. Irrigation can be modified to a drip system for some landscape designs. The goal is to reduce water use and waste, while maintaining an attractive yard in keeping with established Four Seasons community landscape appearance. "Desert landscaping" including cactus and predominate use of succulents is not permitted. Fence enclosed rear yards are not subject to these standards. Please check with EMWD if you are interested in this program. They have a number of requirements, and may include photos of your existing landscaping before any changes. Architectural Review Committee When we think of landscaping, and the purpose it serves, many things should come to mind. First of all, why do we have trees, shrubs and flowers, etc. in our lives? Our creator gave them to the world to enjoy and for the practical purpose of filtering the air by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and for their cooling effect. Can you imagine an environment void of the beautiful color and beauty that plants provide? I believe it would be extremely sterile with nothing to soften the hard surfaces of structures and streets. These thoughts lead me to consider the importance of landscaping to this community and how much it adds to our lifestyles and property values. This is why the Landscape Committee spends time and resources to maintain the common areas we all enjoy. I hope you find the following tips helpful: As we enter our summer months, plants and trees are going to need additional water. Watering can be tricky considering our alkaline soil and lack of drainage, both enemies of plants. It is better to water deeper and less often, to leach out the salts and adverse chemicals which are so harmful to plant material. When it comes to sprinkler systems, it is better to water early to avoid wind and extreme evaporation. Frequency and running time will vary from area to area, drip systems require longer running times. If you have a lawn, mow to at least two inches high in order to shade the grass crowns and to conserve water. Landscape Committee meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at 1 pm. Four Seasons residents are welcome to attend. ~ Bob Frahm. Landscaping Committee Landscape Committee