Strange HOA violation - need tips for a low-maintenance evergreen bush

[Anonymous]

We got a letter from our HOA this week telling us that we need to replace the "foundation bushes" in our front garden area. We haven't done anything to this area beyond maintenance since moving in in 2005 - we have a cherry blossom tree and some vinka that covers the flower bed nicely. I called them to find out what was going on, they said that they never gave us permission to remove the "foundation bushes" and that we need to plant some sort of evergreen bushes the full length of our garden.

I mean fine, whatever, we'll go buy some bushes, but there have *never* been bushes there. Not in the 6 years we've lived here. Most neighbors don't have them either.

So . . . given that we are NOT into gardening and have no intention of doing anything beyond weeding, anyone have any advice on some fuss-free evergreen bushes? We'll weed, prune, and water, but that's it.

[Anonymous]

I recommend Inkberry. They are native, they have nice white flowers that attract butterflies, they get blue berries that attract songbirds, and they are easy to grow into a hedge (if that's what you want) or can be left as separate ball shrubs.

http://www.abnativeplants.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantdetail&plant_id=39

[Anonymous]

I'd fight that. If there have never been bushes there, and this is the first time in 6 years that they have said something about it, hell no. How many other houses in your neighborhood have these "foundation bushes"?

[Anonymous]

How sunny is the area? How tall and wide do you want the bushes to get? If you find a good match for the site, you will save yourself a lot of hassle. Whatever you buy, look at what the mature size is so that you won't have to prune them to keep them from getting too tall and hiding your windows, etc. I love azaleas and rododenrons, but they are not drought-resistant. You could see if Otto Luyken cherry laurels or a short variety of holly would be a good fit for you. Yews are pretty common foundation evergreens, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd fight that. If there have never been bushes there, and this is the first time in 6 years that they have said something about it, hell no. How many other houses in your neighborhood have these "foundation bushes"?

Agree wholeheartedly! These HOAs can be nothing short of a nightmare. What do your HOA bylaws say about this area? And ask your neighbors without these bushes if they, too, received a notice. Maybe you're being singled out?

[Anonymous]

Just go to HD or Lowes and get the cheapest ones you can find to please them if you don't care and put them in and be done with it. They don't have to be pretty.

[Anonymous]

I like laurel. If you need them to stay relatively low, go with the Otto Luyken Laurel. If you need to the grow taller, go with the Sweet Laurel. Both have a pretty white flower in the spring and nice dark green leaves year-round. They're easy to maintain in shade and sun.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions! I don't think we are being singled out - just over criticized because we had an "actual" violation. Apparently there is a spot of rust on our front door. It is there, about the size of a half-dollar coin. We need to sand it down and repaint. I think that is what caught their attention, and then they went all crazy on us with other minor concerns.

I've no problem repainting our door. It does need to be done. The garden stuff was just nonsense. I looked around at the other houses, and about half of them have hedges growing in front of their houses. Another 25% have these crazy elaborate gardens with all sorts of exotic flowers. The other 25% are pretty sad, with dead grass or empty dirt beds.

Apparently whoever did the inspections this year categorized a vinka ground covering as about as desirable as dead grass or empty dirt beds.

[Anonymous]

Well, OP, even if it is a legit violation, I would not be willing to comply unless they can prove they are forcing everyone else to comply. You can't be penalized just because you had a rust spot on your door!