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Summer Groundskeeping

Reminders and requirements pertaining to the maintaining the grounds and individual households' outdoor spaces for the warmer season!
included Topics

*Community requirements


Weekly Lawn Mowing

Scheduled for Tuesdays & Wednesdays (Weather Dependent)

Mowing will be done on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the summer starting on the North end of property. Mowing is scheduled for Tuesdays and Wednesdays yet is weather dependent, in which it may continue later into the week as needed.

Clear Items Prior to Mowing

Community Requirement: Remove all yard items (bikes, toys, tables, etc.) for mowing days, allowing UMN Landcare to mow the full yard and CTC property.

All items in your yard need to be properly stored and of the grass for mowing on Tuesdays/Wednesdays:

Having items left in grass requires CTC lawn care contractors to pick up after you and complete more week whipping which takes longer, ultimately charging more.


Turf Management Chemical Applications

Herbicide-Free Turf Management Program (Green):

MID TO LATE MAY APPLICATION

The Herbicide-Free Turf Management Program will be applied to the green area on the map. This application is a slow release fertilizer (no pre-emergent), in which fertilizer pellets will be visible on the grass and dissolve over time (soil temp dependent) in the upcoming months. Signs will be posted when complete.

Herbicide Turf Management Program (Blue):

COMPLETED THROUGHOUT SUMMER

A pre-emergent and post-emergent application will be applied to the blue areas on the map starting soon and throughout the summer. Signs will be applied during this application indicating to stay off the area 'until dry'. The signs will be in place for 48 hours. Please be aware of these signs and inform your children to not remove the signs, as they cost money to replace and can be reused.


Grass Seed Blankets

UMN Landcare will begin applying starter fertilizer for restoration from snow damage, which will be ongoing throughout the season. Most areas of application will be covered with seed blankets as indicator. Do not walk or store/place anything on the seed blankets, and please be cautious and considerate of the young grass, only using sidewalks to allow the application to nourish a lush, beautiful lawn!
The starter fertilizer contains different formulations to provide grass with an ideal blend of plant nutrients to encourage root growth of young seedlings.

Apartment Garden Bed/Outdoor Planter Policy

Specific to all units, review CTC's planting policy, implemented in 2020 by our Operations Committee to accommodate growing veggies + herbs outside of your apartment.


Continuously Keep Outdoor Spaces Tidy

RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL UNITS + ALL YEAR

Eliminating all yard and outdoor clutter is an on-going requirement for all residents to fulfill year-round, per CTC's Clutter + Debris Policy. In which case, Yard Inspections and Item "Tagging" can occur at any time throughout the season without notice; thus, continuously keep yard spaces neat and tidy to avoid incurring violation fees.


Yard Inspections

Community Requirement

May 1, 2023 - October 15, 2023

Yard inspections will start the week following the bi-annual clean-up. The inspection will check to ensure all residents are keeping their household yard/garden beds neat and weed-free. Maintaining clean and clear yards/gardens is on-going requirement to fulfill throughout growing season, typically April to October.

Please follow the guidelines below to ensure you do not receive a yard fee (of the Clutter and Debris Responsibility) during the inspection, which can apply to each infraction (such a fee per each unmaintained garden bed of your unit).

Check front and back door for notification, provided after your yard inspection if your there was something found needing correction.

1. Remove all weeds from your front and back gardens

All 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom units must keep their gardens maintained in a neat and weed free manner. This also applies to one-bedroom units, which share the responsibility with the building. 

2. Collect weeds in preparation for disposal

3. Drop weeds into the compost bins located at the community garden sites

CTC Compost Bin Reminder:

Our co-op’s compost bins are closed until further notice. During this time, the bins are only accepting plant debris/trimmings (grass, garden weeds, leaves, small twigs). 

Please do not discard anything other than plant trimmings into the bins while closed (especially NO household food scraps!). Visit umnctc.org/compost for full details and updates. 

4. Clear and organize the remainder of your yard

In addition to removing and properly disposing all the weeds in your gardens, complete the following to ensure you fully pass the inspection:


Claim "Tagged" Items 

Tagging for "Claim Day" 

Write Name and Address on TagsHistorically in the late summer or fall, there will be a "Claim Day" throughout the co-op grounds as a way for CTC to determine which outdoor items belong to individuals that no longer live at CTC/or are no longer desired by current CTC residents. CTC Maintenance will tag personal belongings in public spaces with a tie tag. Items that will be tagged include bikes, grills and toys near or on bike racks around one bedroom buildings and near the Phase IV buildings. No items directly behind two bedroom splits or phase IV will be tagged. 

If anything you own has a tag on it, go write your name and address on the tag and leave the tag on until the provided deadline (announced with event). If no tag is placed on any of your possessions at all within the claiming period, then your object is safe and will not be removed.

Year-Round

While there is a "Claim Day" event, typically in the Fall, items can be tagged at any time throughout the year calling for the owner's action.