By Louise Caudle, Chair

 

We are happy to report the Landscape Committee completed two of its 2026 goals in September. After numerous delays, the new drip irrigation system around the trees and shrubs at the pavilion, lap pool and pickleball court and the new community marker at the Fenwick Parkway entrance were installed.

 

We owe another sincere thank you to the neighbors led by Joanne Adney who watered all those plants around the amenities to keep them alive during the severe heat and drought of the summer. In addition, we again thank Debbie Bell for leading a frustrating 10-month effort with the vendor and the city of Durham to get the marker installed.

 

Debbie and Kathleen Cirillo now are in the process of developing a plan and getting estimates for landscaping around the new marker. We hope to complete the landscaping this fall, which are the best months for planting in North Carolina.

 

As you know, we still are in a severe drought, and Boyco is doing its best to keep our lawns neatly trimmed while not damaging the stressed turf. If you have lawn ornaments, solar lights, bird feeders or stakes for trees in the grass, we ask that you please move these to mulched areas. The stakes that some neighbors are using to straighten trees may be placed right at the edge of the mulch bed, but please make it easier for the landscapers to do their job by not positioning stakes in the grass.

 

Boyco aerated our grass in 2025 on Nov. 6 and plans to do so again around the same time this year. As has been mentioned previously, homeowners will be responsible for having the repair made for any utility lines or drip irrigation lines that are not buried deep enough to prevent the aerator machine from cutting them. If a Boyco employee is aware a line has been damaged, he informs the crew leader, who notifies Boyco management, who calls me. However, please be aware the crew members are not always aware of the damage.

 

Crape myrtle bark scale insects have made their way to the landscaping in the new section of our neighborhood. As a reminder, bark scale insects turn beautiful crape myrtles into unsightly, sick-looking trees. The crape myrtles in front of several homes on Kingman Road are infested. Some crape myrtles in the original section of the neighborhood continue to have bark scale, with others only recently showing signs of scale insects.

 

An early indication a tree has scale are white specks on the bark. The insects resemble grains of rice and frequently are found attached to the bark and sometimes leaves of trees.

 

As the pests feed on the sap of the tree, they produce a sticky waste product that covers the tree and eventually turns the tree black. This black soot is a sign the scale infestation has advanced.

 

It is not too late in the year to start the process of eliminating the scale insects, although an infected tree probably will require another dose of the treatment in the spring. We recommend using a former Bayer product called BioAdvanced Tree & Shrub Protect and Feed. The active ingredient in this product also is used to control grubs, cockroaches, termites and mosquitoes. To use for bark scale, follow the directions on the label by mixing the product with water and pouring it into the soil near the roots of the tree, which allows the insecticide to be absorbed by the roots and move up into the tree to kill the insects.

 

Lastly, the walking trails through the meadow and around the pond at the front of the neighborhood near the Cherob Lane entrance marker will be mowed in the coming weeks. These are wonderful paths for exploring nature and strolling on a beautiful fall or winter day, so we encourage you to use these after they are mowed.

 

As a reminder, all landscaping issues and concerns should be addressed to hoa@wmdouglas.com.

 

Special thanks to the dedicated, hardworking volunteers who serve on the Landscape Committee with me:  Debbie Bell, Kathleen Cirillo, MaryKay Doane, Leigh Garmhausen and Bob Williams.