Landscape Update: Irrigation Projects Add to Full Fall Workload
Fall is a busy season for the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) landscape crews, as many tasks must be tackled during this time of year.
Mowing, along with planter bed and trail maintenance, are routine. But now, leaf removal, pruning, tree work, planting, bark and more add to the list. Planning, help from trusted contractors and lots of hard work make everything happen.
This fall, some of our major projects include upgrading Village Green Park irrigation, adding new plants and installing concrete pads for the benches. Summit Park will see irrigation upgrades, plus plant additions and changes.
IHCA crews will also complete full replacements of street trees that may have been removed in the last year or two.
Finally, we will be adding gravel to most of the trails and roadways throughout the community. You may notice “trail closed” signs while the work is being done. This is all to protect you and the people doing the work so we all can be safe.
Irrigation
Right now, the IHCA irrigation staff is trying to keep up with the day-to-day task of troubleshooting and repairs. In a few weeks, once it cools down a bit, I hope the crews can start working on system upgrades and changes.
Several planned projects will focus on upgrades to pumps, controllers and piping. Crews will also work to locate deadline and valve issues to see if they can be fixed.
Additionally, the street trees are pretty and provide shade. However, they cause problems with our irrigation. We are trying to address those challenges and work on the repairs.
Maintenance Update: Summer Projects End, Winter Prep Ahead
BOO!!!! ‘Tis the time of year when we start to get out the fall gear and prepare for the cooler weather. Let’s look back at the projects our maintenance team has completed — making our community feel a little nicer than others — and look ahead to our plans for the upcoming season.
By the end of summer, we finished all painting projects for this year, thanks to the nice weather.
As you walk around the neighborhood, you may notice a sparkle. Yes, we have been painting our pathway lights. This project is ultimately transforming the paint from worn to refreshed.
Fencing is another task that our maintenance team has been tackling. During this time of year, I recommend walking your own property and making sure all wood items are still in good condition and are free of rot.
Our team also tackled hillside mowing with the Remote Control Traxx Mower, which is a fun piece of equipment to see around the community as technology integrates with our everyday lives. The mower not only saves time and money, but it also provides safety for our crew because it can manage most of the steep slopes around Issaquah Highlands.
Looking forward to the upcoming season, we’re already preparing for winter. As a community, now is the time to make orders on ice removal and look at equipment to ensure it’s in good working condition. When the snow does finally come, we need to be ready. Have a great fall, and let’s finish this year strong!
Lyle Dickey is the IHCA Landscape Manager and Matthew Hendrikse is the ICHA Maintenance Manager.
