Landscaping Issues, Planters

We are single family, standalone patio homes and the HOA does all outside landscaping and maintainance.

We are starting to get a plethora of planters (big clay type pots) people are setting against the sides of their garage fronts, along walkways, along driveways, etc. We have not had any formal complaints but we have had some verabal complaints like one house is starting to look like a jungle out front. We are trying to be prepared as I know our Chief Complaining Officer (CCO) is getting ready to write a letter thus making it formal.

Each home has a small front porch where many have planters, hanging plants, seating, etc. The front porches are not the issue.

Also each home has a smallish backyard (20x30ft, or less) that is surrounded by a 6ft privacy fence. The HOA does not maintain the backyards and one pretty much can do as they please in the backyard like garden, dry clothes, etc. so one does have some freedom here.

My thinking is allow planter pots on the front sides of the garage door (single garages), on front porches (as now allowed) only.

Suggestions please.

Thanks

Are they in fact against the current CC&R's? If they are the BOD doesn't need a formal complaint to start to deal with the issue. If they are being placed on Common Elements then the Board should start to enforce the violation, however you should be willing to work with the H/O's, maybe allow them until the current growing season is over. You should also be proactive in a newsletter stating where such things are allowed.

Covenants are very clear no one can "plant" anything in the ground without approval and we have not had any issues on that, but nothing in the docs about planters.

Then maybe it's time there were. Since no one can "plant" is there language about yard decorations? i.e. Pink Flamingos, mirror balls or any of the other tacky crap (purely a subjective view point I realize, some people have to like them or they wouldn't exist) people stick in their yard.

My HOA had no rules regarding yard, landscaping, or planters. My wife started a small raised garden and had numerous pots on our porch and driveway. The HOA felt that was considered "rubbish."

I guess it is all subjective. They lacked authority in the absence of one rule so they interpretted another rule to accomplish their goals.

I'm trying to visualize your front areas to think about your question, so that we all have a sense of scale & proportion, which might matter a lot.

If they are all roughly the same: How wide are the driveways? How long are they? Are they asphalt? Concrete? Or?

Do the walkways go from the driveways to the front porches? Or from the street to the front porches? How wide are they? How long are they? Are they poured concrete? Brick? Or?

Are the fronts of the home some kind of decorative stone? Or?

I agree that you do want some specifications about pot material(s) permitted; color(s); footprint size; height of planters & plants (we have pots here that hold 12 foot high trees). I'd think you certainly want to specify that dead/dying plants must be removed. That if artificial plants/flowers are permitted, they must be removed when they fade, i.e., no longer look "real." (Some folks like them as they don't require hand watering.)

All

Our homes are standalone patio homes. All are red brick fronts. Sides, back and front peaks (if any) are vinyl. All have a two car wide, concrete driveway with none deeper then two cars. Not all have garages and those that do, single garage only. We have about 9 models.

All front porches have bushes planted between them and their front lawn or driveway but not all homes have a front porch. Some have just a concrete entry path from the driveway.

Good idea on no planters on grassy areas. One of the best ideas yet. Has not been an issue here but also a good restriction. Makes sense, sets some control, and will not upset folks. The more I think about this (on concrete only) the more this makes sense. Easy to understand and a good control guideline.

Also good idea on size and type of planters one can have beside their garage fronts and they would all be on concrete, not grass.

Also good idea on height of plants and replacement. Covenants do say no artificial plants.

The more I look at some of the homes, one restriction would be no planters forward of the garage front and/or porch front. Do not want planters lining the driveways. I have to look at this some more

My initial thoughts on the actual planters are clay or ceramic or similiar looking (meaning plastic ones OK) but no wooden ones. No color limits. No more then X inches high. Circular shaped and no more then X inches around. Planter and plant height combined not to exceed X inches high.

Please evaluate and comment on my initial thoughts.

These ideas are great and really helpful.

Thanks and keep them coming.

In communities that I have lived in, no planters, pots, statues, or other decorative items (including holiday decorations) were allowed on lawns (because of mowing). Such items were restricted to porches, walkways, driveways, or mulched planting beds.