For the latest landscape news, check out the 2023/4 Landscape Committee Report which covers the last 12 months of activity.

In 2011 and again in 2020, the Landscape Committee completed reviews of possible contractors to take care of the Hazel Lanes complex. Frank Kearney spoke with Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association (a 2,200 member trade association for the industry). As a result, a number of firms were approached and inquires made to dertermine which firms were best qualified to maintain Hazel Lanes. Unfortunately, almost every firm considered did not have the depth to handle the Hazel Lanes complex as the properties that these firms maintained were significantly smaller than Hazel Lanes, especially in terms of areas in grass and trees. Clintar Grounds Keeping, which is quite large and maintains a number of commercial properties, declined to be considered as they avoid condominiums as a matter of policy. Too many "chiefs" was the verbal explanation received. That left only one firm of sufficient size and reputation, TLC. Most Hazel Lane's residents like TLC, based on the annual surveys taken by the Landscape Committee. TLC has 13 crews of 8 people in the summer, several designers, several licensed pesticide applicators, two shops to maintain their equipment and and come highly recommended. The Landscape Committee unanimously recommended TLC for a new three year term.

The Property Manager oversees the activities of the landscape, irrigation and snow removal contractors. The Landscape Committee (Frank Kearney, Chair, Beth Girvan) and Roy van Amerom) advises the Property Manager and the Board of Directors on landscape maintenance and planting issues.

The Landscape Committee has contacted each owner and asked each to indicate their wishes with respect to the gardens in front of their unit (i.e. in front of your front window, behind the garden wall and in front of the garden wall).

TLC has thinned out the trees and bushes behind the hedges on Hazel Aveneue and Riverside Drive and these plants have been fertilized. Davey Tree Expert have also removed several dead trees and trimmed a number of older trees to remove major branches which may rub against roofs. Let your Landscape Committee know if there are trees that need attention.

Over the past five years, the Landscape Committee has planted numerous ornamental or evergreen trees, created several perennial gardens and rejuvenated several overgrown landscapes. This is in addition to replacing dead and diseased plants in the complex. In each year, approximately 30 diseased shrubs are replaced. Ornamental grasses have been planted where London Hydro cut down cedars around most power transformers. More ornamental grasses were planted around all the utility boxes. To deal with erosion issues and to dress up the complex, the gardens in front of all units are mulched every year. Thanks to David and Beth Girvan and Brian Vaughan three gardens have been rejuvenated; the perennial garden across from unit 66, the perennial garden between units 51 and 64 and the flower garden behind units 50, 69 and 70. A rose garden at the Riverside entrance was added in 2010 and two small perennial gardens were added in 2018 (in front of unit 49 and beside unit 19).

Disease prone plants in the complex (purpleaf sandcherry, Colorado spruce and broadleaf wintercreeper / euonymus)and undesirable plants (baltic ivy, silver maple and European buckthorn) will be replaced with other plants as a priority. Invasive plants (such as Baltic ivy and Bugleweed) are being discouraged. We are experimenting with reddish purple barberry, purplish green ninebark, potentilla and Canadian hemlock as substitutes. Check out descriptions on the Shrub description page and Tree description page . The Landscape Committee is watching our Colorado spruce population as these trees are beginning to suffer from Diplodia tip blight (Sphaeropsis sapinea). This fungus starts at the branch tip and kills the branch back to the main trunk.

For residents suffering from deer and rabbit damage to plants, putting bars of "Irish Spring" soap out of sight but near desirable plants has had some success. Likewise, an expensive spray product (Plantskydd) is available at Parkway Garden Centre which has also had some success. Like all products, the effects wear off or may not work every time.

The Landscape Committee has revitalized the Riverside Drive entrance and the Hazel Avenue entrance. Screening the power transformer on Riverside Drive and the golf course washroom (at Riverside Drive) was done in 2020; it may take a few years for these hedges to reach their full height.

If you would like to learn more about irrigation in the complex, see the Irrigation web page.

Snow removal on streets, driveways and most walkways is also a Hazel Lanes reponsibility. Unfortunately, the Corporation of the City of London does not plow any streets in condominium complexes. See the Snow Removal page for the snow removal standards for the complex.

Maintenance of the landscape, irrigation and snow removal represent the majority of the budget for Hazel Lanes. The Property Manager oversees the activities of the landscape, irrgation and snow removal contractors. The Landscape Committee (Frank Kearney, Chair, Beth Girvan and Roy van Amerom) advises the Property Manager and the Board of Directors on landscape maintenance and planting, irrigation and snow removal issues.

To maintain an attractive and consistent appearance, most of the visible landscaping in the complex is maintained by Middlesex Standard Condominium Corporation 644 (Hazel Lanes), including trees, grassed areas, most hedges and the two entrances to the complex. Shrubs in front of each unit are generally maintained by Hazel Lanes unless an owner opts to maintain all or a part of the front area. Generally, gardens in other locations are maintained by individual owners. See the resident's Information Manual or the Landscape Planting Policy or the Landscape Maintenance Policy. Residents have several landscape maintenance options - see the Landscape Options page and compete the Landscape Maintenance Options form if you want to opt for one of the options other than "Normal". Most owners like to prune their own Japanese Maple - the Landscape Committee prunes Japanese Maple every second year for those owners who ask for this service. Cedar hedges are pruned as needed each year with one more significant pruning / topping every second year.

Application of herbicides and pesticides is prohibited by provincial law. Regulations allow the use of some environmentally safe products, but Hazel Lanes is generally quite limited as to weed and pest control. Aeration of the turf in May, maintaining a 3 inch grass length, leaving grass cuttings on the turf and using modest amounts of fertilizer (May, July, September and November) are the best measures to control weeds. Where permitted, obvious weeds are sprayed in May and September. Weeds in driveways and front walkways are sprayed on a four week rotating basis.

The Landscape Committee has compiled a list or websites which have excellent information on weed identication, insects in the landscape, lawn maintenance, City of London regulations and related topics. Check out these information sources

Irrigation is generally a Hazel Lanes responsibility. Opening and closing the irrigation system is covered by Hazel Lanes. The Property Manager, Phil Nagle oversees this. See the resident's Information Manual or the Irrigation Policy for details.

Lighting in front of each unit is also maintained by Hazel Lanes. See the resident's Information Manual or the Lighting Policy for details.

You may find the TVO 52 minute report on trees very informative The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees