SAMLARC takes pride in maintaining healthy plants throughout the community, and as California’s drought mitigation measures tighten, SAMLARC is pursuing new ways to sustain a beautiful and hardy landscape environment. The turf conversion project along Alicia and Santa Margarita Parkways is nearly finished! Earlier this year, sections of nonfunctional turf were removed and the areas were renovated to include drip irrigation systems, drought-tolerant plants, and trees.
Over the next several months, the plants along Alicia and Santa Margarita will take root. The carissa will expand and darken in color, the foliage of the oaks will begin to spread into a canopy, and the sycamores and crepe myrtles will briefly sprout bright green leaves (and potentially crepe myrtle blooms) before transitioning into their winter dormancy. As fall and winter approach, the cooler weather will encourage hardy growth that will establish strong root and foliage systems when next spring and summer arrive. Arroyo Vista Street and the Via Arribo/Via Regressos areas are excellent examples of what the Alicia and Santa Margarita Parkway projects will look like once the landscape has fully matured (generally about 2 years after planting).
This project is funded through rebates issued by the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) - which offers rebates for projects like turf removal, drip irrigation systems, and water-saving devices such as trees. Once MWDOC performs its final inspection, the rebates will be sent to SAMLARC, making this yet another zero-cost project for the Association!
For questions about this project, contact Debbie Melberg, Operations Administrator, at debbie.melberg@fsresidential.com.