Neighbors, please share your thoughts and opinions with members of your Abbottsford management team, at one of two open landscape forums.  Your input will help us develop a comprehensive plan for the future of Abbottsford.  Drinks and snacks will be provided.  What do you love about Abbottsford’s landscaping?  What improvements would you like to see, if any?  Successes, suggestions, concerns, and input are greatly appreciated.

Two Open Landscape Forums

1.  Monday, February 13th from 1:30pm to 3pm

2.  Wednesday, February 15th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm

Where:  Abbottsford’s Clubhouse 

Possible Topics

• Dying trees/shrubs:  Are they really dead or will they recover?
• Overgrown shrubs:  What can I do about them in my yard?  What are you doing about them in the common areas?
• Upcoming Tree plantings (planting map in the link below):  Why do we need more trees?
• English Park Aesthetic:  How can we maintain our park-like appearance and also remain competitive for the future?
• Entrance Appearance Decline:  What is the plan to address it?
• Irrigation and Maintenance:  Can we reduce our costs and improve functionality?
• Screening needs along Abbottsford’s Perimeter:  How are we addressing this?
• Communication/Landscaping Reporting System:  Why does it matter?
• Any other landscaping topic you would like to discuss.

Upcoming Tree Planting Map and Details:  

• https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1SgjFdR3avDyV_IXcFM1Hxr4MjuLuMHI&ll=36.10529296841864%2C-86.82909153517267&z=19
• Click on each tree icon within the map to see details about selection of each planting location.
• The 25 Trees that will be planted in February and March, 2023, include the following: 

(3) Swamp White Oak:  https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-bicolor/

(4) Blackgum:  https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nyssa-sylvatica/

(7) Serviceberry:  https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/amelanchier/

(11) Sweetbay Magnolia:  https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/magnolia-virginiana/

Thank you, neighbors.

Ashley Cantrell

Landscape Chair/HOA Board

210-827-3736

Ashleycantrell3@gmail.com

Jan 31st Deadline: After January 31st, if your vehicles do not have an approved, dated parking approval, you may be subject to warnings and/or fines as listed in the parking rules section of the Rules & Regulations. Requests that have already been submitted will be finalized after board consideration. You may continue to park as usual while your request is being validated.

Jan 10th-We are currently evaluating resident parking throughout the community. If any resident of your property currently parks a vehicle outside of your garage, driveway, or alleyway please submit a Temporary Parking Request. These parking forms are not required for visitors, service providers, or short-term resident parking needs. Please reach out to your site manager if you do have extended length visitors or long-term work at your home. This information is helpful when monitoring parking throughout the neighborhood.

As always, if you need assistance, have questions, or need a relevant paper form delivered to your mailbox please email abbottsford615@gmail.com or call/text 615-578-1616.

Online Temporary Parking Request – Abbottsford

Many of you have expressed concern about the plants damaged by the recent winter storm.   

After consulting with landscape experts, we believe that some of the plants only appear dead, but will likely drop the dead leaves as new growth appears in early spring.  Until then, we will not know the extent of the damage with absolute certainty. Resist the impulse to prune out the dead leaves because they provide protection from additional winter storms yet to come.  Pruning too early will result in additional damage to plants and risk killing them. Taking this “wait and see” approach will help us determine the extent of the damage and minimize unnecessary pruning and replacements. Abbottsford is in communications with Sunrise and will re-evaluate contract pruning needs in mid to late February. Hopefully, the damage is not as extensive as it appears.  If surface pruning is all that is needed, no extra expense will be necessary. If any heavy pruning or removal of dead plant material is needed, Sunrise and other landscapers you use will need to charge extra for those services.

Our recommendations at this time are to contact your desired landscape service provider and get on their schedule now for future pruning services in the early spring. Landscapers will likely be inundated with a high volume of extra pruning requests in early spring. Go ahead and put your name on their list and check in with them in a few weeks if you know you want extensive pruning or removal of shrubs on your property.  

How And When To Prune After Winter Damage: Treating Trees And Shrubs With Winter Damage (gardeningknowhow.com)

We know that Bob Wellerding and Sunrise of Nashville are committed to giving the best service they can provide. We are working with Sunrise of Nashville to simplify requests and allow better access to information for Abbottsford management. Please send any and all requests for specific landscaping services to us via the Landscaping Request Form – Abbottsford . Please include any details, as well as photos, if available. These request forms will be emailed directly to Sunrise as well as filed on site here at Abbottsford for easy access and verification of completion. Requests are completed in the order they are received. Per agreement, Sunrise has 3 visits to complete contract requests. If requests fall outside of contract obligations, Sunrise will reach out to you to discuss pricing and scheduling of those services.

Please try to refrain from giving verbal requests to Sunrise workers. They try very hard to complete requests, but Sunrise and Abbottsford need requests in writing to be able to make sure they are completed timely and correctly. Please reach out to the On-site manager with any questions about landscape maintenance services. Thank you.

A neighborly reminder:

Please keep all guest vehicles parked in driveways and designated parking spacing if at all possible. Overnight parking in streets is prohibited per community guidelines. Rules & Regulations – Abbottsford. After the new year, we will be evaluating street parking more closely. Thank you.

Please obey all speed limits and stop signs. These traffic calming measures are important for the safety of pedestrians, children and pets, as well as drivers.

With the nights coming earlier, a reminder to think about safety in our community. Watch for children, pedestrians, and pets, especially after dark.

Pedestrians: Don’t forget light colored clothing, flashlights, and/or reflective wears when possible. They help drivers see you.

We have upgraded many streetlights this year and hope this aids driver and pedestrian safety in the darker winter months. You can report unsafe driving, or other safety concerns to the on-site manager if necessary.

Stay safe!