SPRINGTIME UPDATES!

 

  TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read):

·         New landscaping company (Wild Turf) hired starting April 1 for 1 year (cheaper than others by ~25%).

·         Services include: regular blowing, mowing (Apr through Jun October), edging (3x/year), and trimming for safety.

·         Owner (local, James Island) will likely come weekly for shorter visits.

·         Homeowners in good standing can hire him for extra work at a discounted rate.

·         Expect a transition period—be patient and share feedback.

Budget highlights for 2026:

·         $1k for new plants + watering (Stiles Bee & Putnam areas)

·         $1k for tennis court lines + community engagement

·         10% of revenue set aside for reserves (to avoid future dues increases)

·         Budget is tight—paying outstanding dues will help flexibility

Bottom line:
New, lower-cost landscaping is in place, modest improvements are planned, and finances are being managed carefully—but the community budget doesn’t have much extra cushion.

 

 

Happy Spring, Stonefield Homeowners!

 

Effective 1 April, we have hired Wild Turf for a one-year (and renewable) landscaping contract.  This vendor out-bid two other vendors by 23-30% on a standardized four-part quote request, which included the following: (i) blowing all paved surfaces (including the tennis court) every other week; (ii) mowing all grassy common ground areas every other week during April-June; (iii) edging all curbed surfaces three times annually; (iv) trimming vegetation away from street lights, street signs, and as otherwise necessary for safe corridor passage three times annually.  Wild Turf is owned and operated by W. Todd Franck and based on James Island, and the owner has also offered an even lower hourly rate for additional property work to Stonefield owners in good financial standing (i.e., your dues are paid up through 2026).  As he incorporates our community into his company's existing workload, Todd anticipates visiting Stonefield every week for shorter visits vs. a full day to chip away at the portion of the tasks we’ve contracted him to complete.  Thus, we ask for your patience and understanding as we develop this new partnership over the coming months, and as always, your constructive feedback remains appreciated.

As promised earlier this year, now that we have a solid estimate of baseline landscaping costs, we have developed a budget for CY2026 that includes feedback we’ve received in the past year.  We remain committed to re-vegetating the recently mulched stretches along Stiles Bee and Putnam, with a total budget of $1k reflecting both (i) dedicated watering of new plants as well as (ii) reliance on low-cost, locally sourced native shrubs and flowering plants.  The budget also includes a matching $1k for (i) painting tennis court lines and (ii) community re-engagement.  Critically, the budget also sets aside 10% of the billed 2026 revenue, a practice that we hope will become a standard to avoid the need for future rate hikes in already challenging economic times.  Lastly, as seen in the budget table below, these anticipated expenses leave some but not a lot of wiggle room; full payment of remaining accounts (half of which established a payment plan) will provide further financial flexibility for addressing unforeseen needs.

 

 

Stonefield Community Landscaping Update 

As mentioned, we are planning a series of vegetation improvements throughout Stonefield. These updates will focus on adding native plants, improving curb appeal, and creating a more cohesive and well-maintained look from the front of the community to the back.

 

Stiles Bee Avenue

Work along Stiles Bee will be completed in several sections:

·        Entrance to Common Ground:
We will be adding azaleas along the fence line to fill in gaps between existing trees, along with transplanting flowering plants such as lyre leaf sage to more visible areas above the mow line.

·        Mulch Area to Seaside Fence (near Battery Glover):
This stretch will be enhanced with a mix of native shrubs, including wax myrtle, groundsel, American beautyberry, and yaupon holly for seasonal color. Additional flowering plants like bee balm will be incorporated where appropriate.

·        Battery Glover to Battery Stevens:
Native grasses and flowering plants such as river oats, spiderwort, and lyre leaf sage will be added to create a more natural, layered look.

·        Battery Stevens to Seaside Cut-Through:
This area will be refreshed with denser plantings (such as Turk’s cap and coral honeysuckle) to create a more intentional, hedge-like appearance and improve overall aesthetics.

 

Putnam Drive

·        Dog Station to End of Street:
We will be filling in open gaps with low-growing, pollinator-friendly plants such as dune sunflower, blanket flower, and bee balm to reduce weeds and add color.

 

Community Involvement

These improvements rely not only on installation but also on consistent watering and care—especially as plants become established. 

If you live near any of these areas and are willing to help monitor, your support would make a big difference.

 

 

Looking Ahead

Our goal is to use hardy, native, and cost-effective plants that thrive in our environment while improving the overall appearance of Stonefield. 

We appreciate your support as we continue to invest in our shared spaces and welcome any feedback along the way.