We hope everyone had a great landscape season!

Here’s a quick update on what’s happening around the Pine Creek community:

• Sunflower has begun winterizing irrigation systems along with year-end aeration services.
• Mow crews are finishing their final mowing operations.
• It’s been a strange year for leaf drop — many trees are still holding onto their leaves. Once about 70–75% have fallen, fall cleanup will begin.
• Pruning operations will begin next week, and all ornamental grasses will be cut back in mid-January.

Please remember, owners are responsible for leaf clean-up in their yards as well, so as the leaves keep falling, please take a moment to clean up your yards over the next few months.

​Please make sure that you or your landscape company are not blowing leaves onto the streets, sidewalks or neighboring yards.

Under the City rules, residents that use sprinklers and other irrigation systems to water lawns and gardens may only do so three times a week. From May 1 to Oct. 15, landscape watering must take place before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

​Learn more and see the The Integrated Water Resource Plan at www.csu.org/Pages/waterwiserules.aspx

Yard Waste and Fall Leaves
Did you know grass clippings and leaves blown into the street during yard maintenance end up in storm drains and waterways? This causes problems in the city’s stormwater drainage system and can lead to flooding. It's also a violation of City Code and can result in fines.  

Instead of blowing leaves yard waste into the street try:
- Composting: Researchers found that mulching leaves in the fall resulted in a greener lawn and up to 80% less dandelions the following springs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers it a form of recycling that prevents filling our landfills, helps prevent pollution, enriches soils and reduces the production of methane gas.  

- Mulching: Using a mower to shred leaves speeds up their decomposition. The shredded leaves make excellent mulch and can be used in flower or vegetable gardens as a natural fertilizer and soil conditioner. 

For more info, check out the Think Outside the Lawn: Managing Yard Waste & Landscape Debris brochure (pdf)

​Blocked Street Drains Can Cause Flooding Unswept debris has the potential to flow into vital drainage systems, creating blockages that could cause flooding during the next rain or snow storm. Please remember that the drains on our streets are there for a very functional and important reason, and avoid letting yard debris (branches, clipping, leaves, etc.) move into the street and possibly down the gutter and into the drain.

​To report a blocked drain, please call the City’s Stormwater Division at 719-385-ROAD (7623) or via the City’s free GoCoSprings App  (available at  https://www.coloradosprings.gov/gocosprings)

Now is a good time to help your neighbors by ensuring the foliage at your home does not impede movement or visibility. 

Maintain tree branches at 8 feet above sidewalks and 14 feet over streets which keeps branches from impacting pedestrians walking on the sidewalks and keeps vehicles free from being hindered/scratched in the roads.  If your trees are located close to a street corner and/or a stop sign, you may need to trim your branches a bit more to avoid visually impacting a driver's ability to see the oncoming traffic or street sign.

2.3.2 BUSHES AND FLOWERS Trim bushes to maintain a pleasant shape and to not intrude on sidewalks or the road. Remove dead bushes and flowers and replace with like kind/number. 

2.3.3 TREES Tree branches may not dip lower than 8 feet along sidewalks and 14 feet next to the street. Remove dead trees and their stumps, and usually replace with a new tree as soon as possible. Tree sprouts at the base of the former tree or tree suckers are not an acceptable tree replacement. Tree removal and replacement require a DRR. 

View the PCVA Community Guidelines at https://www.pcva.org/uploads/7/8/8/7/78875826/pcva_guidelines_with_addendums_-_december_2023.pdf

The HOA has noticed over the past month that certain owners are dumping grass clippings and tree limbs into the common areas, mostly over their fences. Please refrain from doing this as it costs the HOA money to send out vendors to come pick these items up and haul them away. The responsibility to remove these items from your properties, is that of the owner, not the HOA and we would appreciate not seeing this in the common areas.