B&G-Grounds Newsletter – June 2026
B&G Volunteer Updates
What our OLCA volunteers have been working on
OLCA Waterers Rock
With the recent rains and the rain forecast for later this week, our amazing and dedicated OLCA volunteer shrub, grass and tree waterers get a break. Everyone who helped water should be proud that we made it through the drought this past month. You not only kept these valuable plants alive, but thriving. Now we let nature take over until (and if) we have another dry spell.
New Watering Schedule
When significant rain occurs, at least one-half inch, the watering clock starts over. For those of you watering shrubs and trees, you can now move to a once-a-week watering schedule from your once every 5 days new planting timetable. Thus, if it rains within a week, you won’t need to water. For those of you watering grass, check every few days to ensure the grass seed or sod is still moist.
Garden at Bldg 26
On a lovely early June Sunday, six OLCA volunteers made major improvements to a very large garden south of building 26 where OLCA property joins the private homeowner’s property. This garden is particularly challenging as it is shaded by old growth trees and receives weeds from the wooded area along 92nd street. Our volunteers pulled weeds that were too close to bushes for our contractor to herbicide, re-edged the entire front, removed trees that were growing inside bushes, and sprinkled wood chip mulch over the entire area. Well done all!
Volunteers Needed
If any owner is interesting in volunteering, please provide your contact information to Buildings and Grounds. We always happy to have the extra help. Tasks include adopting a shrub or tree to water for the season (through November 30th), helping write email blasts, helping plant, and working with vendors.
B&G-Grounds News
From our committee chairperson
Stump Grinding
Our tree contractor, SavATree ground the stumps as described in the May 2026 newsletter and now we are working to plant grass, bushes or trees in these areas.
- Bldg 28 8975 Woodbridge volunteers planted grass and a neighbor is watering the seed.
- Bldg 33 8948 Woodbridge we are soliciting bids for a contractor to seed grass later this season.
- Bldg 36 8792 Woodbridge volunteers planted two bladdernut bushes and two neighbors are tag-teaming to keep them watered.
- Bldg 38 8764 Woodbridge as part of our MMSD contract, MMSD will plant a replacement tree this fall..
Volunteer Grass Seeding
B&G volunteers seeded grass in front of building 22 (under the maple tree) as the bed under this tree had become extremely oblong. With this seeding, the bed is now circular and much more attractive. A neighbor is keeping the seeded area moist so the grass can thrive. Volunteers also seeded grass at building 28 (as mentioned above) and in the large grass area north of building 24.
Contractor Grass Seeding
Given the enormity and complexity of some areas needing grass, B&G has opted to contract some areas. B&G is obtaining bids and work will begin later this season. Summer is generally too hot and dry to grow grass so we are planning for fall seeding. Note that depending on weather, cost and budget, we may modify these plans and/or bump to spring 2027.
Here is the contractor bid list to date:
- Bldg 33 8948 Woodbridge, former maple tree
- Behind Bldg 25 8905 Woodbridge along woods edge
- Along ravine SE edge, Bldg 34 8876 Woodbridge, former buckthorn area
- Along ravine South edge on Woodbridge, former buckthorn area
- Bldg 33 8946 Woodbridge, east side of building along ravine edge, former buckthorn area
Upcoming Shrub Plantings
As with any large property, we continually need to replace dead or dying shrubs (bushes) or fill gaps. There are several areas that we expect to plant in July and we will be looking for volunteers to help dig holes. Stay tuned for those announcements. If you are interested to be on the list of planters, please reach out to B&G.
One of the larger projects is to begin replacing viburnum hedges. Many of you have seen these hedges in buildings 24, 30, 32, 44 and know that the viburnum leaf beetle chews the leaves to the stem. In some years the plants grow new leaves. However, over time the plants lose their ability to grow leaves and succumb. B&G is working with contractors to obtain bids to remove these hedges this season. Then B&G will determine a replanting plan. We expect to replant some this year and some in 2027.
If anyone is interested in helping plant replacements this summer, please contact B&G. We will be prioritizing buildings where we have two or more volunteer helpers to dig holes for the replacements.
Contractor Corner
How our landscaping contractors are keeping our property healthy and beautiful
MMSD
The Overlooks board has signed a first of its kind contract with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District to plant trees at our property. This was the culmination of months of planning, meetings and site visits. MMSD has a goal of planting 6 million trees in the Lake Michigan watershed to improve water quality and support human and ecological health. Overlook Lakes is the first condominium association to be included in this project.
Our contract specifies that MMSD will create a tree plan for OLCA and then contract to plant trees fall 2026 and fall 2027. There will be no cost to OLCA for the plan or planting. We expect the tree plan in the next few weeks. The next step for B&G is to review the tree plan and formalize the first planting this fall.
As part of the contract, OLCA agreed to make fences for the trees to protect from deer and other animals. And OLCA agreed to care for and water the trees. This means we will need a crew of waterers this fall. Stay tuned for that announcement.
As always, if you have questions of the volunteer owners on the B&G committee, feel free to send an email.
B&G Landscape Committee
