Fertilizers and herbicides our contractor is using in 2026
Each growing season, our lawn maintenance contractor applies a combination of fertilizers and herbicides to our lawn (turf) areas. Often called lawn ‘treatments’, these chemicals keep our grass healthy and green and at the same time eliminate weeds. The chemical composition of these chemicals changes with each application, based on season.
Sanitation workers, teachers, and nurses. These occupations are often listed as overlooked, undervalued, or underpaid – despite their high necessity and impact. Briefly stated, they are essential among us, yet too often ignored or unappreciated.
Here at Overlook Lakes we can add another group to the list: Those who volunteer to water newly planted trees and shrubs. We gratefully acknowledge the volunteers who showed up last week to plant 11 shrubs and 2 trees. We anticipate other new plantings between now and the end of summer that will require watering into November. We are looking for more volunteers to water these shrubs and trees and we’re asking you to seriously consider this.
It’s a relatively simple task, but also a serious commitment because it’s essential to the plants. Currently, Board and Building & Grounds Committee Members are at risk for burnout because watering often doesn’t happen unless they do it. Perhaps you could water 1 or 2 trees, or maybe a new shrub or 2. This will greatly benefit our community. Ideally, a “Watering Committee” might be formed to oversee this vital work among us.
You may have noticed circular fences growing around our newly planted trees. And you may have asked yourself, why are those things there?
B&G-Grounds, in consultation with MMSD, has determined that we need to protect young trees from animal damage. Specifically, the fencing keeps deer from eating the leaves and rubbing the trunk, and rodents from eating the bark.
In 2025 we installed trees with no fencing with the hope that our local deer and rabbit population would find more attractive food to eat. They didn’t! Instead these animals zeroed in on our new trees.
As we plant additional trees you will see our B&G volunteers erecting fences soon after the trees are in the ground. We expect to keep fences on trees for several years, until they are large and strong enough to withstand animal nibbling.
B&G-Grounds is also assessing the use of flexible tubes that go over the lower portion of the trunk. These tubes protect trees from rodents and deer rubbing after fencing has been removed.
If you have questions on this initiative, or anything else related to landscaping at Overlook Lakes please email B&G-Grounds.
Within the last week, you may have noticed pink ribbons appearing around many trees on our property. These designate trees that will have their tree wells edged and filled with mulch (woodchips) once the landscaping season begins in early spring. More trees may be marked soon.
You may have noticed that Overlook Lakes Condos Landscaping committee is focusing on native species and biodiversity when replacing shrubs and trees, or adding perennials to gardens. Why?
Traditional lawns and gardens might look tidy, but they’re dead zones for wildlife. They guzzle expensive water, depend on chemical fertilizers and herbicides, and pump out emissions from gas mowers and blowers.mNone of these chemicals stay put. They run into waterways and onto surfaces where children and pets play, posing documented health risks. Also biodiverse native species reduce the risk of infections as we have experienced with monocultures such as our many ash and hawthorn trees.
Native plant landscapes offer a safer, healthier, and more vibrant alternative, and save our association money. They support pollinators and birds, reduce water use, and thrive without harmful chemicals.
In addition to creating a safer outdoors for you and your family, our Landscaping committee is hard-at-work creating a beautiful space, one filled with life and color, right here in our backyard!
As we end 2025 and look forward to 2026, we wanted to give you a summary of all the work our dedicated B&G landscape volunteers have accomplished this past year.
In 2025 our volunteers planted 45 bushes, 206 perennials and 9 trees. In addition, volunteers watered, pruned, trimmed, edged, fenced, and weeded all over our 24 acres.
Total logged B&G landscape volunteer contribution was 641 hours. If we apply an average $120 contractor rate, that equates to $76,920 of saved association money or $418 per unit. Total cost for plants and materials was about $3,000. This included tools that we will be using in future years.
Area behind Building 45, before & after
One of B&G’s goals is to increase the health of our landscape with biodiversity. When Overlook was developed only a few types of plants were installed. Our new list of plants includes a variety of native bushes such as winterberry holly, staghorn sumac, snowberry, buttonbush, cinquefoil, native trees such as tamarack, river birch and alders, and native perennials such as sunflower, Joe Pye, marsh milkweed, iris, and grey-headed coneflower. In addition, we seeded and sodded many areas that were in need of grass.
Next year our volunteer projects will include revamping gardens, installing plants in sparse gardens, and continued monitoring of water needs and new plantings. We are already assembling a list of trees, bushes, and perennials to plant beginning in early May, and making proposals to the board for volunteer landscape projects.
B&G Landscape Committee
If you have questions on landscape volunteer work, email
Now that we are through the recent snow event, we need to acknowledge the fact that things did not go as planned and that many owners were quite unhappy with the service that they received. Unfortunately, the first snow of the season was a bit overwhelming and even surprised the weather forecasters.
We have taken a close look at what worked and what didn’t work and have communicated our concerns and expectations to KEI. We will be meeting with them later this week, onsite, to review our expectations moving forward and to point out what we felt went wrong, and discuss remedies. Topics include:
How to Report Concerns During a Snow Event
Contractor Safety Concerns and Labor Laws
Woodbridge Drive Parking
Winter will soon be upon us! The following points are all procedures owners need to know, and to begin preparing for before the snow starts to fall. We have a new snow removal contractor, KEI, and have communicated our high expectations of their performance this winter. Please understand that snow removal operations can occur at any time during the day or evening.
As the Overlook Lake Condos complex ages, there are trees and bushes in need of replacement. Dead trees and bushes will be removed as soon as time and resources permit, diseased trees and bushes will be evaluated by the OLCA contractor. In many cases these diseased plants will survive, even though they may look sad this season. If the contractor deems it necessary, the diseased tree or bush will be removed.
Species were chosen to be suited for the environment (dry-medium-wet), are disease-resistant, and are the right size and shape for the area (tall-medium-short-wide-narrow). There is a preference for Wisconsin native species that do not drop seeds that sprout, are long-lived and can tolerate salt. Owner suggestions for replacement options will be accepted. However, keep in mind many owners, who also see the trees & bushes, may have different opinions.
If you are seeing issues like dead/missing trees or bushes, overhanging limbs, or notice ones that need pruning, submit a Condo Problem Submission Form. This form is available online or at the management office. Do not email or call board members, committee members, or volunteers. A response will be given to you within a week.
Maybe you’ve discovered one of our many hard-working volunteers toiling around your building. Please take a moment to thank them for their efforts on behalf of everyone.
Thank you for helping to keep Overlook Lakes Condos landscape healthy and beautiful!
