The mission of the Landscape Committee is to create and maintain a neighborhood landscape that is worthy of a premier community in the southeast and to maintain the environnmental health and asthetic value of our community common areas. 

Members of the Landscape Committee are: 

• Bruce Basson, Chairperson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
• Marla Bohm
• Susan Coulter
• Kiersten Grey
• Megan Holler
• Lee Janda
  

New Landscape company within Lochmere!

The Landscape Committee is excited to extend a warm welcome to Ruppert Landscaping, our new landscape contractor here in Lochmere starting June 1st.  Ruppert is taking over for BrightView, who have been our landscape partners within Lochmere for 10 years and we are appreciative of their partnership over this time.  

As we gear up for the vibrant days of summer, we couldn't be happier to have Ruppert on board to enhance and beautify our community.  With their expertise in landscaping and commitment to excellence, Ruppert brings a fresh perspective and a passion for creating stunning outdoor spaces. Ruppert Landscape has been an industry-leading provider of commercial landscaping services for almost 50 years.  The company prides itself on its strong culture, commitment to its employees, unmatched attention to its customers and giving back to the community.

In addition to their stellar reputation for quality workmanship, Ruppert shares our values of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Together, we look forward to not only enhancing the aesthetic appeal of our neighborhood but also contributing to the health and vitality of our local ecosystem.

Please direct any questions and comments to your Landscape Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Traffic Island Native Plant Installations

Lochmere has over 100 traffic islands throughout our community. Many of these locations have aging, non-native plants, and a good number of these continue to outgrow their spaces, resulting in ongoing and costly maintenance needs.

In an effort to revitalize our most unsightly islands, all the while being good stewards of our landscape dollars, the Landscape Committee has begun an ongoing project to redesign these garden beds.

(Lochwood West Before)

This work began in the winter of 2023 with the removal of invasive plants from two islands (Lochwood West Drive and Spring Hollow Lane) and the amendment of the nutrient deficient soil. On March 11, 2024, these two islands were replanted with native selections by Native Plants Matter.   We have prioritized all islands throughout the community and prioritized the next 5 islands to be revitalized. Soil and garden bed preparation will begin for the these five islands in September/October 2024, with plant installation planned for November 2024.

(Lochwood West Immediately After Planting)

Not only will these native plants require less water and maintenance long term, but they will also provide food, shelter and habitat for our pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Watch them with us, as they fill out in the coming months! 

If you would be willing to help keep these new beds watered (especially if you are in close proximity to one), please let us know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we can suggest a schedule.  Once they are established they will not need regular watering.  

Piedmont Prairie

July Update: Our piedmont prairie project, below the Highlands dam, will begin in late july. The initial step will be killing the weeds and grasses. A blue dye is added to the herbicide to show where it is applied. For your safety, and your pet's safety, please stay off this blue area, especially while it is drying. Signage will be added at this time as well, with links to additional information.

We are excited to begin working with Leaf & Limb on updating our neighborhood to be a diverse and thriving pollinator wonderland!  Our first piedmont prairie project will begin this summer, below the dam in Highlands. Initially, the weeds and grasses will be killed, in preparation for a late winter planting. Please plan to follow along with us for this exciting project!  From Leaf & Limb:In addition to feeding countless pollinators, butterflies, and birds, these deep-rooted native flowers and grasses also help build soil, hold rainwater in the ground, and pull CO2 from the atmosphere. All of this helps address serious environmental issues and heal Earth. If you want to learn more about the many incredible benefits of these ecosystems, we recommend that you read our free book, From Wasteland to Wonder.

April 2024

New Mulch Changes Have Begun!

There’s nothing like the satisfaction that spreading pine straw or hardwood mulch brings to many of us in the spring! But, did you know that given how lightweight it is, pine straw washes away easily, and that it provides less nutritional value for the soil and has less water retention abilities when compared to other mulches? These are some of the reasons why the Lochmere Landscape Committee is making a few changes this spring with mulching throughout the neighborhood. You will still see pine straw at the main entrances and the Rec clubs, as well as down the medians of our two main roads, but in other areas you’ll see a combination of hardwood mulch and leaf mulch (the most ecologically friendly option, and one recommended by many groups, including the USDA). Every attempt is being made this season to replenish the health of our soil, improve water retention and limit erosion, and provide habitat for our native wildlife. The earthy smell of the mulch, like fragrances from the application of other mulches, will dissipate quickly. Given the good foundation put in place this year, next spring we do not anticipate needing to bring in nearly as much leaf mulch. Instead, we will continue leaving our leaves or mulching our own leaves in place, and where additional top dressing is required, we’ll again work to partner with the Town to receive free shredded leaves from the fall curbside collections.

Interested in learning more about the value of natural mulch? Check out the US Department of Agriculture,Forsyth Audubon or Texas A&M’s Agrilife Extension for more information!

Additional Info:

• Preparing to plant in your own garden? Check out Lochmere’s Native Plant Recommendations guide.
• See this link for the plant listing and island design.
• Check out this great program from the Town of Cary: Green Stormwater Infrastructure Grant

“Cary is now offering a grant program that provides reimbursement of up to $5,000 to property owners who wish to install eligible GSI devices on their property and are willing to maintain the measure for at least 5 years”