Reserve studies rarely include landscaping or trees, however there are times when they clearly should. Now I am not an arborist, but I have become very familiar with the Bradford Pear. Bradford Pears were popular a couple decades ago, but now many communities wished they were never planted. They are pretty. The problem is that they do not develop a central trunk. Their numerous branches meet together at the trunk and create weak points. After 20 years a Bradford Pear will start dropping its branches. Avoid the liability before one falls on a car, or worse a person. If your community has Bradford Pears, make sure that your reserve study includes the removal, stump grinding, and replacement with a more suitable tree.
If your HOA plans on conducting a large landscaping rejuvenation project or removing more than just a few trees, your board should have an option of paying this through your reserves. Hopefully, you already have a quote, and it’s that easy getting it included in your associaton’s reserve study.
