(a) Landscape Maintenance. Landscaping shall be continuously maintained (watering, fertilizing, weeding, mowing, trash pick-up, and pruning) by the landowner or the lessor of new and existing development in accordance with the following:
(1) Sites shall be kept clean and attractive at all times. Weeds and trash (windblown or otherwise) shall not be allowed to accumulate on the site.
(2) Living plant material shall receive sufficient water and fertilization to maintain health and vigor and shall, to the maximum extent possible, be allowed to attain its natural mature size and shape.
(3) Pruning and mowing shall be used to maintain plant health and vigor while enhancing its form and structure. Cropping trees, unless necessary for safety reasons, is prohibited.
Pruning and mowing will conform to the commonly used standards for each species; however, in no case will the landscape areas be allowed to become overgrown. Examples of overgrown landscape material include:
A. Lawn grass species: Plants which have established seed heads, lawns that have become thatched and matted, have become infested with herbaceous weeds, or exceed eight (8) inches in height.
B. Shrubs and decorative grasses: Plants that have grown so large as to block natural light from entering windows, extend over property lines, extend over roof peaks or eaves, or are causing the strangulation of other plants.
C. Trees: Plants which display sucker growth, have grown to a height or canopy width which impairs the normal illumination of street lights, extend over property lines, interfere with overhead lines or impact public property.
(4) All dead or obviously unhealthy plant material shall be replaced in an expeditious manner with material equal to that which was originally specified on the approved landscape plan.
(5) Bare spots in lawns or planters shall be promptly re-vegetated.
(6) Customary maintenance shall include provision of adequate irrigation, based on the micro-climate, and regular application of fertilizer, based on the needs of the plant.
(7) All property owners shall be responsible for maintenance of parkway areas within the public right-of-way adjacent to their properties, except those areas outside of a six-foot high block wall or solid fence.
(b) Landscape Guarantee.
(1) The owner or developer shall, prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, evidence that all plant materials are guaranteed for a minimum period of sixty (60) days from the date of final approval of the installation of the landscaping. Terms of the guarantee shall also specify that any plant materials which are not approved prior to October 1st of the calendar year in which they are installed shall be further guaranteed until May 20th of the following calendar year.
(2) Trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover, and turf which have to be replaced under terms of the guarantee shall be guaranteed for an additional sixty (60) days from the date of replacement.
(3) All plant materials requiring replacement under the conditions of the contractors guarantee shall be replaced within ten (10) working days from the date of written notification.
(c) Existing Landscaping.
(1) Maintenance. Required landscape areas, existing at the time of adoption of this Ordinance, shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of Section 17.60.060(a) above.
(2) Prevention of Wasted Water. Existing developments shall, through improvements to its irrigation system and landscaped areas, prevent water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation, run-off, low head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, walks, roadways, or structures.
[Ord. No. 515, Exhibit I, 5/22/13; Ord. No. 528, Exhibit M, 9/10/14.]