Eight Raintree volunteers made the extra effort to get up early Saturday (August 13^th) morning to complete the first of three steps to control the erosion on the southeast slope of our property.  The photos below show the steps taken to complete this portion:  staking the area, laying the Terra Tubes, staking the tubes; caution taping the area.  It took about 2 ½ hours to get this done.

Terra Tube Installation for Erosion Control.  Terra Tubes are a cost effective, storm water treatment product designed to trap, filter and treat sediment-laden runoff while reducing the force of run-off during heavy rains.  Our slope has eroded as much as a foot recently.  Terra Tubes are composites of wood fibers, crimped man-made fibers and performance enhancing polymers encased in a heavy duty, knitted cylindrical tube.  Our volunteers staked 195 feet of the tubes.

The next step, later in the fall when it is cooler, is to plant native plants along the upper ridges (“above” the Terra Tubes).  Doing this will further stabilize the slope and “hide” the tubes.  It may not look very nice now, but lower Wheatwheel residents will appreciate the reduced flooding.  Read more at:  http://raintreehoa.info/hoa

Pet owners:  Please do not let your pets inside the taped areas.  The areas need to be left undisturbed.

Sinkhole Caution:  Anyone walking on the slope between the parking lot and our townhouses should take care.  Several more sinkholes have been staked and caution taped.  Others will also be marked as they are found.  Let the board know when you find a new one, at:  http://raintreehoa.info/hoa

Most of the volunteers also finished mulching the stormwater runoff plots.  Work on the plot at the corner of the upper parking lot has been delayed.  The soil is too compacted and will have to be tilled.  Look for updates at:  http://raintreehoa.info/hoa

Three homeowners and three Raintree board members made the extra effort to get up early Saturday (August 6^th) morning to complete the second of four steps to establish our plots.  The photos below show the steps taken to complete this portion:  placing a layer of 10 sheets of newspaper over the plot, watering down the paper, and spreading three inches of leaf mulch.  This will allow the sun to heat the plots and slowly kill the weeds, grasses and seeds.

If we had more used newspapers, we could have completely covered and mulched all the plots except the plot by the upper parking lot.  The smallest of the plots next to the driveway was treated with RoundUp and will be treated again in two weeks before covering with black plastic.  Saturday’s work took about three hours.

The upper parking lot plot was sprayed with RoundUp.  [Note:  RoundUp is not harmful to pets or animals once it has dried … 10 minutes after spraying.]  This plot is so hard; it will have to be roto-tilled before mulch is applied.  With much effort, we could only dig to about 2 inches.

When it is cooler (mid-September or later), these plots will be planted with plugs and potted plants.  These plants will have root systems that extend well beyond or turf which extends 2-3” deep.  They will anchor the soil and slow the stormwater run-off.

Pet owners:  Please do not let your pets inside the taped plots.  The plots need to be left undisturbed.

Sinkhole Caution:  Anyone walking on the slope between the parking lot and our townhouses, take care.  Two sinkholes have been staked and caution taped; others will also be marked.

Need:  >  Lots of used newspaper
Need:  >  At least 2 volunteers to provide water source to wet down paper (Carrousel Court and Towerbell Court – facing auxiliary parking)
Need:  >  Any number of volunteers to apply the mulch (extra shovels and  wheelbarrows greatly needed)

The first phase of this project was completed two weekends ago.  The next step will take place early (anytime after 7 AM) Saturday, August 6^th.  A member of the Audubon Society has graciously donated used newspapers.  Anyone who has extra old newspapers is asked to bring them up to the auxiliary parking lot early Saturday morning.  The mulch will be delivered Thursday, August 4^th.

This Saturday’s step is to place a layer of 10 sheets of newspaper over the outlined areas and cover with three inches of leaf mulch-compost.  Wetting the newspaper aids in keeping down and ensures a more successful solarization.  The combination of newspaper and mulch will allow the sun to heat up the plots and slowly kill the weeds, grasses and seeds.  If you are interested in helping, contact Richard Sun (richard.sun82@gmail.com) or Maureen Goodfellow (mmmteg@aol.com) (703-560-1127).

When it is cooler (mid-September or later), these plots will be planted with plugs and potted plants.  Our volunteers will plant right through the mulch and newspaper (which eventually decomposes) and combine soil and organic matter in the holes, plant-by-plant.  The planting holes will be generous to enable young plants to root without problem.  We will choose mostly native plants that are hardy and meet recommendations.  These plants will have root systems that extend well beyond or turf which extends 2-3” deep.  They will anchor the soil and slow the stormwater run-off.