Landscaping Committee
Committee Chair: Barbara Friedman
The goal of the Middlesex Beach Landscaping Committee is to make our community more beautiful. Projects occur throughout the year and volunteers are always welcomed. Additional Committee Members include Lynn Bufka, Cindy Keller, Terry Reilly and Peggy Taylor.
While MBA does NOT own the median or land immediately adjacent Coastal Highway, we do have an agreement with DelDOT to place and maintain landscaping in this area. This is the only look outsiders passing through have of our community. The major MBA-owned pieces of land that can be landscaped are along Beach Plum Rd. On the oceanside of the community, most of the land must be kept free for parking or driving, but there are smaller planting beds adjacent each footwash and highway gate.
Beach Plum Road Landscaping
While various plans have been put together through the years for improving areas along this road, none of them have been carried completely through. So we’re making another plan. THIS LINK is to what’s not exactly a map because no attempt was made to keep it to any scale, but it’s more of a chart showing the 10 main areas along this stretch. The Board has approved installing replacement fencing in the fall of 2025 in what’s labeled as blocks “3E” (Errett to Bridge: east side) and “4E” (Bridge to Addy: east side). A Landscaping Committee meeting is planned for 1:30 on September 3, 2025 to discuss this, or a completely different, plan.
MBA Tree Care Contract
MBA had a tree care contract with Coastal Plant Care. In 2023, licensed Arborist Jeremy Hager took a close look at all trees on MBA property on the beachside, those under MBA care along the fence line on the east side of Coastal Highway and in the median, and also those along Beach Plum Road (in addition to a very few along the commercial stretch of Short Road). His report covered just over 100 trees or clusters of similar trees, and recommended several for removal, several for significant trimming, and most for Integrated Pest Management. The Landscaping Committee toured the community after receiving the report, and agreed with many of the recommendations, subsequently removing several dead and unhealthy trees from the community. The rest of the trees were treated by Coastal Plant care. Further tree care will be handled under our regular landscaping contract, currently with Chester River Landscaping.
Chester River Landscaping Contract
MBA has a turf maintenance contract with Chester River Landscaping. This covers mowing of the community open spaces, and also quarterly cleaning of the drainage swales.
Spring 2024 Landscaping Survey of the Community
A survey was emailed to the membership in March 2024 asking for input as to which parts of the community should be prioritized. Click HERE for the results of that survey.
Plant your garden using native plants
What is a native plant? A native plant is one that originated and occurs naturally in a region. Non-native plants also may occur naturally but were introduced from another region. They survive without intervention and compete successfully with native plants. Native and non-native plants often occur side by side in natural stands. Only historical records can trace true origin.
Why landscape with native plants? Since native plants are indigenous in an area, they are ideally suited to grow in a similar habitat within the region. Having competed with other plants, native plants have proven themselves well adapted. Plants used in a landscape environment that is similar to their native habitat will grow with a minimum of maintenance. When appropriately placed in the landscape, native plants require less water and fewer pesticide applications. If native plants require pampering, the most likely reason is an unsuitable location.
Planting native species protects them from extinction. As land is developed, some native plants are pushed out of their natural habitats. The sensitive use of these plants in the landscape preserves them for all to appreciate.
Want to know more about Delaware Native Plants?