Oh, and SD has its own challenges for the homeowner set, i.e. constant (expensive) vigilance against both drywood and subterranean termites, stubborn hard-water stains, rust and wayward vegetation including constantly seeding queen palms, wild overgrown bird of paradise, encroaching elephant ear, virulent native bermudagrass up to 2 feet long and stickery bougainvillea messes blowing in the wind all year round, etc.
I could go on … and on. Better to have 35′ knives, a Sawzall and all manner of garden tools at your disposal and USE them … regularly. I’ve owned several homes in SD and lawn and gardening maintenance is tedious, repetitive and back straining work, which never lets up. Short of chopping everything down and stump removal for a “sterile looking” unattractive lot, there is always work to do.
I’ve never had one but can tell you that gardeners do earn their money.
To the tourist, all those large-lot stately homes surrounding the Hotel Del Coronado and beachfront have gorgeous landscaping that looks effortless. Little do they know how many hours per week hired gardeners spend on the premises :=0
