Mountain Creek Outstanding Yard Program 

Sponsored by Heroes Lawn Care for calendar year 2023.  heroeslawncare.com/hutto-texas?utm_source=gbp 

What is this program?

The Mountain Creek Homeowners Association (HOA) Board of Directors sponsors a “Outstanding Yard” program. The program runs from April thru October for lawns and the month of December for holiday decorations. The purpose of the award is to recognize neighbors who demonstrate excellence in maintaining their property, thereby contributing to the overall appearance of the community at large. Yards are judged on neatness, landscaping and color and all yards are eligible. 

What do the winners get?

Award winners will be placed into categories of outstanding yard or honorable mention yard. Each “outstanding yard” receives a $30 Home Depot gift card and each “honorable mention yard” receives a $15 Home Depot gift card. Outstanding yard winners will have an official “Mountain Creek Outstanding Yard” lawn-sign placed on their property for the duration of one month. Position of the sign will be prominent in the yard such that it is visible from the street but outside the right of way which is typically two-feet from the edge of the sidewalk closest to the front door of the house. Honorable mention yard winners will be posted on the MCHOA website, www.mountaincreekhoa.org.  

How can I get recognized?

You can nominate yourself or your neighbor for consideration. A committee will review the submittals and make the awards in arrears to coincide with the growing season. As an example, the award for April will be announced at the end of April and will be effective for the month of may.  

Judging Criteria

Mountain Creek Outstanding Yard candidates are judged solely on the total exterior appearance of their property and front yard as viewed from the street. General upkeep of the yard and property is paramount. Factors include the overall appearance; tidiness and neatness of the front of the property as evidenced by pruned, trimmed and shaped foliage, edged and defined lawns, borders & flowerbeds. The criteria is listed below. 

LAWN: Healthy turf grass with no bare spots or excessive weeds. Grass shall be mowed and edged, and grass around foundations and fences shall be trimmed. Debris (garbage, pet feces, etc.) shall be picked up and removed. The criteria is listed above. 

LANDSCAPE & FLOWER BEDS: Beds weeded and edged. Flowers deadheaded and dead plants removed. Trees and shrubs pruned. Natural areas cleaned. 

WALKWAYS & DRIVEWAYS: Walkways and driveways shall be clean and free of stains, weeds and grass (trash containers or yard products removed from view). Area in front of curb free from debris and dirt.

Outstanding Yard Criteria (in priority order)

• Lawn must be turf grass

o    99-percent weed free

o    99-percent coverage (no bare spots) or 90-percent with the CC&R allowed 10-percent impervious cover (paved walking paths) 

o    green during the growing season (April through October) 

• Acceptable turf grasses

o    St. Augustine 

o    Bermuda

o    Buffalo (ornamental lawn turf only) 

o    Zoysia 

• Grass must be manicured including sidewalk edging and stringline edging as appropriate. 

• Property is odor and debris free 

• Trees: a minimum of two healthy trees (per CC&R’s) trimmed to 8-feet above sidewalk and 14-feet above street and otherwise trimmed to accentuate the house. No more than four tree trunks within the front elevation of the house. 

• Sidewalk

o    No grass growing in sidewalk expansion joints 

o    No vegetation impeding the sidewalk 

o    No grass or yard trimmings

o    Generally clean (i.e. removal of acorns and other debris) 

• Street

o   No vegetation in the interface between the concrete gutter and the asphalt

• Shrubs: pruned if present 

• Fence in good condition - no broken pickets, pickets of uniform size and uninform color if painted or stained 

• Tasteful use of colors, textures, garden art and/or lighting will be considered.

• Any tree rings must be in good condition. Cementitious or masonry tree rings must not have cracks. 

• Winners must provide contact information and sign for receipt of a gift card. 

• Gift card: Each “outstanding yard” receives a $30 Home Depot gift card and each “honorable mention yard” receives a $15 Home Depot gift card.

Holiday House Awards

o    Same general criteria apply except that grass does not have to be green

o    Evidence of blowing leaves into the street disqualifies that property owner as leaves end up in the storm drain system and that is violation of City code. Citation City of Pflugerville Ordinance 158.23 (C) (2) (f)

What else do I need to know about the Yard of the Month? 

• All current Mountain Creek properties are automatically eligible by default.

• Award winners are selected based on the criteria listed below.

• Recipients must reside in Mountain Creek Sections 1, 2 or 3. 

• The upkeep of the yard can reflect the efforts of the residents themselves or that of a professional landscaper. 

• An award duration term lasts a single calendar month and runs from the first day of the month to the last day of that same month. 

• The same property cannot receive more than one award per calendar year. 

• More than one Outstanding Yard (up to  three) and honorable mention (up to six) recipient may be selected in a single month. 

• Outstanding Yard winners must be current with their Association account (zero balance) and have no unresolved CC&R violations. 

• While an individual's home is being recognized as a Mountain Creek "Outstanding Yard" they are expected to maintain their yard in the same manner that allowed them to win the award.