1st off... The required amount of landscaping shrubbery is actually derived from county and State codes. No, no one requires you to have shrubs on the sides or back. neither the county, State, not the Villages.
2nd... a foundation landscape around your home has multiple benefits (if properly designed and installed) and is superior in many ways to sod for many reasons.
The 1st and entire chapter of my college textbook on landscape design was about all those reasons, and why that is considered the minimum you should do. Thus, more typing than I am willing to do for this forum.
3rd... In my considerable experience (20+ yrs) landscaping Village homes, I have seen these "upgraded" landscape packages be terribly designed and constantly removed, as well as costing WAY more bought from the builder as the same material would cost from the average aftermarket landscaper in the area.
You do want those shrubs, you are not required to have them, and you sure don't want the builder to put them in.
|