Willowbend Community Information
Landscaping Information (Plants, Pruning, Mowing, & Irrigation)
Your landscape committee would like to provide you the information that will service all your landscaping needs. Several links are attached that will take you to specific information. But let’s start with an introduction. Your landscape committee consists of 5 volunteers and a board liaison. The committee meets approximately 48 times per year at 9:30 AM on Wednesdays in the pool area. At 10 AM residents are welcome to bring any immediate concern regarding landscaping and related ACRs to the committee. Service to the community is our goal.
Willowbend now has two ACRs that address different areas that must have approval before any work may be done. Our NEW ACR is for trees specifically. This form was approved by the board of directors at their April 2024 meeting. Use the link below to access the form.
Our other ACR remains the same as usual and should be used for new landscaping.
Our plant list may change from time to time depending on the latest information we have regarding plants that concur with Florida friendly landscaping.
The link to the irrigation schedule is below. The schedule was developed to follow county policies regarding irrigation. If you are installing new landscaping the ACR you submit has irrigation information for new plantings.
Pruning is planned to be completed on a monthly cycle. The link will provide the planned schedule but this does vary depending on circumstances of weather, equipment, staffing.
LMP is our landscape contractor. You may place a work order directly with LMP using their website and entering the Willowbend area. If you need landscape assistance LMP will be happy to consult with you.
Sentry accepts work orders that are delivered to LMP for service.
- TREE ACR
- LANDSCAPING ACR – new July 2025
- PLANT LIST
- IRRIGATION
- PRUNING
- NEW October 2025 – Do Not Service Form
APPROVED PAINT COLORS
Before painting any part of the exterior of your house, please review Painting Regulations – Requirements and Suggestions (PDF). Only approved Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore paint colors may be used. Click on Willowbend Approved Paint Colors (PDF) to see a list of approved paint colors for the exteriors of homes in the community.
REMINDER: An Architectural Change Request (ACR) Form must be submitted to Sentry Management for approval and approval must be received before any exterior painting can be done.
Sherwin Williams, working with the Willowbend Architectural Review Committee (ARC), put together a booklet specifically for Willowbend in an attempt to provide the residents of Willowbend with suggested color schemes for the exterior of their home. In the booklet, for each Sherwin Williams “Stucco/Body” color, there is a page that shows that color and two suggestions for Trim colors and Front Door colors. For more information on this booklet, go to Information on the Sherwin Williams Willowbend Paint Booklet.
In an additional effort to make the process of painting your home even easier, the ARC has compiled a complete list of existing/ original colors by address. This will become helpful if you are looking to paint the exterior of your home the same color, but do not know what the original colors of your home are. If you wish to obtain this information you can either contact Sentry Management, a committee member or visit the Sherwin Williams store at 4871 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. You may also contact, Beth, a Sherwin Williams Representative by either calling (941) 924-1174 or emailing her at sw2432@sherwin.com
We hope that you find this information helpful. Any additional questions can be directed to Sentry Management by contacting the Willowbend Community Manager at (941) 361-1222, ext. 51022
ROOF CLEANING
The roof cleaning policy is that each roof shall be cleaned no later than 30 days after the 3-year anniversary of its previous cleaning. If some roofs become soiled sooner, owners have the option to clean their roof before the next cycle. It is strongly recommended that Soft wash biodegradable products are to be used for this process. Chlorine or bleach should not be used. Homeowners must be aware that they (or their vendor) are responsible for any damage done to their landscaping plants or those of their neighbors.
The Board is no longer requiring submission of an ACR for roof cleaning. However, after the roof has been cleaned, a paid vendor’s invoice showing that the roof has been cleaned must be submitted to Sentry Management. Sentry Management will update your account with the date of the cleaning to show compliance. That date will be the starting point of the next 3-year cycle.
In early 2015, the Board formed an ad hoc committee of concerned residents to look in detail at the subject of the longevity of tile roofs and the effect of various methods of cleaning those roofs on the longevity of the roofs. The committee compiled a comprehensive report. Residents are urged to view the report as it is very informative. Click on Report on Roof Longevity (PDF) to view the report.
Alligator Removal Policy
The Willowbend Community Association has been issued a Nuisance Alligator Permit #489979 from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It establishes the 147 acres of Willowbend as a state Targeted Harvest area (THA), with specific procedures and instructions. The permit runs for (5) years until April 26, 2026. All alligators removed become the property of the trapper. The procedure is as follows:
1. Inquiries from a Willowbend homeowner to remove an alligator should be directed to Steve Miller at vpwillowbend25@gmail.com.
2. Please providename, address, phone number, size and location of the reported alligator and reason for removal. Alligators under 4 feet will not be removed.
3. The designated Board member will contact the homeowner who initiated the inquiry, to confirm the size, location and perceived degree of nuisance of the alligator in question.
4. The designated Board member will contact the Trapper, and coordinate the removal of the alligator. A report will be written and distributed when an alligator has been removed from our property by the trapper.
DirecTV Set-up
Dear new Willowbend resident, this is important information that requires your action:
Willowbend has a bulk contract for DirecTV Streaming service, included in your HOA monthly dues.
Connect to the following website with your computer or iPad (do not just go to a regular DIrecTV site you find via a google search):
https://www.directv.com/stream/my-community
Hit, “Get Started.” Start typing in your address with your number and first name of street (skipping Lane or Drive or Way). For example, type 123 Habitat, then watch for the address list that pops up right above or below and click on your correct full address. Scroll to bottom of every page, click next, and fill in name, email, phone and a password, keep going until you get to final button that says “Complete Order”. Write down and remember your selected email and login password!
You will be asked how many TVs you have, answer 1 (even if you have more). During this process all residents get the Willowbend Choice package of 100+ channels at no extra charge (local channels are included). During registration there are several channel upgrades you can select if you wish, which will be billed directly to you. If you know which additional packages you want, order it now, or go back to your log-in account site later once you have experience with the included package.
A new DirecTV box should be delivered to you a few days after you complete the registration.
Smart TV users
If your current TV is a “smart” device, and it’s App Store has the DirecTV app, download it and start watching immediately by logging in with your registered email and password. We know most newer Samsung, Sony, Google TV, TCL, Hisense, and other TVs (except not LG TVs) can download the DirecTV app, and no external box is needed.
If you have a current TV streaming box, such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, etc. do the same—go to the device’s App Store and download the DirecTV app, log in, and start watching.
Older TVs that are not “smart”
If you don’t have a smart TV that has the DirecTV app, you will require a box. All residents have received one DirecTV box free of charge. The DirecTV “Gemini” box is very nice, and additional ones purchased from DirecTV are $120 each that you can order during registration if you wish. But note that a mid-level Roku box is highly rated and cheaper, purchased from Amazon or where-ever you wish, at prices around $30-90 depending on the features you desire.
When you receive the DirecTV box, the Setup Guide shows you how to plug it in and begin. Note that the setup software will try to get you to set up Google Assistant, but that is not at all required, just keep going to the end of the setup.
If you need a bit of phone help with your DIRECTV setup, call 866.258.8766.
IMPORTANT: Whenever you call DirecTV for help and finally get to a person, tell them right away you are in Willowbend HOA on the bulk contract.