Neighborhood landscaping

[Anonymous]

Our neighborhood is cute, but there is a combination of neat landscaping, landscaping that is maintained every so often when it looks a bit messy, and then more “native plant” front yards that look like overgrown messes. I have seen houses who do the native plants right and it looks like a pretty cottage garden instead of an abandoned property. This is not that.
We do not have an HOA. Has anyone been successful in getting neighbors to “beautify” their curb appeal?

[Anonymous]

As someone who has gone from (what you probably mean by) neat to messy and aiming for native - MYOB. Not everyone wants to poison the watershed and waste water on the lawn.

[Anonymous]

My response, depending on how you asked, would be either,

"If you'd like to pay for it, I'll be happy to hire someone to maintain it. Where should I send the bill?"

or

"Eff off."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My response, depending on how you asked, would be either,

"If you'd like to pay for it, I'll be happy to hire someone to maintain it. Where should I send the bill?"

or

"Eff off."

+1 and add to that if you would like to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood is cute, but there is a combination of neat landscaping, landscaping that is maintained every so often when it looks a bit messy, and then more “native plant” front yards that look like overgrown messes. I have seen houses who do the native plants right and it looks like a pretty cottage garden instead of an abandoned property. This is not that.
We do not have an HOA. Has anyone been successful in getting neighbors to “beautify” their curb appeal?

We've and it brought community closer and helped everyone in many ways. If neighborhood looks good, its a good environment to live, to buy, to sell and to socialize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has gone from (what you probably mean by) neat to messy and aiming for native - MYOB. Not everyone wants to poison the watershed and waste water on the lawn.

Lol

You would hate me

[Anonymous]

My BIL mowed his neighbor's grass for three months while he wasn't able to after a surgery. One colleague's neighbors take turns taking care of an elderly couple's yard so street looks good without financially burdening the owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My response, depending on how you asked, would be either,

"If you'd like to pay for it, I'll be happy to hire someone to maintain it. Where should I send the bill?"

or

"Eff off."

+1 and add to that if you would like to do it.

I thought about that, but anyone who has the temerity to ask that question is not someone I want on my property frequently. They can pay for it, or pipe down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood is cute, but there is a combination of neat landscaping, landscaping that is maintained every so often when it looks a bit messy, and then more “native plant” front yards that look like overgrown messes. I have seen houses who do the native plants right and it looks like a pretty cottage garden instead of an abandoned property. This is not that.
We do not have an HOA. Has anyone been successful in getting neighbors to “beautify” their curb appeal?

We've and it brought community closer and helped everyone in many ways. If neighborhood looks good, its a good environment to live, to buy, to sell and to socialize.

Great! How did you do it and how did the conversation start?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has gone from (what you probably mean by) neat to messy and aiming for native - MYOB. Not everyone wants to poison the watershed and waste water on the lawn.

I worked with a landscape architect to go from pure grass to natives with a cottage feel like OP mentions. I used organic products before so no watershed was harmed. What makes you think that OP wants to harm the watershed with this question?
We built a large deck in the back and wanted a sitting area in front with flowers, but would have kept the lawn otherswise.

[Anonymous]

OP the obvious solution for you is to move to an HOA neighborhood.

Your neighborhood has a relevant code, which probably has rules about high grass and plants blocking the side walk. You can look it up, and you can report violations. Knock yourself out. That’s all you can do.

If you want to live in a neighborhood with stricter rules, that exists! It’s called an HOA. Go find one and be happy. Leave your existing neighbors alone.