Landscaping in NW DC is so...ugh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manicured lawns are an environmental waste. Clover lawns and easy to manage perennials are the better way to go.

Ok. I don't disagree. But these neighborhoods have grass lawns. They are not maintained and look ugly. If you keep grass, you should at least maintain it.
Look at the sidewalks. They are full of grass with weed. If it was only the weed, that would be fine, but the worst thing is that nobody is even cutting the grass. It either looks thin and dead or neglected like a forest.

Water wise grass is dormant in winter, not dead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manicured lawns are an environmental waste. Clover lawns and easy to manage perennials are the better way to go.

Ok. I don't disagree. But these neighborhoods have grass lawns. They are not maintained and look ugly. If you keep grass, you should at least maintain it.
Look at the sidewalks. They are full of grass with weed. If it was only the weed, that would be fine, but the worst thing is that nobody is even cutting the grass. It either looks thin and dead or neglected like a forest.

What you consider a weed, others consider pants that avoid a monoculture of grass. If all you see are identical blades of grass, you are doing it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manicured lawns are an environmental waste. Clover lawns and easy to manage perennials are the better way to go.

Ok. I don't disagree. But these neighborhoods have grass lawns. They are not maintained and look ugly. If you keep grass, you should at least maintain it.
Look at the sidewalks. They are full of grass with weed. If it was only the weed, that would be fine, but the worst thing is that nobody is even cutting the grass. It either looks thin and dead or neglected like a forest.

Speaking only for myself here, and living in Chevy Chase, DC, my two options are to spend all the hours from 6 PM till sundown doing my own lawn, or paying an outside firm $800 a month to achieve your aesthetic goal. It would be far cheaper to just get guys to cut the grass, but to achieve what you’re actually talking about is about 800 a month

Does that answer your question?

800 a month? It that what it costs? That's not what people pay to get it done in the burbs.

Everything costs more in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many affluent neighborhoods in NW DC. Residents are definitely doing well. However, the landscaping, yards and curb appeal in these neighborhoods are so bad.
Weed is everywhere. They don't care so much about keeping their yards nice and beautiful. No manicured lawns. You can tell that they don't value landscaping. Even the city doesn't value landscaping on the streets.
Why is that? I can't imagine this is about money and cost.
You drive in many average suburbs around here and you'll see a very different picture. Nice and beautiful manicured lawns.
Are DC residents just more nasty? I don't get it.

Will be moving to a SFH in the 'burbs in a year or two and do expect to possibly annoy my neighbors with my refusal to use pesticides for a picture perfect lawn and plant a ton of native perennials to keep the bees and butterflies happy.

We have zoysia grass. It naturally prevents weeds and takes care of itself. Dream grass.

[Anonymous]

In order to have a beautiful lawn, you have to use chemicals that are bad for the environment and you have to constantly maintain it.

There are lot of people here are aware that the use of chemicals is not justified for the post-war fantasy that we are lords of our own manor (look up the history of lawns in America)

[Anonymous]

I can’t imagine judging the yards and gardens of anywhere right now. It’s March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine judging the yards and gardens of anywhere right now. It’s March.

this

[Anonymous]

What you long for, OP, is maintained through chemicals and artificial watering. Do better for the Earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manicured lawns are an environmental waste. Clover lawns and easy to manage perennials are the better way to go.

Ok. I don't disagree. But these neighborhoods have grass lawns. They are not maintained and look ugly. If you keep grass, you should at least maintain it.
Look at the sidewalks. They are full of grass with weed. If it was only the weed, that would be fine, but the worst thing is that nobody is even cutting the grass. It either looks thin and dead or neglected like a forest.

Speaking only for myself here, and living in Chevy Chase, DC, my two options are to spend all the hours from 6 PM till sundown doing my own lawn, or paying an outside firm $800 a month to achieve your aesthetic goal. It would be far cheaper to just get guys to cut the grass, but to achieve what you’re actually talking about is about 800 a month

Does that answer your question?

800 a month? It that what it costs? That's not what people pay to get it done in the burbs.

PP here. Yes, during the growth seasons and cleanup months (Oct - Dec 1). For a 5500 sq ft property with multiple trees, shrubs, some lawn and perennial beds. In 20015 near Reno Rd. Again, this is the rate to achieve what OP describes. To just have a crew come and cut your grass and weeds every two weeks with their pick up truck would cost less I’m not denying that. But for fertilizing weeding mulching composting trimming trees shaping bushes. Yeah that’s what it costs. Planting annuals, overseeding as needed, edging, aeration. Dividing perennials …. Planting bulbs, cutting back the daffodils when they turn brown. Pulling weeds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine judging the yards and gardens of anywhere right now. It’s March.

this

Cool. We’re not in Chicago or Omaha though. In DC the flowers are blooming the grass is Kelley green, and the trees are leafing out. All the flowering trees are already in bloom. Check the title of the website, and thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine judging the yards and gardens of anywhere right now. It’s March.

this

Cool. We’re not in Chicago or Omaha though. In DC the flowers are blooming the grass is Kelley green, and the trees are leafing out. All the flowering trees are already in bloom. Check the title of the website, and thanks

People generally don't start their spring yard work till after last frost date which is right around now or early April.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manicured lawns are an environmental waste. Clover lawns and easy to manage perennials are the better way to go.

Ok. I don't disagree. But these neighborhoods have grass lawns. They are not maintained and look ugly. If you keep grass, you should at least maintain it.
Look at the sidewalks. They are full of grass with weed. If it was only the weed, that would be fine, but the worst thing is that nobody is even cutting the grass. It either looks thin and dead or neglected like a forest.

Speaking only for myself here, and living in Chevy Chase, DC, my two options are to spend all the hours from 6 PM till sundown doing my own lawn, or paying an outside firm $800 a month to achieve your aesthetic goal. It would be far cheaper to just get guys to cut the grass, but to achieve what you’re actually talking about is about 800 a month

Does that answer your question?

800 a month? It that what it costs? That's not what people pay to get it done in the burbs.

We pay about $500 a month in Montgomery County. This includes fall and spring mulching and clean up and trimming etc. as well as regular mowing during the seasons when that is necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine judging the yards and gardens of anywhere right now. It’s March.

this

Cool. We’re not in Chicago or Omaha though. In DC the flowers are blooming the grass is Kelley green, and the trees are leafing out. All the flowering trees are already in bloom. Check the title of the website, and thanks

People generally don't start their spring yard work till after last frost date which is right around now or early April.

Shhh. PP knows everything. Obviously if the grass is green where they live in DC and the trees are leafing out, then that’s everything! There’s nothing else that can grow or look better in a few weeks. Nothing.

- not Omaha, Chicago or DC but a gardener who knows judging lawns and gardens by their early spring appearance is a fool’s game

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine judging the yards and gardens of anywhere right now. It’s March.

this

Cool. We’re not in Chicago or Omaha though. In DC the flowers are blooming the grass is Kelley green, and the trees are leafing out. All the flowering trees are already in bloom. Check the title of the website, and thanks

People generally don't start their spring yard work till after last frost date which is right around now or early April.

Shhh. PP knows everything. Obviously if the grass is green where they live in DC and the trees are leafing out, then that’s everything! There’s nothing else that can grow or look better in a few weeks. Nothing.

- not Omaha, Chicago or DC but a gardener who knows judging lawns and gardens by their early spring appearance is a fool’s game

You’re mocking me and claiming I’m judging something? I’m not making predictions about the yard’s appearance in July.

Since you’re a DC gardener you know that it’s time now, or past time, to lay sod, prune certain trees, plant summer bulbs, edge, mulch, plant spring bedding plants like pansies, apply pre-emergents (organic or traditional). Overlay organic material on the lawn, like biochar. Fertilize acid-loving shrubs, apply soil amendments such as lime.

If you’re so inclined, it’s past time to apply the first application of fungicide to vulnerable fruit trees.

This is my “judgment” from decades of yard care in DC that has nothing to do with driving around, or whatever you said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine judging the yards and gardens of anywhere right now. It’s March.

this

Cool. We’re not in Chicago or Omaha though. In DC the flowers are blooming the grass is Kelley green, and the trees are leafing out. All the flowering trees are already in bloom. Check the title of the website, and thanks

People generally don't start their spring yard work till after last frost date which is right around now or early April.

Shhh. PP knows everything. Obviously if the grass is green where they live in DC and the trees are leafing out, then that’s everything! There’s nothing else that can grow or look better in a few weeks. Nothing.

- not Omaha, Chicago or DC but a gardener who knows judging lawns and gardens by their early spring appearance is a fool’s game

You’re mocking me and claiming I’m judging something? I’m not making predictions about the yard’s appearance in July.

Since you’re a DC gardener you know that it’s time now, or past time, to lay sod, prune certain trees, plant summer bulbs, edge, mulch, plant spring bedding plants like pansies, apply pre-emergents (organic or traditional). Overlay organic material on the lawn, like biochar. Fertilize acid-loving shrubs, apply soil amendments such as lime.

If you’re so inclined, it’s past time to apply the first application of fungicide to vulnerable fruit trees.

This is my “judgment” from decades of yard care in DC that has nothing to do with driving around, or whatever you said.

You must have an awful lot of time on your hands.