Neighbor trespassing to pick dandelions - would you be annoyed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just write a note back saying you usually take care of the dandelions and were out of town, which was when they got away from you. And you'll take care of it now that you're back.

OP, I think part of your irritation is that the neighbor is implying that you are not a diligent homeowner/good neighbor. This note addresses and corrects that perception. And, the last line is the polite way to say, "And get off my lawn!" which may or may not be heeded--but if the neighbor gets corrected on the first issue and sees that you ARE trying, they may not be as quick to come over and pull up the dandelions.

The good news is that unlike where I used to live (Southern California), you have seasons, that help naturally bring to close or give a breather to little bubbling wars like this. The worst is the constant escalation that comes with a never-ending growing cycle.

As an aside, I hope you don't put weed killer on the dandelions.

OP here, I think you're right about why I'm irritated. Thanks for your suggestions. We really do try to keep up the house/yard well and maintain good curb appeal, and we try to be good neighbors by doing things like shoveling her driveway/sidewalk when it snows, and so to get that note after all our other efforts just really rubbed me the wrong way. We're not willing to use weed killer due to its negative effects on the environment (and potential health effects on humans; we have small children who play on the lawn) while she's someone who has the lawn chemical truck there every month. I have the forked weed-remover tool that I use to remove the entire plant, including taproot, so it's extra irritating to have to hunt around for the plant plus the flower head she's picked. Maybe I will look into that tortoise

I'm the one that said to just use weed killer. You shovel snow off of her driveway? Never mind about using weed killer. Just tell her (or write a note) that you were out for vacation, and that's why so many dandelions appeared, but that you're back and you're pulling them up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just write a note back saying you usually take care of the dandelions and were out of town, which was when they got away from you. And you'll take care of it now that you're back.

OP, I think part of your irritation is that the neighbor is implying that you are not a diligent homeowner/good neighbor. This note addresses and corrects that perception. And, the last line is the polite way to say, "And get off my lawn!" which may or may not be heeded--but if the neighbor gets corrected on the first issue and sees that you ARE trying, they may not be as quick to come over and pull up the dandelions.

The good news is that unlike where I used to live (Southern California), you have seasons, that help naturally bring to close or give a breather to little bubbling wars like this. The worst is the constant escalation that comes with a never-ending growing cycle.

As an aside, I hope you don't put weed killer on the dandelions.

OP here, I think you're right about why I'm irritated. Thanks for your suggestions. We really do try to keep up the house/yard well and maintain good curb appeal, and we try to be good neighbors by doing things like shoveling her driveway/sidewalk when it snows, and so to get that note after all our other efforts just really rubbed me the wrong way. We're not willing to use weed killer due to its negative effects on the environment (and potential health effects on humans; we have small children who play on the lawn) while she's someone who has the lawn chemical truck there every month. I have the forked weed-remover tool that I use to remove the entire plant, including taproot, so it's extra irritating to have to hunt around for the plant plus the flower head she's picked. Maybe I will look into that tortoise

Just another suggestion too if you plan to go away. Let her know in advance you've made arrangements to have the dandelions take care of (pay a neighbor kids $5?)

Seriously??? You people are nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is completely out of line. I would tell her not to come onto your land again. It is not illegal or dangerous to have dandelions for goodness sakes. I'd rather have you and your dandelions than an herbicid-ed lawn or a trespassing, interfering neighbor.

+1
Whether you want the dandelions there or not - it has nothing to do with her. It's your yard and she should stay out. What if, for some reason, you liked the dandelions and here she was pulling them? I'd be mighty irate.

[Anonymous]

Eh. Who cares? She isn't hurting anything by her trespass. I'd just leave it alone, allow her to be angry at "that neighbor".

[Anonymous]

Oh dear god. People are insane.

I like dandelions and would be pissed if someone was picking through my yard.

[Anonymous]

If it bugged me I would spray the yard and be done with it. But really I doubt that I would even notice if someone was pulling 2 weeds out of my lawn. So in my case, I would like not even be aware she was doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is completely out of line. I would tell her not to come onto your land again. It is not illegal or dangerous to have dandelions for goodness sakes. I'd rather have you and your dandelions than an herbicid-ed lawn or a trespassing, interfering neighbor.

+1
Whether you want the dandelions there or not - it has nothing to do with her. It's your yard and she should stay out. What if, for some reason, you liked the dandelions and here she was pulling them? I'd be mighty irate.

What I'd be mighty irate about, if I were the OP, would the lawn chemical truck that the neighbor has over every month. That's a bigger issue than the neighbor coming into the OP's yard to pick (not pull) dandelions. However, the OP almost certainly can't do anything about the neighbor's lawn chemicals. So I like the approach of politely telling the neighbor, "We'll take care of the dandelions in our yard from now on, please, thank you."

By the way, spring dandelions are really helpful for bees: http://www.startribune.com/top-ten-bee-friendly-tips-2-tolerate-dandelions-and-other-useful-weeds/257190851/

[Anonymous]

Someone who would trespass onto your lawn to pop the flowers of dandelions is unlikely to respond to reason, just ask that she doesn't go on your lawn and escalate as needed.

[Anonymous]

Get a goat. Then you won't have to mow either. Lawns are stupid but not as stupid as people who obsess over the appearance of lawns.

[Anonymous]

Send her this and tell her she is killing the bees:

http://www.startribune.com/top-ten-bee-friendly-tips-2-tolerate-dandelions-and-other-useful-weeds/257190851/

[Anonymous]

She is not going to stay off your lawn, so asking her to is only going to increase tension.

Ignore her.

If she confronts you again, tell her that you've noticed you have different approaches you yard care. You pull dandelions, she sprays. You aren't happy that she is spraying chemicals everywhere, but you realize that it's her right to do so. Similarly, it is your right to deal with your yard the way you choose, and the two of you are going to have to agree to disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh dear god. People are insane.

I like dandelions and would be pissed if someone was picking through my yard.

+1

This obsessions with manicured lawns is sick. Let nature be nature, you may like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just write a note back saying you usually take care of the dandelions and were out of town, which was when they got away from you. And you'll take care of it now that you're back.

OP, I think part of your irritation is that the neighbor is implying that you are not a diligent homeowner/good neighbor. This note addresses and corrects that perception. And, the last line is the polite way to say, "And get off my lawn!" which may or may not be heeded--but if the neighbor gets corrected on the first issue and sees that you ARE trying, they may not be as quick to come over and pull up the dandelions.

The good news is that unlike where I used to live (Southern California), you have seasons, that help naturally bring to close or give a breather to little bubbling wars like this. The worst is the constant escalation that comes with a never-ending growing cycle.

As an aside, I hope you don't put weed killer on the dandelions.

OP here, I think you're right about why I'm irritated. Thanks for your suggestions. We really do try to keep up the house/yard well and maintain good curb appeal, and we try to be good neighbors by doing things like shoveling her driveway/sidewalk when it snows, and so to get that note after all our other efforts just really rubbed me the wrong way. We're not willing to use weed killer due to its negative effects on the environment (and potential health effects on humans; we have small children who play on the lawn) while she's someone who has the lawn chemical truck there every month. I have the forked weed-remover tool that I use to remove the entire plant, including taproot, so it's extra irritating to have to hunt around for the plant plus the flower head she's picked. Maybe I will look into that tortoise

Just another suggestion too if you plan to go away. Let her know in advance you've made arrangements to have the dandelions take care of (pay a neighbor kids $5?)

Seriously??? You people are nuts.

+1000. are you all insane? the lady has no say whatsoever on how OP takes care of her lawn, and here people are suggesting that OP should somehow recognize that the lady has control of OP to the point that OP should let her know in advance of her plans or justify herself why a few dandelions where in her yard? OP should nip this in the bud. the lady should stay out of OP's lawn and OP's lawn in none of her business, period. if you give a finger to this type of people, they take an arm. tomorrow she will dictate how often OP should mow the lawn, the type of mulch and so on.

[Anonymous]

I like dandelions too. I let them grow because I eat them in the spring!

I would talk politely to the neighbor and ask her please not to pick them.

(And even if I didn't like them, and wanted to pull them out as you do, I'd still ask her to stop. Just explain that once she pulls the flowers off it's harder for you to see where the dandelions are, to pull them up!)

Of course, if she has dementia or something and just can't understand, I'd probably let it go.

But you are right not to poison the lawn.

[Anonymous]

Trespassing is a very serious crime!

But do not, under any circumstances, attempt to confront the suspects yourself.

Please inform the authorities and allow them to deal with this appropriately.