what is happening to my lawn?!!

[Anonymous]

This spring has been so cold snd rainy that all grass and weeds have grown like crazy. As for crab grass the only solution is to dig it out and replace with Sod. Crab grass is a very strong weed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether we like it or not, nice grass lawn is a selling point. Lawns that are full of weeds, particularly crab grass are a sign of bad house ownership.
That is how buyers see it.
It is also a status symbol.
Houses that are more expensive than mine, in a neighborhood one over, almost all have manicured lawns. On my court, out of 8 houses, 5 are maintaining a "proper" lawn and have grass. The other 4 are not and it is very noticeable and looks bad. One has dandelions all over the front yard. Two have grow whatever grows which is not grass at all. And one is so, so.
Regardless of what we think is great for the environment, fact is that people like seeing the nice grass. Probably as they were raised with parents who thought nice grass was something to work on.
Bad lawn comes off being a lazy homeowner and people think that transfers to actual house maintenance.

Seriously? This is your justification? You could actually be the change instead of giving into some really shallow peer pressure. I got rid of chemicals and never looked back. I don't care what my neighbors think about a few dandelions and clover. And I really, really don't care what buyers think. But then again, I have no intention of selling for a decade or two and I keep our historic house in exquisite condition. Interestingly, the previous owners had a lawn service but didn't do any fundamental improvements. They more or less lived off the depreciation for 10 years. So, having a nice yard that is environmentally toxic - to plants, to pets and to people (especially kids) - is no guarantee that seller is investing in the things you can't see. But you do you, PP.

What? You really think if I used a tiny amount of chemicals that makes the difference.
You should care what buyers think, don't get this environmental crusade. There is a documentary showing that in Germany farmers raising organic (bio products) are not really able to get them sold as organic them bcs huge non-bio fields pollute every inch of the soil due to watershed and other processes that make pretty much all soil contaminated.
And I use True Green which has to comply with Montgomery country rules. But, sure we are buying your argument that you are protecting the kids!
All I think of you is that you are lazy and you use some crusade to justify it.
I know my neighbor is lazy that is why his yard is a mess. He never, ever mows his lawn until it is a jungle! Shallow peer pressure? You are lazy.
Funny how all neglected yards are crusaders' yards! I've yet to see a house with a terrible yard actually maintain their yard their natural way!

NP. Yes. This is how it works. All of you people - who are always only ever using “a tiny amount of chemicals” - add up. Just because you are only one person does not mean you have an impact. I live on a street with 90% perfect lawns, and I mean green sheets of grass so thick that it looks like newly installed shag carpet. My house is one of the crappiest lawns on the street because the last guy didn’t do even basic maintenance. It has been a battle to try and get the lawn to look semi-normal without resorting to chemicals, and I’m just not going to use them short of something like poison ivy.

But as we have more money, I’ll be purposefully switching it to a bee and meadow lawn with native grasses that will grow to five feet at the tallest parts and short sedges in the front. And then I’ll be lazy and saving the earth.

And just a teensy part of me will relish knowing that it annoys people who still think a green lawn is positive thing. It’s not. It’s a thing within the control of the average homeowner and the average homeowner is killing the earth.

You must've meant that my tiny amount does make a difference? You wrote the opposite.
I use True Green and they follow MoCo rules of what is allowed and what is not. In an ideal world, where we all watched it, I would pay attention to.
Your house is one of the crappiest lawns, that reflects poorly on you. You think anyone thinks you are environment friendly? No, they judge you and think you are lazy. If you are so fine with it, why are you trying to get it to look semi-normal? Are you also a prey to peer pressure just like I am?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether we like it or not, nice grass lawn is a selling point. Lawns that are full of weeds, particularly crab grass are a sign of bad house ownership.
That is how buyers see it.
It is also a status symbol.
Houses that are more expensive than mine, in a neighborhood one over, almost all have manicured lawns. On my court, out of 8 houses, 5 are maintaining a "proper" lawn and have grass. The other 4 are not and it is very noticeable and looks bad. One has dandelions all over the front yard. Two have grow whatever grows which is not grass at all. And one is so, so.
Regardless of what we think is great for the environment, fact is that people like seeing the nice grass. Probably as they were raised with parents who thought nice grass was something to work on.
Bad lawn comes off being a lazy homeowner and people think that transfers to actual house maintenance.

Seriously? This is your justification? You could actually be the change instead of giving into some really shallow peer pressure. I got rid of chemicals and never looked back. I don't care what my neighbors think about a few dandelions and clover. And I really, really don't care what buyers think. But then again, I have no intention of selling for a decade or two and I keep our historic house in exquisite condition. Interestingly, the previous owners had a lawn service but didn't do any fundamental improvements. They more or less lived off the depreciation for 10 years. So, having a nice yard that is environmentally toxic - to plants, to pets and to people (especially kids) - is no guarantee that seller is investing in the things you can't see. But you do you, PP.

What? You really think if I used a tiny amount of chemicals that makes the difference.
You should care what buyers think, don't get this environmental crusade. There is a documentary showing that in Germany farmers raising organic (bio products) are not really able to get them sold as organic them bcs huge non-bio fields pollute every inch of the soil due to watershed and other processes that make pretty much all soil contaminated.
And I use True Green which has to comply with Montgomery country rules. But, sure we are buying your argument that you are protecting the kids!
All I think of you is that you are lazy and you use some crusade to justify it.
I know my neighbor is lazy that is why his yard is a mess. He never, ever mows his lawn until it is a jungle! Shallow peer pressure? You are lazy.
Funny how all neglected yards are crusaders' yards! I've yet to see a house with a terrible yard actually maintain their yard their natural way!

NP. Yes. This is how it works. All of you people - who are always only ever using “a tiny amount of chemicals” - add up. Just because you are only one person does not mean you have an impact. I live on a street with 90% perfect lawns, and I mean green sheets of grass so thick that it looks like newly installed shag carpet. My house is one of the crappiest lawns on the street because the last guy didn’t do even basic maintenance. It has been a battle to try and get the lawn to look semi-normal without resorting to chemicals, and I’m just not going to use them short of something like poison ivy.

But as we have more money, I’ll be purposefully switching it to a bee and meadow lawn with native grasses that will grow to five feet at the tallest parts and short sedges in the front. And then I’ll be lazy and saving the earth.

And just a teensy part of me will relish knowing that it annoys people who still think a green lawn is positive thing. It’s not. It’s a thing within the control of the average homeowner and the average homeowner is killing the earth.

You must've meant that my tiny amount does make a difference? You wrote the opposite.
I use True Green and they follow MoCo rules of what is allowed and what is not. In an ideal world, where we all watched it, I would pay attention to.
Your house is one of the crappiest lawns, that reflects poorly on you. You think anyone thinks you are environment friendly? No, they judge you and think you are lazy. If you are so fine with it, why are you trying to get it to look semi-normal? Are you also a prey to peer pressure just like I am?

Because I’m not committing to a full on meadow lawn yet. When I do that, I’m throwing down $1000-2000 on prairie grasses and plants.

And yikes you are just an unpleasant person, aren’t you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether we like it or not, nice grass lawn is a selling point. Lawns that are full of weeds, particularly crab grass are a sign of bad house ownership.
That is how buyers see it.
It is also a status symbol.
Houses that are more expensive than mine, in a neighborhood one over, almost all have manicured lawns. On my court, out of 8 houses, 5 are maintaining a "proper" lawn and have grass. The other 4 are not and it is very noticeable and looks bad. One has dandelions all over the front yard. Two have grow whatever grows which is not grass at all. And one is so, so.
Regardless of what we think is great for the environment, fact is that people like seeing the nice grass. Probably as they were raised with parents who thought nice grass was something to work on.
Bad lawn comes off being a lazy homeowner and people think that transfers to actual house maintenance.

Seriously? This is your justification? You could actually be the change instead of giving into some really shallow peer pressure. I got rid of chemicals and never looked back. I don't care what my neighbors think about a few dandelions and clover. And I really, really don't care what buyers think. But then again, I have no intention of selling for a decade or two and I keep our historic house in exquisite condition. Interestingly, the previous owners had a lawn service but didn't do any fundamental improvements. They more or less lived off the depreciation for 10 years. So, having a nice yard that is environmentally toxic - to plants, to pets and to people (especially kids) - is no guarantee that seller is investing in the things you can't see. But you do you, PP.

What? You really think if I used a tiny amount of chemicals that makes the difference.
You should care what buyers think, don't get this environmental crusade. There is a documentary showing that in Germany farmers raising organic (bio products) are not really able to get them sold as organic them bcs huge non-bio fields pollute every inch of the soil due to watershed and other processes that make pretty much all soil contaminated.
And I use True Green which has to comply with Montgomery country rules. But, sure we are buying your argument that you are protecting the kids!
All I think of you is that you are lazy and you use some crusade to justify it.
I know my neighbor is lazy that is why his yard is a mess. He never, ever mows his lawn until it is a jungle! Shallow peer pressure? You are lazy.
Funny how all neglected yards are crusaders' yards! I've yet to see a house with a terrible yard actually maintain their yard their natural way!

NP. Yes. This is how it works. All of you people - who are always only ever using “a tiny amount of chemicals” - add up. Just because you are only one person does not mean you have an impact. I live on a street with 90% perfect lawns, and I mean green sheets of grass so thick that it looks like newly installed shag carpet. My house is one of the crappiest lawns on the street because the last guy didn’t do even basic maintenance. It has been a battle to try and get the lawn to look semi-normal without resorting to chemicals, and I’m just not going to use them short of something like poison ivy.

But as we have more money, I’ll be purposefully switching it to a bee and meadow lawn with native grasses that will grow to five feet at the tallest parts and short sedges in the front. And then I’ll be lazy and saving the earth.

And just a teensy part of me will relish knowing that it annoys people who still think a green lawn is positive thing. It’s not. It’s a thing within the control of the average homeowner and the average homeowner is killing the earth.

You must've meant that my tiny amount does make a difference? You wrote the opposite.
I use True Green and they follow MoCo rules of what is allowed and what is not. In an ideal world, where we all watched it, I would pay attention to.
Your house is one of the crappiest lawns, that reflects poorly on you. You think anyone thinks you are environment friendly? No, they judge you and think you are lazy. If you are so fine with it, why are you trying to get it to look semi-normal? Are you also a prey to peer pressure just like I am?

Because I’m not committing to a full on meadow lawn yet. When I do that, I’m throwing down $1000-2000 on prairie grasses and plants.

And yikes you are just an unpleasant person, aren’t you?

Just to people that act holier than God and are full of sanctimony!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether we like it or not, nice grass lawn is a selling point. Lawns that are full of weeds, particularly crab grass are a sign of bad house ownership.
That is how buyers see it.
It is also a status symbol.
Houses that are more expensive than mine, in a neighborhood one over, almost all have manicured lawns. On my court, out of 8 houses, 5 are maintaining a "proper" lawn and have grass. The other 4 are not and it is very noticeable and looks bad. One has dandelions all over the front yard. Two have grow whatever grows which is not grass at all. And one is so, so.
Regardless of what we think is great for the environment, fact is that people like seeing the nice grass. Probably as they were raised with parents who thought nice grass was something to work on.
Bad lawn comes off being a lazy homeowner and people think that transfers to actual house maintenance.

Seriously? This is your justification? You could actually be the change instead of giving into some really shallow peer pressure. I got rid of chemicals and never looked back. I don't care what my neighbors think about a few dandelions and clover. And I really, really don't care what buyers think. But then again, I have no intention of selling for a decade or two and I keep our historic house in exquisite condition. Interestingly, the previous owners had a lawn service but didn't do any fundamental improvements. They more or less lived off the depreciation for 10 years. So, having a nice yard that is environmentally toxic - to plants, to pets and to people (especially kids) - is no guarantee that seller is investing in the things you can't see. But you do you, PP.

What? You really think if I used a tiny amount of chemicals that makes the difference.
You should care what buyers think, don't get this environmental crusade. There is a documentary showing that in Germany farmers raising organic (bio products) are not really able to get them sold as organic them bcs huge non-bio fields pollute every inch of the soil due to watershed and other processes that make pretty much all soil contaminated.
And I use True Green which has to comply with Montgomery country rules. But, sure we are buying your argument that you are protecting the kids!
All I think of you is that you are lazy and you use some crusade to justify it.
I know my neighbor is lazy that is why his yard is a mess. He never, ever mows his lawn until it is a jungle! Shallow peer pressure? You are lazy.
Funny how all neglected yards are crusaders' yards! I've yet to see a house with a terrible yard actually maintain their yard their natural way!

NP. Yes. This is how it works. All of you people - who are always only ever using “a tiny amount of chemicals” - add up. Just because you are only one person does not mean you have an impact. I live on a street with 90% perfect lawns, and I mean green sheets of grass so thick that it looks like newly installed shag carpet. My house is one of the crappiest lawns on the street because the last guy didn’t do even basic maintenance. It has been a battle to try and get the lawn to look semi-normal without resorting to chemicals, and I’m just not going to use them short of something like poison ivy.

But as we have more money, I’ll be purposefully switching it to a bee and meadow lawn with native grasses that will grow to five feet at the tallest parts and short sedges in the front. And then I’ll be lazy and saving the earth.

And just a teensy part of me will relish knowing that it annoys people who still think a green lawn is positive thing. It’s not. It’s a thing within the control of the average homeowner and the average homeowner is killing the earth.

You must've meant that my tiny amount does make a difference? You wrote the opposite.
I use True Green and they follow MoCo rules of what is allowed and what is not. In an ideal world, where we all watched it, I would pay attention to.
Your house is one of the crappiest lawns, that reflects poorly on you. You think anyone thinks you are environment friendly? No, they judge you and think you are lazy. If you are so fine with it, why are you trying to get it to look semi-normal? Are you also a prey to peer pressure just like I am?

Because I’m not committing to a full on meadow lawn yet. When I do that, I’m throwing down $1000-2000 on prairie grasses and plants.

And yikes you are just an unpleasant person, aren’t you?

Just to people that act holier than God and are full of sanctimony!

I’m not holier than God nor am I full of sanctimony. I’m telling you the truth, and you don’t want to hear it.

The pursuit of a perfect lawn is a game that’s contributing the death of the earth. Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers run off our land and into our watershed. A lawn can and does actually functions as an impervious surface, too, which means that the rainwater runs right off, too; that means more floods and high water in our flood ways, less water in our soil, for all the species that need it. A “perfect” lawn means a monoculture, and since a perfect lawn is usually accessorized with sterile annuals and shrubs and bushes that produce nothing, there’s nothing for bees, nothing for butterflies, or birds, which means there’s less for mammals to eat. A “perfect” lawn represents a total lack of biodiversity and the kind of decisions that humans make to fit in to the detriment of the world and themselves.

And so perhaps OP can burn her lawn under plastic if she wants to pursue perfection. Or she can landscape it in such a way that she has Mid-Atlantic (or with the way global warming is going, maybe a few Tidewater) native perennials that bring beauty, no chemicals and biodiversity to her lawn.

I’m really sorry for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether we like it or not, nice grass lawn is a selling point. Lawns that are full of weeds, particularly crab grass are a sign of bad house ownership.
That is how buyers see it.
It is also a status symbol.
Houses that are more expensive than mine, in a neighborhood one over, almost all have manicured lawns. On my court, out of 8 houses, 5 are maintaining a "proper" lawn and have grass. The other 4 are not and it is very noticeable and looks bad. One has dandelions all over the front yard. Two have grow whatever grows which is not grass at all. And one is so, so.
Regardless of what we think is great for the environment, fact is that people like seeing the nice grass. Probably as they were raised with parents who thought nice grass was something to work on.
Bad lawn comes off being a lazy homeowner and people think that transfers to actual house maintenance.

Seriously? This is your justification? You could actually be the change instead of giving into some really shallow peer pressure. I got rid of chemicals and never looked back. I don't care what my neighbors think about a few dandelions and clover. And I really, really don't care what buyers think. But then again, I have no intention of selling for a decade or two and I keep our historic house in exquisite condition. Interestingly, the previous owners had a lawn service but didn't do any fundamental improvements. They more or less lived off the depreciation for 10 years. So, having a nice yard that is environmentally toxic - to plants, to pets and to people (especially kids) - is no guarantee that seller is investing in the things you can't see. But you do you, PP.

People keep mentioning dandelions and clover. Believe me, as a former realtor, a "lawn" comprised of crabgress, creeping charlie, and henbit look like crap and have poor curb appeal (not to mention poor erosion control). But since you're not selling and only have dandelions and clover, you don't need to worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are Americans obsessed with their grass? I don't get it. I also think in 10-20 years, you'll look back and be ashamed of the environmental devastation that trying to keep a perfect lawn not to mention the impact to our health:

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/lawns-american-yard-us/index.html#:~:text=Lawns%20are%20an%20American%20obsession,bylaws%20and%20by%20homeowner%20associations.

For all those who profess support of the environment, this is the height of hypocrisy. End of rant.

I mean, the landscaped yards in that article look beautiful, but are a LOT of work and not necessarily cheap either. We've been working to convert a small section of our lawn to native plants but there is no way we would do the entire yard. And kids need some space to run around, a lawn is best for this. Doesn't mean it has to be "perfect."

That's fair but it also doesn't mean you need to spray for weeds or mosquitos, both of which are incredibly harmful to the environment, pets and people. On my frequent walks, I am starting to see how bland and sterile non-native plants and pristine grass/lawns look and how damaging that is. Fun fact, did you know that your local bees can't pollinate non-native plants? Natives also do better. Moreover, you can find all kinds of alternatives to grass that are relatively low maintenance. It doesn't stop you from mowing. You just have to learn how to live with clover and dandelions!

I’m one of the people on this board who advocates for no chemicals, meadow lawns, I just posted about a perennial plant garden in lieu of a lawn, but this is a lie and a half.

I agree that the pp is dead wrong that bees (many of whom are non native themselves) won't pollinate non-native plants. And funny thing (although I don't mind dandelions, I do some hand weeding of them depending on my ambition) dandelions aren't native either. Nor are earthworms!

+1. And just wait until the jumping worms arrive!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether we like it or not, nice grass lawn is a selling point. Lawns that are full of weeds, particularly crab grass are a sign of bad house ownership.
That is how buyers see it.
It is also a status symbol.
Houses that are more expensive than mine, in a neighborhood one over, almost all have manicured lawns. On my court, out of 8 houses, 5 are maintaining a "proper" lawn and have grass. The other 4 are not and it is very noticeable and looks bad. One has dandelions all over the front yard. Two have grow whatever grows which is not grass at all. And one is so, so.
Regardless of what we think is great for the environment, fact is that people like seeing the nice grass. Probably as they were raised with parents who thought nice grass was something to work on.
Bad lawn comes off being a lazy homeowner and people think that transfers to actual house maintenance.

Seriously? This is your justification? You could actually be the change instead of giving into some really shallow peer pressure. I got rid of chemicals and never looked back. I don't care what my neighbors think about a few dandelions and clover. And I really, really don't care what buyers think. But then again, I have no intention of selling for a decade or two and I keep our historic house in exquisite condition. Interestingly, the previous owners had a lawn service but didn't do any fundamental improvements. They more or less lived off the depreciation for 10 years. So, having a nice yard that is environmentally toxic - to plants, to pets and to people (especially kids) - is no guarantee that seller is investing in the things you can't see. But you do you, PP.

People keep mentioning dandelions and clover. Believe me, as a former realtor, a "lawn" comprised of crabgress, creeping charlie, and henbit look like crap and have poor curb appeal (not to mention poor erosion control). But since you're not selling and only have dandelions and clover, you don't need to worry.

As that PP, if I did care and it made a HUGE difference in terms of pricing, then I'd throw down some sod last minute. You know, how many houses do along with their insipid non-native plants that start dying off the moment after the house is sold. These things are easily addressed if it came to that. You know what's not? The high quality of construction materials (copper gutters/flashing/slate roof/brick on all sides) and character of our historic house as well as its location (within walking distance to a metro). But I digress. I expect that tastes will change and most of you with perfect lawns will look back in 5-10 years when native plantings and sustainable gardening/lawns without the environmental degradation becomes de rigueur for my fellow millennials and certainly for Gen Z. They will look at you with scorn - the things you did to our environment and native habitats - all in the name of a "perfect lawn".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whether we like it or not, nice grass lawn is a selling point. Lawns that are full of weeds, particularly crab grass are a sign of bad house ownership.
That is how buyers see it.
It is also a status symbol.
Houses that are more expensive than mine, in a neighborhood one over, almost all have manicured lawns. On my court, out of 8 houses, 5 are maintaining a "proper" lawn and have grass. The other 4 are not and it is very noticeable and looks bad. One has dandelions all over the front yard. Two have grow whatever grows which is not grass at all. And one is so, so.
Regardless of what we think is great for the environment, fact is that people like seeing the nice grass. Probably as they were raised with parents who thought nice grass was something to work on.
Bad lawn comes off being a lazy homeowner and people think that transfers to actual house maintenance.

Seriously? This is your justification? You could actually be the change instead of giving into some really shallow peer pressure. I got rid of chemicals and never looked back. I don't care what my neighbors think about a few dandelions and clover. And I really, really don't care what buyers think. But then again, I have no intention of selling for a decade or two and I keep our historic house in exquisite condition. Interestingly, the previous owners had a lawn service but didn't do any fundamental improvements. They more or less lived off the depreciation for 10 years. So, having a nice yard that is environmentally toxic - to plants, to pets and to people (especially kids) - is no guarantee that seller is investing in the things you can't see. But you do you, PP.

People keep mentioning dandelions and clover. Believe me, as a former realtor, a "lawn" comprised of crabgress, creeping charlie, and henbit look like crap and have poor curb appeal (not to mention poor erosion control). But since you're not selling and only have dandelions and clover, you don't need to worry.

As that PP, if I did care and it made a HUGE difference in terms of pricing, then I'd throw down some sod last minute. You know, how many houses do along with their insipid non-native plants that start dying off the moment after the house is sold. These things are easily addressed if it came to that. You know what's not? The high quality of construction materials (copper gutters/flashing/slate roof/brick on all sides) and character of our historic house as well as its location (within walking distance to a metro). But I digress. I expect that tastes will change and most of you with perfect lawns will look back in 5-10 years when native plantings and sustainable gardening/lawns without the environmental degradation becomes de rigueur for my fellow millennials and certainly for Gen Z. They will look at you with scorn - the things you did to our environment and native habitats - all in the name of a "perfect lawn".

I understand you have trouble appreciating any degree of nuance, but there's a lot of gray area between "perfect" lawn and "sh-t" lawn.