Anonymous wrote:Just leave your neighbor a note. Write it with salt on his lawn.

This is my favorite post in the entire thread! Thanks for the laugh, PP, I needed it today!

Anonymous wrote:For bees you can report them to animal control

Are all these bee posts the same person? So, I planted beautiful flowers out front. Being flowers, they attract bees. As does my clover lawn. Are you seriously telling me that animal control is going to come and make me dig up my garden and lawn because bees are there?

What about my trees--they are homes for squirrels and birds--both filthy, disease carrying creatures.

I better get rid of my bushes and wet grass too because they attract disease carrying, blood sucking mosquitoes.

We need bees and bees are nature; we can't control every aspect of it.

You seriously sound like you are on crack.

Put up a wood fence or some tall hedging. Bonus points if it's thorny roses.

Wow, that sounds horrible. Very glad I don't live somewhere with an HOA. Sounds like insanity. You can't even plant a tree without their approval? Can't have a single weed? What do they do? Do you get fined?

The reason for the rules about landscaping and large trees is simple: They don't want trees planted in areas that could impact another home. We've planted four trees. All we had to do was submit a simple form. Same thing with the kids' playset. We had to submit our plans for approval, but it was really easy. I don't want to live next door to someone with a rusted out metal swing set, trampoline, or dirty above ground pool. A single weed wouldn't get you fined. An unkept weedy lawn or garden would.

And yes. They can fine you. Usually you get a written note asking that you take care of a specific issue. For example, our neighbor got a note a couple of weeks ago requesting that they repaint their mailbox. They give you plenty of time to comply. If you don't, they'll send another note asking again that you take care of the issue. Next, you get a letter threatening a fine. And they can fine you for every day you are out of compliance. Finally, if you don't fix the problem and pay the fines, they can put a lien on your home.

The thing about HOAs is this: They are not for everyone. When you buy in an HOA community, you sign a contract agreeing to the covenants. No one has to buy in an HOA community. I love the fact that our neighborhood is always clean. I love that my neighbors' lawns are well taken care of. I also love the amenities that come with living in the neighborhood. My kids practically live at the pool during the summer.

Again, HOAs are certainly not for everyone. I can understand why some would hate the restrictions. But I like knowing that my property value is protected by the covenants. I would hate to try to sell a house next to a house with a junky yard.

I'm one of the folks who said that I would not worry about what my neighbor thinks of my lawn and I stand by that as long as there is no HOA rule. I say that because I am in the same situation.

However.

Deliberately junking up your lawn with the purpose of annoying your neighbor is no better! Don't be a jerk about it.

For bees you can report them to animal control

I have clover and I speak for the bees!

Hilarious.

OP, you sound like a nice person, but your neighbor's lawn is not your problem. Do what you want with yours, and he can do the same. As others said, if he is so concerned, he can move to a HOA neighborhood where they mandate that you cut the lawn with scissors or spray-paint it the perfect shade of green. The point of having your own property in a non-HOA community is that you can do what you want with it. You are under no obligation to keep a perfect strip between you. If people think that your lawn somehow "brings down" the neighborhood, they can move.

I can not believe I found a law review article discussing legal liability for bee stings -- which is basically none.

http://classweb.gmu.edu/jkozlows/lawarts/10OCT90.pdf

Anonymous wrote:No no you are wrong. If you plants clover and it attracts bees which then sting someone, you will owe lots of $$$.

. It's true. My cousin told me he knows a guy in Canada that sued someone when he was stung by a wasp that was attracted to his table by the other person's open can of Coke. My cousin says the guy won a million dollars. Do the pp must be right. Just cite my cousin as legal authority in your complaint.

In true DCUM fashion, I suggest you remove all grass and grow corn.

Just leave your neighbor a note. Write it with salt on his lawn.

No no you are wrong. If you plants clover and it attracts bees which then sting someone, you will owe lots of $$$.

Anonymous wrote:I guess we're "lucky" in that our neighbors on both sides have "natural" yards, so nobody complains about the fact that we have as many weeds as grass. In fact, when I asked one of them (who also has young kids) if we should use weedkiller, she was horrified.

One thing I have noticed in other neighborhoods is that some people with natural yards put up a little sign that says "Natural Yard - No Pesticides Used." It makes clear that you're not lazy, but rather that you are intentionally not putting chemicals in your yard.

I love this, and wish more people were like you and your neighbors. It's insane that 70% of herbicides (90 million pounds/ year) in this country are not used to help us grow food, but to maintain those fake "manicured" lawns suburbanites seem to love so much. Of course, all those chemicals end up in our drinking water - what a mindless, destructive cycle.

I don't understand why people would complain about weeds, as long as you mow the lawn.

Redefining the beautiful lawn when it comes to Chesapeake Bay's health http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/24/AR2010042402214.html
Turf Wars http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/19/AR2007091900472.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you mow your lawn fairly short and keep it mowed, the grass will force out the weeds. Takes about a season. Then spread corn gluten to stop the emergent weeds if you want.

I planted Dutch white clover. It improves the soil and feeds the bees. It is also lush and green and fairly short....your children will learn to watch for bees if they want to be barefoot. We did....

You do realize bees wont honor you man made property line. If you were purposely creating a situation to attract bees and a child or adult who was allergic was stung, you could have a lawsuit, even from beyond the property line.

How could that be true? Can I sue the park if I get bit by a bee? We go to Brookside gardens often and they have plants that attract bees/butterflies. I don't really see them being sued if someone got stung.

If you are PURPOSELY growing what is argued as a over the top unreasonable amount of clover flowers to attract bees, than it would be a problem.

This is ridiculous. We have two neighbors that raise bees! How on earth is it OK for them to have hives in yards the size of postage stamps, but it is not OK to have clover. We do in fact have clover, which I would love to get rid of, because of the bees. But I seem to be the only neighbor who doesn't like the bees. Everyone is just thrilled with them. Heck, I'm scared if I get rid of our clover, the neighbors will all get mad I've destroyed the bees habitat.