Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm too busy with the kids to worry about what my neighbors say about my weed-filled, overgrown "lawn." Don't sweat it. I'm sure your 401k isn't optimized, your gutters need to be cleaned and you aging Asian hatchback left an oil spot on the street. Whatever.
OP again:
Just to respond, I figure the 401K thing isn't anyone's business anyway, but we do have someone who comes twice a year to clean the gutters. I figure that's a home maintenance issue. I don't want clogged gutters and I don't want the water falling off our house and into our basement. The weeds and ants don't seem to be as consequential to us.
And, you're right about our aging Asian car, just that it's a sedan. It's definitely no late model Lexus SUV.
Anonymous wrote:I'm too busy with the kids to worry about what my neighbors say about my weed-filled, overgrown "lawn." Don't sweat it. I'm sure your 401k isn't optimized, your gutters need to be cleaned and you aging Asian hatchback left an oil spot on the street. Whatever.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would kindly suggest to him that he should speak to his lawn service, because they apparently aren't doing the job properly if they aren't preventing/killing off the weeds in his yard. What is he paying all that money for?
As long as your yard is mowed, it seems very reasonable to me. I'd probably change flower beds to require little/no weeding in the future.
Any suggestions on how to make it look decent with little/no weeding? Sounds perfect!
Plant tall, dense plants close together to prevent sunlight from reaching the ground. Use a ground cover like ajuga or lamium. Think more natural flower beds than manicured gardens. Black eyed Susans, Lobelia, Hardy Hibiscus, etc.
Anonymous wrote:Rip out the lawn entirely. Put down a pours weed mat. Pour pea gravel or granite gravel evenly over the yard about 2" thick. plant a few very, very drought restart perennials. They'll come back every year without you doing anything.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would kindly suggest to him that he should speak to his lawn service, because they apparently aren't doing the job properly if they aren't preventing/killing off the weeds in his yard. What is he paying all that money for?
As long as your yard is mowed, it seems very reasonable to me. I'd probably change flower beds to require little/no weeding in the future.
Any suggestions on how to make it look decent with little/no weeding? Sounds perfect!
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.
Anonymous wrote:put a walkway or a border of some kind on the property dividing line...
Anonymous wrote:Without an HOA, you have the right to do anything you want with your lawn, but it is extremely rude not to take care of any flowering or seeding weeds that will spread themselves in the wind into your neighbors yard. That's the plant equivalent of letting your dog out to wander and poop in the neighbors yards. As long as you keep your weeds in your yard, you're fine.
So, what to do? I would treat an area of your yard along the border between your properties, say about 3-5 feet wide to help create a barrier so that weeds don't send roots towards his lawn. Also, you should treat any flowering weeds within about 10 feet of his yard. What to treat with to avoid anything harmful to your pets or children? You can use vinegar. Pour or spray on plants and it will start killing them in 15-30 minutes. You can also use 1 teaspoon rubbing alcohol in 1 liter of water. It will kill plants by dehydrating them. As I said, I would treat a strip of your yard by your neighbor's edge and then spot treat any weeds that are flowering or releasing seeds. You're free to do whatever you want, but the neighborly thing it to be respectful of a neighbor who wants a weed-free yard by making sure that you're not spreading your weeds into his yard.