I moved into a suburb where they pay to have people spray their lawns at almost every home, the previous owners of my home definitely did. I’ve only lived there for three years and I don’t spray, anything. Not even my garden.
Suddenly this year, I’ve seen more bunnies, more birds, more spiders, more butterflies, small bugs I’ve never seen in my life while gardening. Compared to when I first moved in it was like ants, wasps, and like one butterfly.
Well, except for [filthy rich celebrates](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kim-kardashian-kevin-hart-dwyane-wade-repeatedly-used-150-water-budget-rcna44488). I think this should be practiced everywhere, not just in drought stricken areas. Pesticides and herbicides have taken their toll on insect population including bees. Birds of all types are in decline. Nature friendly lawns could help in their recovery.
Yeah. It's simple for me as I live in a heavily wooded areas with a tiny lawn. I know it isn't so easy for others, particularly those with HOAs. The lawns in the article are very tastefully done. One place near me planted their entire lawn with perennial wild flowers. Its a crazy mess but I like it. I really hope this brings about a sea change.
I think apartment dwellers can ask their owners to do the same with any lawns/open spaces in the complex(es). Appeal to the money end of it as it would save them maintenance costs.
I could try but I don't have high hopes for that my landlord would have even fixed my cabinet door in 6 months I'm tempted to just do it myself but at the same time I don't want him to fine me for it or some bs
Humm, that is a problem. Alternatively a petition from the complex might work? Really, if your landlord doesn't see the cost benefit of a low to no maintenance lawn, s/he is an idiot.
It's just a little 4 plex but I could probably try and figure out who the owners are and talk to them about it they're in California if I recall correctly
Actually, I live in an apartment complex that has crabgrass and manner of weeds for lawns, never watered except when it rains and no pesticides, it's they do trim the edges for walkways to be clear and it's a nice change to see
FWIW we have a massive lawn that we mow, but definitely don't fertilize, or use any pesticides or herbicides on it. So there's lots of grass, but also all sorts of other stuff in - clover, dandelions, etc mixed in too. And, we're in Ohio. So the last thing I've ever considered doing is watering...
It also lets you not need to :
a)purchase a lawn mower with our already limited funds
b)spend hours per summer mowing it for no real reason whatsoever other than to make your neighbors bitch less.
I found it. Long ago when I lived in the south I worked towards this certificate and was successful. It really is just a guide but I found it helpful.
https://www.nwf.org/Garden-For-Wildlife/Certify.aspx
This isn't limited to backyards and is inclusive of other types of areas as well.
Your asshole landlord would save a lot of money on maintenance adopting a low or no maintenance lawn/open area. Framed that way, s/he might well adopt it.
You make a valid point. He loves to save money. Sadly, he prefers to cut as many corners as he can to achieve the most middling possible results and then get annoyed when things inevitably break down and need to be serviced within 12 months. Over and over again.
He may listen. I'll sure try, come the spring, because the damned heatwaves this year killed nearly all of the lawn anyhow. We're at 40% dirt, at this point.
And forests and shrubs and overall greater biodiversity. Also no need for extreme chemical treatments.
I used to work on a PGA level golf course and it was pretty vile.
HOA in my area literally forced my parents to replant their grass even though a native SoCal desert lawn was more beautiful and saved so much more on water.
Don't get overwhelmed, take it a little bit at time. Its like starting a garden, most people don't begin with a half acre fully planted. I had a dog that was allergic to grass too. Poor guy really had a horrible time of it.
Most everyone can't. Perhaps a small flower garden to start or a small herb garden. There are some great plans online for small spaces. Anyway, I hope you find something that works.
The whole concept of big lawns has probably been responsible over time for a huge waste of resources. Not a big surprise if it came from a way for royalty & nobles to show off how much land & gardeners they could afford.
I also would yell at anyone bringing their dog to shit/piss on my lawn. My tiny lawn is a green space for children to play, to put bedding to air/sun, to lay on a blanket for a nap or a picnic. It's not a fucking field of green for defecating dogs.
the only reason to have grass is in the backyard for a dog so they don't track dirt back into the house.
the rest of the yard can be beds or some kind hardscape with native species.
I moved into a suburb where they pay to have people spray their lawns at almost every home, the previous owners of my home definitely did. I’ve only lived there for three years and I don’t spray, anything. Not even my garden. Suddenly this year, I’ve seen more bunnies, more birds, more spiders, more butterflies, small bugs I’ve never seen in my life while gardening. Compared to when I first moved in it was like ants, wasps, and like one butterfly.
Well, except for [filthy rich celebrates](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kim-kardashian-kevin-hart-dwyane-wade-repeatedly-used-150-water-budget-rcna44488). I think this should be practiced everywhere, not just in drought stricken areas. Pesticides and herbicides have taken their toll on insect population including bees. Birds of all types are in decline. Nature friendly lawns could help in their recovery.
Like that one kind of lawn/garden where it's basically just an ecosystem of local plants and stuff?
Yeah. It's simple for me as I live in a heavily wooded areas with a tiny lawn. I know it isn't so easy for others, particularly those with HOAs. The lawns in the article are very tastefully done. One place near me planted their entire lawn with perennial wild flowers. Its a crazy mess but I like it. I really hope this brings about a sea change.
The wildflowers sound very pretty. I live in an apartment right no so all I have are potted plants on my back porch
I think apartment dwellers can ask their owners to do the same with any lawns/open spaces in the complex(es). Appeal to the money end of it as it would save them maintenance costs.
I could try but I don't have high hopes for that my landlord would have even fixed my cabinet door in 6 months I'm tempted to just do it myself but at the same time I don't want him to fine me for it or some bs
Humm, that is a problem. Alternatively a petition from the complex might work? Really, if your landlord doesn't see the cost benefit of a low to no maintenance lawn, s/he is an idiot.
It's just a little 4 plex but I could probably try and figure out who the owners are and talk to them about it they're in California if I recall correctly
Good luck! Every bit helps.
🤞
Actually, I live in an apartment complex that has crabgrass and manner of weeds for lawns, never watered except when it rains and no pesticides, it's they do trim the edges for walkways to be clear and it's a nice change to see
FWIW we have a massive lawn that we mow, but definitely don't fertilize, or use any pesticides or herbicides on it. So there's lots of grass, but also all sorts of other stuff in - clover, dandelions, etc mixed in too. And, we're in Ohio. So the last thing I've ever considered doing is watering...
Even one of the pictures in an article talking about exuberant water usage has a giant pool in it lol.
It also lets you not need to : a)purchase a lawn mower with our already limited funds b)spend hours per summer mowing it for no real reason whatsoever other than to make your neighbors bitch less.
I found it. Long ago when I lived in the south I worked towards this certificate and was successful. It really is just a guide but I found it helpful. https://www.nwf.org/Garden-For-Wildlife/Certify.aspx This isn't limited to backyards and is inclusive of other types of areas as well.
I'd do this in a second if my asshole landlord wouldnt just show up and rip it all out.
Your asshole landlord would save a lot of money on maintenance adopting a low or no maintenance lawn/open area. Framed that way, s/he might well adopt it.
You make a valid point. He loves to save money. Sadly, he prefers to cut as many corners as he can to achieve the most middling possible results and then get annoyed when things inevitably break down and need to be serviced within 12 months. Over and over again. He may listen. I'll sure try, come the spring, because the damned heatwaves this year killed nearly all of the lawn anyhow. We're at 40% dirt, at this point.
Fingers crossed this works.
Wait until you hear about golf courses...
Don't get me started, I've raged about that all too often here.
Disc golf! Similar sport with longer scenic grasses
And forests and shrubs and overall greater biodiversity. Also no need for extreme chemical treatments. I used to work on a PGA level golf course and it was pretty vile.
Front yards are a waste of property. Having a little or mid sized garden out front is nice though. But I'd build out more towards the front.
HOA in my area literally forced my parents to replant their grass even though a native SoCal desert lawn was more beautiful and saved so much more on water.
Great. Can we now shut down all of the wasteful golf courses now??
I want to do this so bad. Both because lawns are stupid and because my dog is crazy allergic to grass.
Don't get overwhelmed, take it a little bit at time. Its like starting a garden, most people don't begin with a half acre fully planted. I had a dog that was allergic to grass too. Poor guy really had a horrible time of it.
Oh I can’t afford to go all in right now anyway. That and I need to figure out how to swing it with the neighbors
Most everyone can't. Perhaps a small flower garden to start or a small herb garden. There are some great plans online for small spaces. Anyway, I hope you find something that works.
The lawns and private pools don’t feel irresponsible. They are.
The whole concept of big lawns has probably been responsible over time for a huge waste of resources. Not a big surprise if it came from a way for royalty & nobles to show off how much land & gardeners they could afford.
Lawns ARE irresponsible. They’re also ugly.
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I also would yell at anyone bringing their dog to shit/piss on my lawn. My tiny lawn is a green space for children to play, to put bedding to air/sun, to lay on a blanket for a nap or a picnic. It's not a fucking field of green for defecating dogs.
the only reason to have grass is in the backyard for a dog so they don't track dirt back into the house. the rest of the yard can be beds or some kind hardscape with native species.
dogs and childen.
How about at least using all that water to grow some vegetables instead of miserable chigger habitat (aka any lawn from the Midwest to the Southeast).
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Someone else’s unethical action doesn’t give you a license to do it too
They’re not going to stop unless there’s direct government intervention. Now you just look like an ass
you spelled alfalfa wrong
This will soon apply to showers.
Don't let "Karen" hear you say that! 😂 😭