Question for DUers about your Lawn

[bleedingheart]

I live in suburbia.

When I moved into my home, I had a huge lawn with mostly grass and then I got a pool..
Eventually I hired someone to help me landscape (he designed I planted)..and when it came to the front lawn the fellow asked me... What do you do with it now? and I replied..."nothing"

So...the front lawn was converted to walkways (both grass and brick) and flower/vegetable beds and my side yard was converted to a patio, walkways and more gardens.

Instead of mowing...I have to do some weeding (not as much as you would think but great exercise).

However...as I drive down my street I notice that very few people use their front lawns...yet they plant it with grass and technically they could just plant a lot of groundcover, trees and shrubs and not have to mow at all... the benefits are time saving and it is quite eco friendly and you get some really amazing wildlife...I have hummingbirds, finches, butterflies of all types, hummingbird moths, bees,..etc and the resident moles (who eat grubs), and chipmunks...

[Burma Jones]

1. The Homeowners Association has control over the lawn.......

[AllegroRondo]

2. yup, same here

you're allowed to landscape only to a certain distance from the house (15 feet max I think), the rest must be grass.

[bleedingheart]

4. oh...I added a new poll option

[SmokingJacket]

5. Boy, that's kinda crazy.

I couldn't live somewhere where I'm not allowed to do cool stuff to my lawn, like plant corn.

[bleedingheart]

6. I got hot banana peppers and cherry tomatoes mixed in with my

flowers in the front bed...

[Burma Jones]

24. Yes, it sucks

But the other four members of the family like living in a neighborhood with playgrounds, other kids and schools you can walk to......

[BOSSHOG]

8. I fought efforts to start a homeowners association

I pitched a fit saying that we will have caveats for every fucking second of our lives and every thing we own and everything that breathes in the neighborhood, I'd guarantee it. The neighbors thought it best to leave the crazed one alone. And yet, we have the best looking lawn in the neighborhood despite not having an "association."

[supernova]

3. Grass but I want

more landscaped areas and less grass to mow.

Right now I have about 1.5 acres mowed every two weeks.

edit: I'm in the country, no HOA to deal with. Thank god. I'm not sure I could afford to hire a landscaper, though.

[bleedingheart]

7. I found a guy who charges by the hour...and he is very good

I highly recommend having professional give you the map and then doing the work yourself...

It makes a big difference.

The structure "bones" of my garden were part of the original design...the crazy flower plantins...that's all me..

[kay1864]

13. Or even...

take a "adult education" class in landscaping. Volunteer your lot as a class project. Free advice!

[supernova]

14. That's an interesting idea

Especially since I really don't have the physicality to do it myself.


:thumbsup: Thanks Kay1864

[kay1864]

18. Oops, I wasn't clear

I was just talking about the design part (which can cost $$$).

The labor part can be done more cheaply (e.g., the guy who mows/edges your neighbor's lawn probably knows how to plant flowers and shrubs)

[supernova]

19. Oh, I see

thanks.

Yes, he's a gardner for the City of Durham, by day. He does lawns on the weekends for extra cash.

[kay1864]

23. Even better!

He probably knows a lot about what plants and flowers will do well in your soil. He might even have some good landscaping ideas, so you wouldn't have to take the class.

Pls check your PM...

[bleedingheart]

17. and the local extension offices...they can be of great help!

[bigwillq]

9. We're in the front yard

more than in the back and the back has a deck.

[mondo joe]

10. I have a garden and a flagstone patio, not a front lawn.

But I could have a lawn - so I don't know how to answer!

[bleedingheart]

11. I put in a new option for ya...

[kay1864]

12. Mine has a huge curvy island

After I took out the stupidass river birch tree. Damn developers...

And lots of juniper. Much less time to mow the thing. :bounce:

Approved by the HOA, of course.

Lots of islands-with-bushes-or-flowers in my neighborhood. Much more interesting than a plain front lawn.

[hfojvt]

15. here ya go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=3012344

I don't have alot of money to put in a bunch of flowers. Nor do I have the patience to do alot of gardening. Mowing just seems easier, particularly when it does not rain for about two months and you don't have to mow. I am trying to get lilacs and butterfly bushes for my fence lines. Also trying to get some milkweed to help out the monarchs.

[bleedingheart]

16. it doesn't have to be really expensive to plant flowers

unless you buy annuals at the peak planting times...

I started with just a few perennials and I grew a lot of stuff from seed.

and...as a gardener I share my flowers and receive in return...we gardeners are thrifty and won't spend too much unless we know we are getting something special...

I have a friend who has nothing but black eyed susans and sedums in her yard...and she started small...and each year expanded and expanded...

[ghostsofgiants]

20. The only answer you need about my lawn...

GET OFF IT! *shakes cane*

[unpossibles]

21. my front yard is smaller than my cubicle

but a pain to mow - I have to lift the mower over the fence sort of. So I am planning on moving the grass to some problem areas in the back and putting in more ground cover. I tried ivy 2 years ago but its too sunny in most of it to take very well.

[bleedingheart]

22. have you tried strawberries? Or even thyme...or both?

there is also creeping juniper...or you can have fun with both rocks and plants...

just some ideas...

[unpossibles]

25. I like the strawberry idea

I was planning on a variety of things, including some rock paths. Well, "planning" is too strong a word, but you know what I mean. I like Yellow Archangel, and have thought of putting in some low shrubs by the fence to add a bit more shade too. On the other side of the sidewalk the ivy and other covers are doing really well, but it's shaded by a tree. I do like the idea of a little rock garden too though.