Most people have no business owning a house (self-righteous rant)

[Monocle Money Mouth]

As I was walking around the neighborhoods around my house, I've come to the conclusion that home ownership is not for most people. It seems that unless they are compelled to do so, they will not maintain their property. There are some well maintained homes in my neighborhood, but it seems like most people don't realize what they have gotten themselves into. They barely mow their lawns and when they do, they leave grass clippings everywhere. The sidewalks in front of their homes are a foot narrower than they should be because the grass is starting to grow on top of if. They don't bother putting any weed and feed on the grass in the spring so even when they do mow, 2 days later, their yard is full of 8" tall dandelion stems. I noticed a lot of people don't bother putting new mulch down in their mulch beds which eventually become weed beds. They don't trim their shrubs. They have English ivy starting to creep up their homes from their mulch beds. That's just the landscaping.

Some people have paint falling off the siding. I saw a few houses with gutters falling off the soffets. There were many where the gutters were filled with freshly sprouted maple seedlings and probably last falls leaves. There are a lot of big old trees in the neighborhoods and they often destroy the sidewalks. Sometimes after the tree is removed, they don't bother replacing the concrete.

I think when most people buy a house, they just look at the monthly mortgage payment and never really pay any attention to what the upkeep will cost or the amount of effort it will take on their part to maintain the house. I also think a lot of people don't consider what will happen as they age. They won't be physically capable of doing the work themselves, but they also may not be able to afford to have someone do the work for them. I'm witnessing this with my next door neighbor right now.

I used to think home owners associations and renting forever were stupid, but I kind of get it now. The way your neighbors maintain their property can have a serious impact on how much value your home retains. It doesn't matter if you keep your home pristine if your neighbors think it is fine to let their house fall in on itself from neglect. At least the home owners association means your neighborhood will have like minded people. The people that don't have the money or desire to maintain their property should just rent.

[plainjane]

Have you considered that some of those properties are bad landlords?  That's certainly the case on my street.  They only mow the lawn after someone calls the city on them, they don't get the eaves cleaned so that a 3 foot tree starts growing there and then the weight of the material pulls the eaves away from the roof, and the roof itself is starting to curl.

[Monocle Money Mouth]

It's possible. I honestly don't know how much rental property is in my neighborhood. Most of the houses have been like this for awhile and have had the same people living there. At least I have been seeing the same cars parked their for awhile. They could be long term renters, but I suspect they are the owners.

[human]

Many landlirds believe that the tenants should be doing all the upkeep. I've even seen threads here on the subject. But why would a tenant invest in lawnmowers, lawn care, ladders etc only to have the rent jacked up to an unaffordable price a year later?

OP go live in a stuffy hoa neighbourhood with nosey neighbours. You can lead the association and wander around the neighbourhood leaving notices in everyone's mail boxes about their yards, driveways, laundry hanging etc. You'll feel real big and real good about yourself I'm sure.

[Monocle Money Mouth]

OP go live in a stuffy hoa neighbourhood with nosey neighbours. You can lead the association and wander around the neighbourhood leaving notices in everyone's mail boxes about their yards, driveways, laundry hanging etc. You'll feel real big and real good about yourself I'm sure.

Thanks for the advice.

[RetiredAt63]

OP - Aaah the dandelions.

True story.  One of my professors had visitors from Europe in the spring.   The first morning they said to him, your yard is so beautiful, how did you manage to have it grow like that?  He asked what they meant.  They said The dandelions, your lawn is full of beautiful blooming dandelions, how did you manage to make them so happy?  Point is, we see them as weeds (they came from Europe), the visitors thought they were wonderful.

Dandelions have deep roots and bring up minerals from the subsoil, which means their leaves add nutrients to the soil.  The leaves are edible.  The flowers make great wine (I've drunk it, yum).  Having more than just grass adds species diversity and disease and drought resistance to the lawn.  Clippings rot and add organic material to the soil.

You would not like my lawn.

The other stuff - older occupants who can't clean eaves-troughs any more?  Who are on fixed incomes and can't afford painters?  This is typical in older neighbourhoods.  Long term renters?  I know people who have been renting the same house for years.

[BlueHouse]

OP go live in a stuffy hoa neighbourhood with nosey neighbours. You can lead the association and wander around the neighbourhood leaving notices in everyone's mail boxes about their yards, driveways, laundry hanging etc. You'll feel real big and real good about yourself I'm sure.

Thanks for the advice.

I strongly recommend reading the book or seeing the film "A Man Called "Ove".   It's free on Netflix now and will give you a little laugh about these types of things.
Because that's really all you can do. Personally, I like when people follow established rules, but it sounds as if you may not live in an area where there are any rules regarding home maintenance.  I also don't like when people force unestablished rules down my throat. So, as you've probably guessed, I'm just a gem of a neighbor (ha).
For the lawn, what you envision is not sustainable. Why fight nature?  Get rid of lawns and design a sustainable landscape that is appropriate for your area.

[Linea_Norway]

OP - Aaah the dandelions.

True story.  One of my professors had visitors from Europe in the spring.   The first morning they said to him, your yard is so beautiful, how did you manage to have it grow like that?  He asked what they meant.  They said The dandelions, your lawn is full of beautiful blooming dandelions, how did you manage to make them so happy?  Point is, we see them as weeds (they came from Europe), the visitors thought they were wonderful.

Dandelions have deep roots and bring up minerals from the subsoil, which means their leaves add nutrients to the soil.  The leaves are edible.  The flowers make great wine (I've drunk it, yum).  Having more than just grass adds species diversity and disease and drought resistance to the lawn.  Clippings rot and add organic material to the soil.

You would not like my lawn.

Dandelions are pretty, as long as they are yellow. At my house I try to fight them in the parking place where they grow in the gravel.

[deadlymonkey]

Dandelions are also one of the most important flowers for bees which are endangered across much of the US.  Think of the bees and let the dandelions grow.

[Cromacster]

They barely mow their lawns and when they do, they leave grass clippings everywhere. The sidewalks in front of their homes are a foot narrower than they should be because the grass is starting to grow on top of if. They don't bother putting any weed and feed on the grass in the spring so even when they do mow, 2 days later, their yard is full of 8" tall dandelion stems.

General yard tidyness could be cause for concern, but grass and yards are one of the biggest waste of resources.  I fully endorse not using weed and feed and letting the dandelions go hog wild.

A better option would be to plant native grasses and plants that require minimal upkeep and provide habitat for bee, butterflies, and other pollinators.  I am in the process of eliminating most of my yard and replacing it in this fashion

[tralfamadorian]

Many landlirds believe [that tenants are responsible for lawn care]...

Believe = written into the lease, in bold, with initials required next to it.  But alas, many tenants are willing to be in violation of their lease terms on this issue.  That's why lawn care is always included in the rent for my properties. 

[Chris22]

If your lawn is overgrown with dandelions, it looks like ass.  Period, full stop.

Spend the $18 on some dandelion killer and have some respect for your property.


That being said, OP, I walk around my block (double block, ~40 houses per street, ~100 houses total) almost every day with my dog, and of ~100 houses there are probably 5 who don't maintain their property.  Seems like maybe you just live in a shitty area?

[RetiredAt63]

I'm in the let's keep our bees happy camp.  While the dandelions are in flower I don't cut.  Once they are done and start going to seed, I cut.  The clover is welcome.  The bird's-foot trefoil and creeping Charlie not so much.  The wild parsnip that has become invasive in our area, I will actually try to kill.  However, my lawn is not a golf course.

[bacchi]

It's amazing how ingrained having a "nice" yard is in our culture. They're dandelions, ffs. It's not broken glass and syringes.

- Grass clippings left on the yard help fertilize it.
- Sidewalk concrete maintenance is often the city's responsibility because it's in the easement. Besides, most homeowners would fuck it up and make it lawsuit-worthy worse.
- Weed and feed? Fuck that shit. It flushes down the storm sewers and contaminates the river.
- English Ivy growing up the side of houses? That's a great look (though dangerous on most siding, especially wood).

Today, I am thankful that I live in a laid back neighborhood that doesn't care about my out-of-control xeriscaped yard. Or maybe my neighbors do care but I don't have any fucks to give.

[wenchsenior]

It's amazing how ingrained having a "nice" yard is in our culture. They're dandelions, ffs. It's not broken glass and syringes.

- Grass clippings left on the yard help fertilize it.
- Sidewalk concrete maintenance is often the city's responsibility because it's in the easement. Besides, most homeowners would fuck it up and make it lawsuit-worthy worse.
- Weed and feed? Fuck that shit. It flushes down the storm sewers and contaminates the river.
- English Ivy growing up the side of houses? That's a great look (though dangerous on most siding, especially wood).

Today, I am thankful that I live in a laid back neighborhood that doesn't care about my out-of-control xeriscaped yard. Or maybe my neighbors do care but I don't have any fucks to give.

Yup.  Life is too short to give any fucks about maintaining wasteful artificial mono-cultures. 

[Mississippi Mudstache]

My solution was to buy a house in the woods on 8 acres from which no other person's property is visible. Now I have no need to give any fucks about their home/lawn maintenance or lack thereof. Of course, they all do a fantastic job of keeping things up, so I really wouldn't have anything to complain about in the first place, but it's better this way.

[Syonyk]

I used to think home owners associations and renting forever were stupid, but I kind of get it now. The way your neighbors maintain their property can have a serious impact on how much value your home retains. It doesn't matter if you keep your home pristine if your neighbors think it is fine to let their house fall in on itself from neglect. At least the home owners association means your neighborhood will have like minded people. The people that don't have the money or desire to maintain their property should just rent.

Wow.  "Everyone else should maintain their house to my standards, and if they don't, they shouldn't own houses!"

You should run for your HOA board.  You would be perfect for that type of little fiefdom that irritates everyone else for your own standards!

General yard tidyness could be cause for concern, but grass and yards are one of the biggest waste of resources.  I fully endorse not using weed and feed and letting the dandelions go hog wild.

A better option would be to plant native grasses and plants that require minimal upkeep and provide habitat for bee, butterflies, and other pollinators.  I am in the process of eliminating most of my yard and replacing it in this fashion

I think it depends on the area.  I'm working on growing lawn over my septic field, but there's not a lot you can do over the leech field that doesn't compress the soil, and I'd rather not have things with deep roots that invade my drain pipes.  That grass then goes into the compost pits (or stays to help build the mulch layer - I bag about every second mow).

The rest of the property is cheatgrass, though, which is also a work in progress to eliminate...

If your lawn is overgrown with dandelions, it looks like ass.  Period, full stop.

I thought people liked looking at some sorts of asses.

My solution was to buy a house in the woods on 8 acres from which no other person's property is visible. Now I have no need to give any fucks about their home/lawn maintenance or lack thereof. Of course, they all do a fantastic job of keeping things up, so I really wouldn't have anything to complain about in the first place, but it's better this way.

I'm not on 8 acres, but I've got 2, surrounded by other unimproved family property, and that works nicely for us as well.

Of course, I've been told, by multiple people, that I'm the type of person HOAs exist to inhibit.

[BlueHouse]

Spend the $18 on some dandelion killer and have some respect for your property.

Or spend $0 and have some respect for the Earth.

Seems like maybe you just live in a shitty area?

Rudy McRudeFace

[Rightflyer]

Spend the $18 on some dandelion killer and have some respect for your property.

Or spend $0 and have some respect for the Earth.

Seems like maybe you just live in a shitty area?

Rudy McRudeFace

LOL.
Thanks BlueHouse. You beat me to the "Blowhard Beatdown".

[RWD]

I think our yard is the worst maintained of all our neighbors. I just don't care enough for it to look ready for golfing. Our neighbors seem to be outside working on their lawns multiple times per week. So much time to spend on appearances.

[little_brown_dog]

You think it’s selfish that people have dandelions on their yards because it isn’t as pretty to look at. I think it's selfish my neighbors’ lawns need to come with warning signs because of the toxic crap they are constantly spraying all over the freaking neighborhood every damn summer just to keep their lawns extra pretty. My lawn may not be as nice, but at least it isn’t at risk of poisoning anyone’s kid or dog. Priorities. There are far worse things people can do to their property that affects their neighbors than letting weeds grow.

[Khaetra]

I think our yard is the worst maintained of all our neighbors. I just don't care enough for it to look ready for golfing. Our neighbors seem to be outside working on their lawns multiple times per week. So much time to spend on appearances.

Same here.  My neighbors are out fussing with their yards, having companies coming every week to spray who-knows-what, etc.  Mine is sort of green, and that's good enough for me.

[daverobev]

Our reel mower doesn't do a lot with the dandelions. I don't really like the long stalks with the seeds all over, but as others have said, the bees like them. I like bees. I probably like bees more than people. Certainly more than some people.

Only issue is we're now selling our house. Oh well. It'll have to be the right person to buy this place anyway. We've got asparagus, rhubarb, raspberries, a couple of apple trees, lots of bits and bobs of veg coming up. Lots of worms in the soil. Lots of flowers everywhere.

[golden1]

On the flip side, when I see an immaculately cared for lawn, I see a huge waste of time, water and resources.  You would be happier in a neighborhood with an HOA.

[Gin1984]

Our reel mower doesn't do a lot with the dandelions. I don't really like the long stalks with the seeds all over, but as others have said, the bees like them. I like bees. I probably like bees more than people. Certainly more than some people.

Only issue is we're now selling our house. Oh well. It'll have to be the right person to buy this place anyway. We've got asparagus, rhubarb, raspberries, a couple of apple trees, lots of bits and bobs of veg coming up. Lots of worms in the soil. Lots of flowers everywhere.

Agreed.

[Car Jack]

My solution was to buy a house in the woods on 8 acres from which no other person's property is visible. Now I have no need to give any fucks about their home/lawn maintenance or lack thereof. Of course, they all do a fantastic job of keeping things up, so I really wouldn't have anything to complain about in the first place, but it's better this way.

My house is in the middle of 13 acres and far enough off the road that any busy body looking to tell me how to maintain my property can't see it without trespassing.  We let the grass grow much longer than the "Mr. and Mrs. Perfect" down the street who are constantly watering or maintaining their lawn.  When late July/August comes and their lawn is a dead, brown eyesore, mine is well protected.  I just let it sit till September, cut it once more and it's perfect (well, it's green) and the only watering I do is when I drive my car up on the lawn to wash it (double use of the water).

As is obvious, we have no chocolate covered Nazi infested HOA that we have to comply with.

[Morning Glory]

I am in the "don't spray anything" camp. I love the color of the dandelions, creeping Charlie, and violets mixed in with the grass. Plus the creeping Charlie smells great when you mow, and the bees love it. I hate the smell of pesticide, weed killer, etc., especially around my work which is supposed to be a place of healing. I live in the country so I can do what I want, but when I lived in town nobody cared how the yard looked.

[wenchsenior]

Our reel mower doesn't do a lot with the dandelions. I don't really like the long stalks with the seeds all over, but as others have said, the bees like them. I like bees. I probably like bees more than people. Certainly more than some people.

Only issue is we're now selling our house. Oh well. It'll have to be the right person to buy this place anyway. We've got asparagus, rhubarb, raspberries, a couple of apple trees, lots of bits and bobs of veg coming up. Lots of worms in the soil. Lots of flowers everywhere.

Agreed.

Also agreed.  I check on the efforts of the bees, beeflies, spiders, and birds every morning in my garden. Which is practically a jungle. It's awesome.

[DTaggart]

Man, if the biggest problem in your life is dandelions and mulch on OTHER people's property, you have a fucking amazing life.

[HPstache]

So you're THAT neighbor....

[aaahhrealmarcus]

Counterpoint: lawns are bad and no one should have them. Also see:

http://lifehacker.com/stop-mowing-your-lawn-1795653861

Manicured lawns seem like a byproduct of 1950's culture. Vegetable gardens, chickens, wildflowers, just about anything would be more productive. What's so great about grass anyway? Just my two cents.

[Elderwood17]

I feel lucky to be in a " middle of the road " neighborhood.   No one neglects their place and only one or two go overboard with the hyper immaculate lawn appearance.  We also all have lots of around an acre so as long as it is green you don't really notice a few weeds in the back.

[Cowardly Toaster]

OP - Aaah the dandelions.

True story.  One of my professors had visitors from Europe in the spring.   The first morning they said to him, your yard is so beautiful, how did you manage to have it grow like that?  He asked what they meant.  They said The dandelions, your lawn is full of beautiful blooming dandelions, how did you manage to make them so happy?  Point is, we see them as weeds (they came from Europe), the visitors thought they were wonderful.

Dandelions have deep roots and bring up minerals from the subsoil, which means their leaves add nutrients to the soil.  The leaves are edible.  The flowers make great wine (I've drunk it, yum).  Having more than just grass adds species diversity and disease and drought resistance to the lawn.  Clippings rot and add organic material to the soil.

You would not like my lawn.

The other stuff - older occupants who can't clean eaves-troughs any more?  Who are on fixed incomes and can't afford painters?  This is typical in older neighbourhoods.  Long term renters?  I know people who have been renting the same house for years.

Thank you! I've always wondered why people hate dandelions so much. I think they are pretty. And even if I did hate them I'm not going to dump poisons around my dwelling place just to make them go away.

[Blueskies123]

Our tax code encourages home ownership by many people that could live just as well in an apartment.  I choose to live in an area with an HOA to help with people that do not care about pride of home/car ownership.

Move to a rigorous HOA.

[PlainsWalker]

I'm firmly in the no-spray and dandelions are pretty camp. I get out there once or twice a week and knock down anything getting out of control with the reel mower and rotary edger.
My next door neighbors are some of the over the top immaculate lawn types who have a service stop by three times a week to maintain their lawn. They give me the stink eye whenever they see me. I do not live up to their standards. For my part I make dandelion headbands and blow well wishes their way.

[RetiredAt63]

Counterpoint: lawns are bad and no one should have them. Also see:

Many rural lawns are the ground cover for the leach field.  You can't grow anything with deep roots on a leach field - or let me rephrase that, you shouldn't grow anything with deep roots on a leach field, it messes it up. 

Lawns are also great for playgrounds - if you have kids they can run around on the lawn.  Those of us with dogs like to play with the dog on the lawn.  It is nice to sit on the lawn on a summer day.  Lawns, like any plant, will take up CO₂ and make O₂, and help manage runoff.  I think they get a bad rap when they are grown in the wrong climate, when people water them all summer instead of letting them go dormant, or expect to have nothing but grasses in their lawn.  These expectations mean that way too many fertilizers and herbicides are used and too much water is used.

[infogoon]

My solution was to buy a house in the woods on 8 acres from which no other person's property is visible. Now I have no need to give any fucks about their home/lawn maintenance or lack thereof. Of course, they all do a fantastic job of keeping things up, so I really wouldn't have anything to complain about in the first place, but it's better this way.

My solution was to buy a house between two rental properties. My lawn always looks great, relatively speaking.

[Syonyk]

Many rural lawns are the ground cover for the leach field.  You can't grow anything with deep roots on a leach field - or let me rephrase that, you shouldn't grow anything with deep roots on a leach field, it messes it up. 

Yup.  That's exactly why I'm currently fighting with getting my lawn in - I'd rather not have deep rooted stuff over my leach field.  Half of it went in last summer.  This summer's project is... weedy.  Very, very weedy.  And crabgrassy.  I might just hit it with some chemicals once or twice to let the grass catch up - once it's going, it doesn't take much maintenance.  Last year's bit is thick and other than some bare patches where seed got washed away, self maintaining.  I water it once a week or so, but it's biomass for my compost pits.

I do agree that lawns in places like Phoenix are particularly silly, though.

[daverobev]

Counterpoint: lawns are bad and no one should have them. Also see:

Many rural lawns are the ground cover for the leach field.  You can't grow anything with deep roots on a leach field - or let me rephrase that, you shouldn't grow anything with deep roots on a leach field, it messes it up. 

Lawns are also great for playgrounds - if you have kids they can run around on the lawn.  Those of us with dogs like to play with the dog on the lawn.  It is nice to sit on the lawn on a summer day.  Lawns, like any plant, will take up CO₂ and make O₂, and help manage runoff.  I think they get a bad rap when they are grown in the wrong climate, when people water them all summer instead of letting them go dormant, or expect to have nothing but grasses in their lawn.  These expectations mean that way too many fertilizers and herbicides are used and too much water is used.

Big difference between a bowling green or croquet lawn and.. what I have.

Most of my 'problems' are because of the reel mower. Most of the time it's fine, but if a dandelion has got a flower up, chances are the reel will just bend the stalk over and ignore the flower.

I have patches of greenery, some of which is grass. Some of which is bloody oregano because that stuff is literally growing like a weed - it's crazy. Then there's bits of raspberry cane poking up.. that just gets mown, ha.

[CNM]

Ha!  You'd probably hate my front yard! 

Well, most of it is OK (where I live most yards are gravel covered) except for the little strip between the road and the sidewalk.  The previous owners put down a weed barrier and then the most hideous red rock I've ever seen.  In any event, over time, the dust and dirt has accumulated in the rock so now the weeds grow like crazy and are nearly impossible to remove.  We may just dig the whole damn thing up this summer and start anew.

[Syonyk]

Well, most of it is OK (where I live most yards are gravel covered) except for the little strip between the road and the sidewalk.  The previous owners put down a weed barrier and then the most hideous red rock I've ever seen.  In any event, over time, the dust and dirt has accumulated in the rock so now the weeds grow like crazy and are nearly impossible to remove.  We may just dig the whole damn thing up this summer and start anew.

If the goal is that nothing grows there for a long while, there are various "salt the earth" herbicides that handle things for a few years.

[Chris22]

Counterpoint: lawns are bad and no one should have them. Also see:

Many rural lawns are the ground cover for the leach field.  You can't grow anything with deep roots on a leach field - or let me rephrase that, you shouldn't grow anything with deep roots on a leach field, it messes it up. 

Lawns are also great for playgrounds - if you have kids they can run around on the lawn.  Those of us with dogs like to play with the dog on the lawn.  It is nice to sit on the lawn on a summer day.  Lawns, like any plant, will take up CO₂ and make O₂, and help manage runoff.  I think they get a bad rap when they are grown in the wrong climate, when people water them all summer instead of letting them go dormant, or expect to have nothing but grasses in their lawn.  These expectations mean that way too many fertilizers and herbicides are used and too much water is used.

Yup, the whole "laws are a giant waste of resources" thing is facepalming to me. 

To have a nice (but far from award-winning) lawn I:

-Weed stop treatment 1x in the spring (~$18)
-Fertilize 1x in the fall (~$30)
-Mow weekly with a regular mulching mower (~20-30 minutes including weed eating and blowing off of patio/driveway)
-Spot treat with grass seed as needed for occasional bare patches

I don't water (except the spot treatments), I lay down pretty few chemicals, and I spend less than an hour a week maintaining it.  In return, I get an aesthetically pleasing lot and a great spot to play with my kids and dog. 

Also, it's far easier to maintain than to let it all go to shit and try to bring it back. 

[accolay]

I let wildflower "volunteers" grow and bloom when I find them in my yard. I've been slowly letting violets take over too. I kinda do have the yearning for a greener than green grass lawn, but I don't like putting any poison or extra fertilizer into the environment- all storm drains lead to the Mississippi. Plus a real waste of clean treated water for green green grass.

I'll be going for an all natural yard in the next couple years that I don't have to mow at all with native species and vegetables.

[Rosy]

Dandelions have pretty flowers, make a wonderfully healthy, good for you spring greens salad and fine dandelion wine. What's not to love?
If you can't appreciate the beauty of dandelion flowers...:) or revel in showing your kids to make a wish when you blow on the seedheads...   

There is no way that I would pay money for someone to come and spray or spread poison chemicals on my property. We already have water restrictions in force, but even if we didn't, I find lawn watering a complete waste of water and a serious, offensive misuse of a valuable resource.
I garden organically, because I think that is the right thing to do - we have a ton of bees and butterflies, birds, bumblebees and a garden snake (black racer - harmless, feeds on rats and mice). Imagine - we consider oak leaves, shucks:) - mulch!, and therefore good for the garden.

There is a reason some people will spend good money on a fine house in a well established, well manicured neighborhood. It is how they prefer to live.
HOA - would be my worst nightmare. I hate those busybodies, trying to tell me what color my house "must" be or when and how low to cut my bushes.

OP - All actions have consequences. I can understand why MMM is house proud, or why my rich nephew bought well below what he could afford, but still in a pricey area.
Sounds to me like you bought a bargain? home in the wrong neighborhood.

[Syonyk]

There is no way that I would pay money for someone to come and spray or spread poison chemicals on my property. We already have water restrictions in force, but even if we didn't, I find lawn watering a complete waste of water and a serious, offensive misuse of a valuable resource.

So, out of curiosity, what's your preferred shallow root cover for septic leach fields?

[wenchsenior]

There is no way that I would pay money for someone to come and spray or spread poison chemicals on my property. We already have water restrictions in force, but even if we didn't, I find lawn watering a complete waste of water and a serious, offensive misuse of a valuable resource.

So, out of curiosity, what's your preferred shallow root cover for septic leach fields?

Side question...what are these septic leach fields. I've never heard of this. Is it standard in a city?

[accolay]

So, out of curiosity, what's your preferred shallow root cover for septic leach fields?

How about buffalo grass?

[Rosy]

There is no way that I would pay money for someone to come and spray or spread poison chemicals on my property. We already have water restrictions in force, but even if we didn't, I find lawn watering a complete waste of water and a serious, offensive misuse of a valuable resource.

So, out of curiosity, what's your preferred shallow root cover for septic leach fields?

Side question...what are these septic leach fields. I've never heard of this. Is it standard in a city?

@Syonyk - sorry, I don't know what septic leach fields are either. Surely there are some "wild weed type:)" grasses that would do the trick, would need little water and could be mowed if desired.

[Syonyk]

Side question...what are these septic leach fields. I've never heard of this. Is it standard in a city?

...

No, they're not a thing in a city where you have sewer.  They're where a septic tank, which is the standard sewage system for a rural house, drains the liquid out after the good stuff gets eaten in the septic tank.

How about buffalo grass?

Certainly a reasonable option, though I'm not sure "lawns are evil" people would really distinguish mown buffalo grass from a normal lawn.

[wenchsenior]

Side question...what are these septic leach fields. I've never heard of this. Is it standard in a city?

...

No, they're not a thing in a city where you have sewer.  They're where a septic tank, which is the standard sewage system for a rural house, drains the liquid out after the good stuff gets eaten in the septic tank.

How about buffalo grass?

Certainly a reasonable option, though I'm not sure "lawns are evil" people would really distinguish mown buffalo grass from a normal lawn.

Yes we would, assuming you use native buffalo grass that isn't hybridized the hell out of.