Why not redefine what a nice lawn looks like? Your mower pollutes more than your car even if you only mow an hour per week, you get to spend your day off in the Texas sun, and as a bonus... the use of water is threatening coastal estuaries which is killing the fishing industry. Water usage is a limiting factor to nuclear power plants so on. I guess I see "nice, manicured lawns" as frivolous and superficial.
Here in Texas it could be potentially dangerous with the kinds of critters that could hide in tall brushy grasses.
I don't think the majority of parents would take any kind of risk when it comes to their children's safety, especially considering how much time kids spend in the yard. On top of that, your yard isn't a place for recreation anymore. You can't walk barefoot through it or plant in your garden if you wanted to have one.
The previous owner of my house apparently didn't know how to edge. He basically created a 6 inch gap (made up of red clay) between the grass and the concrete (i.e. curb, sidewalk, driveway)...when all my other neighbors have nicely edged grass that meets the concrete. I didn't notice this when I moved in because, quite frankly, it wasn't high on my "f-ed up things to look for" list. I'm not sure how to correct this. I guess it would eventually fill in if I quit edging but it that sure would take a while it appears and my lawn would look even worse in that case with no edging. What should I do? Should I re-seed the gap itself? I'm a little worried about mixing grass types. I know I have Bermuda but Bermuda comes in different strains. If I use seed, then it may not match exactly. I guess I could sod the gap. What a pain.
It could just be standing water that's not getting flowed out of the grass...the soil is wet and dark looking right? If you can upload a pic of your yard so we can see...
Ah, I forgot how the treacherous Texas prairie claims so many children before their time. Man, have we become a wussified people.
Nice neighborhoods have home owner associations. If your yard looked like this, you'd be facing fines or worse. Like others have said, yards like this would also be a breading ground for unwatnted critters.
I'm ok with my nice manicured lawn. You would be in the vast minority, seeing as how most folks wouldn't want their kids running around in grass and brush that is taller than them.
Fill the gap in with sand or preferably topsoil and let it grow until it hits the concrete...then you can edge it...that's what I'd do..
Clay soil can both retain water and raise the PH of your soil, so that's a good place to start checking.
For me it seems like using a lawn service is cheaper and easier.. I was using TruGreen and now switched to Scotts because its cheaper. My yard looks awesome and it is only about $45/visit which takes place every 2-3 months and you can call them in between for free visits.
be careful if you ever quit/stop using them. those chemicals are similar to steroids and once they stop it will have big problems.
I love how my well manicured lawn feels between my toesies !!....so lush and green..... I do need to go turn the sprinkler system up to 3 days a week though ....I mean after all it is summer....grass gets thirsty. DD
(bump) How much do lawn care services typically cost? Which ones are good in Houston? I'm tired of spending money on my lawn and not getting the results I want.
Just pave that crap over and paint the cement green. I have seen that several times here on the west coast. Otherwise, agree with lpbman -- go native. You can mow native plants and keep the stuff as safe from critters as you're unnatural environmentally-disasterous lawn.
get some synthetic grass, looks perfect year around and you don't have to do anything(except rakes some leaves). Plus you can turn it into a putting green.
Amen. I wish I could. We blow up stretches of nature to build our houses and other buildings, then spend so much time trying to make nature happen again by often putting plants that don't belong there in the first place. We're a dumb species.
