posted
So our neighbors (who are nice folks, just a little irritating sometimes - like when they send their kids over to be babysat without asking first)...
They have decided to only mow half of their back yard. So the other half, which backs up to our yard, is now like 2 feet tall. We have a home owners association and the rules say you have to maintain your lawn. I'm not exactly sure of the wording, but I think they are supposed to mow.
It irritates me. It looks tacky. It's so very alluring to my small kids who think getting lost in grass is tons of fun. We are already dealing with lyme and this grass just looks like a breeding ground for ticks.
Am I over-reacting? Are ticks more likely to live in that grass? Is it worth wounding our relationship with the neighbors? Push them to mow it?
Thoughts?
(as a reminder - we are all being treated for lyme. even my soon to be 3 year old who desperately wants to crawl through that grass.)
Posts: 101 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2007
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I think you should calmly say to them everything you just wrote. Soften them up with a preface like: "...you've been such easy-going, good neighbors, I hope you won't mind if I ask you something...."
"I'm curious about the last two feet of tall grass. I hope you'll understand, but all of us are being treated for lyme and that tall grass is really a kid-tempter and a tick-haven. Could you mow that patch flat next cutting? Ever since contracting Lyme, we're trying to work on preventive measures."
Since they sound like seemingly kind folks, I'm thinking that they'll respect the request even if they might not think it's necessary. Do they know about your family's ordeal with lyme?
Are they creating some sort of visual boundary between the yards? (ie: strange grass division) If so, tell them that you are fine without the grassy boundary. Emphasize that not attracting ticks with tall grass is your primary concern.
It's hard to know what folks are thinking!
Good luck!
wiserforit
Posts: 508 | From Banks of the Hudson | Registered: Jul 2006
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quote:Originally posted by wiserforit: Mommy of 3, Are they creating some sort of visual boundary between the yards? (ie: strange grass division) If so, tell them that you are fine without the grassy boundary. Emphasize that not attracting ticks with tall grass is your primary concern. wiserforit
No, its not a boundary. It's a little hard to explain - sure wish I could draw a picture. Our yards are a little off-set from each other. So the section they are not mowing (maybe 100 feet x 100 feet? large yard) only goes across/behind half of our backyard. They left a good section opened so their kids can still come play on our swingset.
I asked if they needed to borrow our mower (before I knew they had left it unmowed intentionally). They said they liked it like that, especially because it is hard to mow downhill. The part unmowed has a small slope to it - minor, really.
My husband is going to offer to mow it for them next.
Posts: 101 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Our yards are a little off-set from each other. So the section they are not mowing (maybe 100 feet x 100 feet? large yard) only goes across/behind half of our backyard. They left a good section opened so their kids can still come play on our swingset. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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