Any landscapers on here?

[Becky]

Better than a rowing machine.

Sandy

LOL Technically, yes. Although we still need a rowing machine. Summer is coming, and beach bodies don't make themselves!

[Woody]

I also like a well landscaped property. I've done allot of the work myself. I recommend having a few tandem loads of soil delivered and rack it out yourself or if you have a large property have a mini excavator come spread it out for you. Save yourself money and effort and go for hydro seeding over sob. Usually comes up in a few weeks. When your grass fills in mow on the highest setting and hammer the Scotts Turf Builder to it to keep it healthy and choke out the weeds. I also find those weed tools from Canadian Tire work great at removing weeds. With the mowing high and fertilizer you shouldn't get allot of weeds anyway.

[akr71]

Fuck the lawn. Grow veggies. Seriously. Investing time into grass over years will come to you as being the dumbest thing you have ever done.

^ this x 1000

[Woody]

Fuck the lawn. Grow veggies. Seriously. Investing time into grass over years will come to you as being the dumbest thing you have ever done.

^ this x 1000

Glad we are not neighbours. lol

[Jimmy]

Fuck the lawn. Grow veggies. Seriously. Investing time into grass over years will come to you as being the dumbest thing you have ever done.

^ this x 1000

Glad we are not neighbours. lol

You wouldn't want this as your neighbor?

lawngarden.jpg

[mr x]

That's exactly what I want as a neighbor. Grass is ass.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

[Woody]

Lmfao. I'm all for gardens. Put the fucking things out back. A little curb appeal is nice. I'm not crazy about removing weeds but a little effort is nice. Even gravel and a few shrubs would look better than this. I live in the country so my expectations are low. If my neighbours don't have junked cars I'm usually happy. lol

[mr x]

I think that looks absolutely perfect myself. Manicured grass for the sake of image is a dying fad afaiac. Not only that, it's going to become a taxed luxury in metropolitan areas, no doubt to spread to smaller areas over time.

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[Woody]

I think that looks absolutely perfect myself. Manicured grass for the sake of image is a dying fad afaiac. Not only that, it's going to become a taxed luxury in metropolitan areas, no doubt to spread to smaller areas over time.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say! The taxation point is an interesting one. While it is possible, it makes me think of my cousin who lives in Greek town Toronto. He paid a mint for his older home with no parking place except the street in which be pays a permit for. He has a small patch of grass out front big enough to park one car. I always say he should pave it for parking but he claims the city frowns on it as they want some grass for curb appeal and special permission is required along with more tax. The above guy in my opinion is giving the one finger salute and challenging the by laws or covenants in his city or sub-division.

[mr x]

It's not that I think grass is ugly. I think it's a massive waste of time and energy. Grass is dead in the western USA, already being taxed. Vancouver is moving away from grass too.

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[Jimmy]

A garden requires just as much, if not more time & energy than a lawn. Yes, you can get vegetables out of the garden, but what percentage of the population actually wants to spend their time growing their own vegetables? It might be a rising trend, but I'd still say grass is better when it comes to property valuation.

[mr x]

The difference us that you get much more satisfaction out of a garden for the same amount of work, or less. As far as property valuation goes, it depends. All I see from a giant moonscape of grass is a lot of work with no return. Not a big selling point for me. To me, every inch of grass eliminated is another day of your life back.

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[Jimmy]

The difference us that you get much more satisfaction out of a garden for the same amount of work, or less. As far as property valuation goes, it depends. All I see from a giant moonscape of grass is a lot of work with no return. Not a big selling point for me. To me, every inch of grass eliminated is another day of your life back.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

But many people get satisfaction from their well-maintained, giant grass lawn - it just depends on what you're looking for in a yard. I'm guessing the majority of the population would want nothing to do with maintaining a giant yard garden that comes with the house they are looking at purchasing. There likely is an upward swing in the number of people who are into this type of thing, but I'm guessing it's only a fraction of the population.

Becky and I did want a garden, and a backyard garden is a good compromise for us. It would allow us to keep a nice front lawn, along with a backyard garden/fire pit area. There's no way I'd have a front yard that looks like the one in the picture above

[mr x]

Owning a number of properties, I see no satisfaction from a lawn. It does nothing to frame the house, and unless you like rolling on it, I'm not sure satisfaction is related to anything tangible.

I have started growing vegetables right under the front window, and have plans to expand, time permitting, until there is no grass. I see the trend in my own neighborhood, grass replaced with gardens and shrubs.

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[Woody]

Some people may think we are nuts for spending 5 hours making a batch of beer including clean up. Fuck what anyone else thinks. Do what makes you happy. I have a great lawn but don't spend a ton of time at it. Do I wish I didn't have to mow, hell ya but I don't want a hay field. Allot of home ownership things are not that fun but I do them because I take pride in my property. Yes I get that you can take pride and not mow but who wants to be that neighbour. I'd flatten your tires if you were that guy. Kidding!

[CorneliusAlphonse]

As far as taxes and whatnot, they vary for different reasons. Certain places in the mid/western US dont like grass because people there have to use water to keep them green, which puts big strain on their very limited water supply. In eastern canada, and I see it coming to halifax very soon, tou get taxed based on how much impermeable area there is, as the excess storm water runoff during major events puts a huge strain on underground infrastructure. So it all depends on where you live and what the relevant issues are in your area.

I'd love to have that kind of a front yard by the way. My only concern would be, in an urban environment, to wash your veggies well... Who knows how many drunks have peed on em.

[LeafMan66_67]

Interesting points on both sides of this one. For myself, I prefer the look if a well maintained lawn. I don't water it, and spend less than an hour per week maintaining it. In the run of a month I spend more time on brewing than lawn maintenance, and that's just brewing once per month. On the other hand, my vegetable garden and yard planters also require attention each week (weeding, pruning) and require more water than I have ever given my lawn. There's no real "right" answer - just personal preference!

[Becky]

The difference us that you get much more satisfaction out of a garden for the same amount of work, or less. As far as property valuation goes, it depends. All I see from a giant moonscape of grass is a lot of work with no return. Not a big selling point for me. To me, every inch of grass eliminated is another day of your life back.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

Becky and I did want a garden, and a backyard garden is a good compromise for us. It would allow us to keep a nice front lawn, along with a backyard garden/fire pit area. There's no way I'd have a front yard that looks like the one in the picture above

Also, I have 2 jobs (full time and part time), so having time to maintain a garden vs, take an hour a week/every 2 weeks...I'll take the lawn, and a small garden!

[GAM]

Some people may think we are nuts for spending 5 hours making a batch of beer including clean up. Fuck what anyone else thinks. Do what makes you happy. I have a great lawn but don't spend a ton of time at it. Do I wish I didn't have to mow, hell ya but I don't want a hay field. Allot of home ownership things are not that fun but I do them because I take pride in my property. Yes I get that you can take pride and not mow but who wants to be that neighbour. I'd flatten your tires if you were that guy. Kidding!

That's what kids are for.

Sandy

[mr x]

So it all depends on where you live and what the relevant issues are in your area.

Somewhat true, but, consider that a lawn is not a natural element. We've been sold it much in the same way we've been sold crappy beer over the last century. As that attitude changes, which it is, I believe it will take on a life of it's own, to the point where the majority of people will look at a perfect manicured lawn as bizarre, as opposed to desirable.

Planting trees, and low/no maintenance landscaping is a far bigger bang for buck than a soccerfield AFAIAC.

I also think people underestimate the amount of time and money they put into lawn maintenance.

[Barker]

I also think people underestimate the amount of time and money they put into lawn maintenance.

This was me.

Mowing an acre of nothing but lawn was taking 1-2 hours of my time once or even twice a week. So I built a 32'X24' garage and put in a decent sized garden which will be doubling in size this year.

Mowing grass does keep the ticks and pest to a minimum, but what a waste of time and gas! And if the lawnmower suffers a catastrophic failure... oh boy... headaches AND money down the drain.

[canuck]

I guess that I must be in the minority, as I love having a nice quality lawn. Call me crazy, but I actually enjoy mowing the lawn as well. I just like having some nice green space to place with the kids, dog, sitting around the campfire, etc.

[GuingesRock]

We have 2 acres of lawns. Not a hope in hell of doing it myself with work and family, maybe would be ok if I was retired or something and needed something to do, so we pay a fortune to have it done. We look after all the flower gardens ourselves, in a half assed way ...that's enough. Hopefully the house will sell soon.

http://www.myvisuallistings.com/fsvt/88036" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[akr71]

Fuck the lawn. Grow veggies. Seriously. Investing time into grass over years will come to you as being the dumbest thing you have ever done.

^ this x 1000

Glad we are not neighbours. lol

Well, this is my house from the road:

me.jpg

and this is my neighbor across the road:

neighbor.jpg

Still think I'd make a bad neighbor?

I do agree with having a yard for the kids to play in, but if its green and growing, that is all that matters to me - and that's only cuz when they run and take a tumble it leaves less of a mark on soft ground than gravel. My front yard is a little lumpy too, and I would like to level it some, but the 'lumps' are where my septic bed runs - so far it just hasn't been high priority.

[mr x]

I guess that I must be in the minority, as I love having a nice quality lawn. Call me crazy, but I actually enjoy mowing the lawn as well. I just like having some nice green space to place with the kids, dog, sitting around the campfire, etc.

If you are actually using the lawn space, ie kids/dogs/sports, then it is worthwhile to maintain for sure.