allergic to grass (flower, landscape, concrete, front yard)

[lynmccoy]

I have a level front yard except for about 5 small holes that my daughter's and granddaughter's dogs have dug. I am very allergic to fresh -cut grass so I cannot work on it for more than 15-20 minutes. My eyes swell shut and I cannot breathe. Even being in a yard that hasn't been cut for a week or so affects my sight and breathing. I have decided to put concrete and landscape gravel on my yard and completely get rid of the grass. I want to put down a raised concrete front yard. Someone told me that if the yard is level then you don't have to dig up a layer of soil.I just have to spray ground clear then level the dog holes. After that put landscape plastic, gravel,then sand down before I pour concrete squares.Is this true? I cannot afford to hire a contractor to do this yard. My daughter and I will be doing it after the ground clear has killed all of the grass. She has the same allergy,just not quite as bad.

[Hopes]

It would be cheaper to get allergy shots. Then grass won't bother you for the rest of your life. Even if you don't have health insurance, it's more affordable than people thing. The test is about $500. The serum is about $70 a month. You don't have to go to the allergists office for your shots. You can pick up the serum once a month and administer the shots yourself, have a family member or friend can do it, or even the pharmacist can do it. The nurse will teach you how to give the shots. It's easy. I did it.

[wit-nit]

Not so, I went through those allergy tests and shots for grass for 2 1/2 years, wasted time and money, did no good at all. See an allergy specialist and get evaluated.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by wit-nit

Not so, I went through those allergy tests and shots for grass for 2 1/2 years, wasted time and money, did no good at all. See an allergy specialist and get evaluated.

Your allergist might not have been good. They're not all created equal.

[Threestep2]

We are in the second year of allergy shot therapy and it made a big difference!!! The grass got cut yesterday and we were out all day with no problems at all. Testing and therapy has come a long way over the last couple of years. Insurance pays everything but copays.

You may want to look into it before concreting a front yard which will hold heat/cold, may be hard to sell and is not "green". Will you get ordnance approval by city/county for such a drastic measure?

[ozgal]

I can understand the desire to get rid of the grass, but concrete wouldn't be my first, or even second recommendation.

Have you considered an alternative ground cover? There are plenty that look nice, can tolerate foot traffic, and are pet safe, if you have dogs.

Have a look here, and see if anything looks appealing to you as a possible option? STEPABLES.COM - Plants that tolerate foot traffic

Even if you still want to do some paving/patio type space, you could break it up and soften the look with ground cover.

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Your allergist might not have been good. They're not all created equal.

LOL, you're right, just like poster recommendations.

[ocngypz]

For the OP

Zoning regulations stipulate that only a certain percentage of a lot may be covered by impervious material.

So, I would look to an alternate ground cover.

Grass only bothers me when it is flowering and releasing pollen. I keep it cut very short so it doesn't have an opportunity to flower.

There's a house a couple of blocks from me. No grass in the front yard at all. They have beautifully landscaped with flower gardens. If only my thumbs were as green!