That time of year. Time to beat up on the turf loving scum.

[Gatornation]

Originally Posted by Carefully

Why would you buy a place under the control of a HOA?

That's a bit off topic.

I'd say that depends on your price range. I'd want an HOA if I was buying a 100k house. All about what kind of people you'll be living around. This of course is all on "average"

[kinkytoes]

Originally Posted by gwynedd1

Hi ChrisC,

Weeds are by definition bad. However plants that are often identified as weeds are often quite good. So they may only be worse than lawns by first impression. Amaranth is a perfect example. It is considered a noxious weed in many contexts. Amaranth is also another grain depending on how you use it.

Ditto. Quite a few of the plants considered weeds are:
1. Medicinal or edible to humans, animals and beneficial insects.
2. Valuable habitat for native species.

I actually have a problem with widespread vegetable "gardening." Tilling up the entire yard can be as harmful as any other type of pollution if tons of people decide to do it. Fertilizer runoff as well as sediment runoff into nearby waterways are just as likely with home vegetable gardens.

I just had a little experience with that in the little ecosystem in my backyard... I think the unsightly weeds in a yard may be probably the most "green." And no, I'm not saying that just because I haven't mowed the lawn in a few weeks... LOL

[GregW]

Our condo townhouse sits on 35 acres of moved "lawn". We decided a very long time ago to adopt a policy of "may the best plant win". In Spring we have a rapidly emerging clover lawn; in Summer it turns yellow with dandelions; in Fall with some other green grass like stuff. All year it is very nice. It also provides a place for cross country skiing in the winter.

I really believe the "lawn doctor" companies, along with golf courses, should be much more regulated to prevent them from spreading environmentally hazardous chemicals in densely occupied environments.