I mentioned a long time ago that we have a neighbor who is insane obsessive enthusiastic about his lawn-care regimen. But I don’t think I told you that most of our neighborhood is also particular about the greenness of their grass and their weed-to-grass ratio. The ChemLawn van is a regular visitor to our neighborhood and we often see people pushing their little fertilizer-distributing carts around their yards. Before we moved here, some friends who live in this neighborhood warned us that the whole lawn-care thing is a bit competitive here.
Just a few months after we moved in, another neighbor up the street informed us that we were in for a challenge. “I don’t know if they just put bad fill in your yard or what, but the lot you’re on has always been terrible.”
And she’s right. Bare spots, dry cracked earth…they abound. We tried the ChemLawn route. We had a landscaper do a whole re-seeding and aerating and fertilizing regimen last fall. And while Chad says he sees improvement, we would still come in dead-last in any kind of lawn competition.
And since we weren’t supposed to use any weed-killing items on the lawn this year (since we are theoretically growing gobs and gobs of new baby grass that would be harmed by said items), we have a few a ton of non-grass plants growing in our yard. Meaning weeds. I’m sure our neighbor-across-the-street is simply horrified, and embarrassed to be living near us. But a yard with weeds is just as much fun for kids to play in as a yard without weeds and when you get down to it, that’s the whole reason we have a yard in the first place.
Dandelion season is over, but clover season is in full swing. Therefore, we have lots of little white clover flowers decorating our lawn. The neighbors may not like them (although no one has actually said anything to us, so we’ll pretend everything is just fine), but L. thinks they’re terrific. In fact, because he: 1) loves the clover flowers and 2) apparently wants to improve our reputation in the neighborhood, he’s formulated a new lawn-care plan for us. He crawls around the yard, pulling off the heads of the flowers. Perfect! Now if you stand far enough away and squint at our yard, it looks mostly green. Don’t get too close though, or you’ll realize it’s not really grass that looks so lush. But that’s okay — we’re not all that competitive anyway.
Us, too!! Our backyard near the driveway sound just as you describe. We, too, went the whole earth-turning, reseeding route. And we still have some bar spots and we still have weeds. Hmmmm. . . .
Although we do try to get rid of the flowering weeds (because I am afraid of stepping on a bee), I always tell my husband that we dont’ have a lawn–we have a yard.
Awwww, Katrina! If it makes ya feel any better, DaHubby taught Flicka last weekend that you can EAT clover. So, now I have a thrrre-yr-old “billy goat” going thru my yard saying “how ’bout this one, Daddy?…how ’bout THIS one?”
I can’t even imagine caring that much about my lawn. I just want to make it through the day with all my kids alive and fed and clothed. I don’t even have high hopes of having a clean house anymore! Which is a good thing because it rarely makes it there.
We bought a house with lots of gorgeous flowers and plants all around the house, so it does look pretty, and usually the flowers and such are so pretty you can’t see the weeds poking through. But if my neighbors knew me at all, the weeds poking through is much prettier than what would happen if I attempted to help things along by weeding. I kill all plants that I try to give TLC to.
What a cute picture! How nice of him to decapitate those little weeds for you, lol! Our lawn leaves a lot to be desired, too. I don’t know anything about how to care for it besides water it and cut the grass. My husband does, but doesn’t have time. He’d been paying a service to come out once a month and spray various things on it. It doesn’t look to me like it’s doing any good — but maybe it just takes longer. We have various types of weeds and a lot of dry spots, and haven’t been able to water due to a lack of rainfall and the need to use the water in the area for more necessary things. But today we’re getting a good soaking rain, so hopefully that will help — help the grass to grow into the dry spots and not just help the weeds to grow bigger.
Now see, I thought all that clover in our backyard was SUPPOSED to be there – LOL! Just kidding but it doesn’t bother me in the least. The kids made adorable lawn decorations, btw!!
You can rest easy knowing your lawn is much healthier than theirs. Clover (and dandelions) root much deeper than grass bringing nitrogen up to where the grass roots can access it. Without the clover your grass would be anemic!
thats a precious picture!!! Sorry about having to be competitive.That stinks but your yard looks fun!
That is the cutest picture of your boys. Did you teach them how to make bracelets and necklaces with the clover? That was my favorite pasttime as a kid.
I do understand the lawn competition in your neighborhood. Ours is the same way… but we are a bit lax in that area too. Just too much other things to do with our time than worry about our lawn.
Love that photo!! Makes all that clover worth it…:)
Too cute! Our yard has bare and brown spots as well. We just ignore it-hoping that it will spontaneously turn green!
at least you have pretty little clovers.. we have ugly weeds.. LOL…
Yeah well your neighbors would be horrified at my mud-rut ridden lawn right now. We have had SO MUCH rain that when my husband tried to mow yesterday (the first time in 18 days it hadn’t rained-seriously) you can see every mower tire track, everywhere.
Yeah, it looks bad, BUT at least the weeds aren’t a foot tall from not mowing the last 2 weeks due to rain!
Oh my goodness, when I saw this picture of your son crawling around, picking clover, I nearly cried! How precious!
Kids remind us where the wonder of it all is: not in a maniacally/artificially manicured lawn, but in the beauty of God’s wild and untamed creation.
Katrina, I can’t fault you for not having a picture perfect lawn You know, when you were growing up, all we did was mow down whatever came up. For two days after it was mowed it looked good/it looked green. I think your lawn looks perfect with two sweetie-pies playing in it Love, Mom
Living in florida..it is a challenge to have a ‘lawn’…at the moment ours is quite similar to yours (after a $2,000 investment in Sod 6 years ago)…we have had the same ‘fill’ comment made…so on Tuesday I will be taking a soil sample down to the extension service..but you know…I am beginning to wonder if it is worth the time, money and aggravation of having a lawn as opposed to a ‘yard’.
I am laughing! Our yard is usually the same way (it’s dead right now because we’ve had no rain). Our next door neighbors sound like your neighbors. Their yard is Better Homes and Gardens, and ours is the weed lot! Funny!
Oh my word, how cute, Katrina. And you know what? I like clover! Our yard was always full of flowering clover (and bumble bees) when we were kids and I spent many hours looking for four leaft clovers. Of course that wouldn’t interest L.. Until he can count to four. LOL
Neighbors like that are a big old pain. Your kids are having a lot more fun in that clover than they’d have in perfectly weed free, evenly cut and manicured GRASS. So to heck with the neighbors. They’re probably jealous. I’ll be they’d love to play in the cover too.
Honestly. I need a new keyboard in the worst way. Literally all the letters are worn off mine now. Maybe that’s why I can’t seem to leave a comment any more without at least two typos in it.
I am begging my husband to let me just do away with the lawn altogether and have a big huge garden!
lawns are so…so…overrated if you ask me!
Lovely photo by the way!
Keeping up with Jones’s is just that keeping up. Where is the fun in that? Your kiddos will remember the clover in your yard and going around picking it. A perfect yard is just ones perspective. Will you and your family still be in this house in 20 years? Will your fussy neighbors still be there?
Your kids are creating a wonderful memory. Relish in that fact!
If this truly bothers you why don’t you ask a neighbor for advice. Get them involved in your ‘Problem’. People always seem to be more charitable when they are involved in someone else’s problem. I
If you aren’t comfortable doing that then LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER. She seemed to have thoughts of clarity and calm.
My daughter has a tee shirt that says ‘Way too cute to be stressed’. Your kiddos are way too cute
Your little L. looks like a little baby weed eater! I hope he has lots of fun!
We have bad clover too – that stuff is near impossible to get rid of.
Someone told me to add a little Miracle Grow to the 2-4D. I’m ready to try anything! Maybe you could rent out L.
I have some wild bunnies you could borrow
I would just need to talk my teenagers into catching the ones who visit my yard every evening.
I actually thought you were going to tell us L. eats them. :v)
That’s adorable. Look at the two of them working so hard together.
I think anyone who has a yard is suffering in the grass department right now. However, we used to have a neighbor who was crazy obsessed with his lawn. Thankfully, he moved recently! My new neighbor mows when she can, just like we do! LOL!
Without reading all the comments – I have to tell you – that your yard looks just like ours. Ours is a bit soggy at the moment – but the clover is prolific.
I hope they make clover chains and have a great time…your neighbors might need a new hobby.
Ya know…we’ve got the same competition going on in our neighborhood! I had to laugh when you said that the Chem Lawn van was a regular!
I love the photo…just darling!
Well….at least it entertains your kids LOL
Have a great week!
God bless
We’re not the worst on the block but we’re way up there. Most of our neighbors hire a lawn-care service – mostly, I think, because of the heat. It’s really quite a job to keep up with just the grass growth, not to mention the vines and volunteer trees, the weeds, the limbs that fall every time there’s a hint of wind.
I love, love, love that photo!!!
What a darling pic! Sadly enough yard work is way down the list for me and my husband. Fortunately we now have two sons who can mow!
P.S. Did anyone else make necklaces and rings by tying the flower stems together? That was one of our favorite pastimes in recess when I was a girl!