I need some advise about a my neighbor, I am up in the air here!

svcrawf72 – posted 19 March 2004 19:06

Hello,

I found out tonight how Obsessed I am over my lawn. As most you know I am trying to level out my gaps by using sand. I put some sand down yesterday and today when I got home “8:30PM” I started to brush in the sand so it will fill in the gaps.

Let me fill you in a bit before I go on.The sub-division I just moved into is brand new. All the owners have been moving over the past 2 months. I have an empty lot on one side and a neighbor on the other side who just moved in 2 weeks ago. I was the first in the neighbor hood so really had no problems. I have made small talk with him and a week or so ago I was out with my son and I saw he was watering in the evening and just mentioned it is better to water in the morning and when watering at night you will have problems with St Aug grass. He was cool and said he works at 5:00 AM and the evening is the only time he had. I didn’t think much of it and went on.

Ok, as I read and am trying to have perfect lawn, “that will never happen” but I water when I am suppose to, I use rain gauges when I water, I look at the weather.com site 7 times a day to see when it will rain again and I do everything I can to get it right. My grass is coming along great. Well I get home tonight and swept the sand in and I get to the side where I have the neighbor and notice the grass is wet. not just a little spot that maybe a little came over but probably 10-13 feet. The first thing that came to my mind was I just watered a week ago and it rained 2+ inches 3 days ago. When I water I make sure that if any water I use around his property stops or only goes over a foot or so out of respect to his program “I don’t think he has one but…” The second thing that ran through my mind was FUNGI and short roots if this goes on. I don’t see him on a schedule so it is hard to make my grass happy at the same time as his. If you look at are property line, my grass is GREEN and getting lush as his is light color.

My problem is, should I say something to him? I don’t want to have any bad trouble with a new neighbor but if I bring it up I also don’t want to come across like that “loco down the street” as he knows others in the neighborhood.

SO should I say something? How would I say it? I admit I am obsessed but I want a nice lawn and that means not getting the grass wet at night and so on…. I know water will get on my grass no matter what and that is cool but 10 to 15 feet? even 5? If I didn’t care about my lawn I would love the extra water but…..

Have I just lost it or do I have a point?

ted – posted 19 March 2004 20:17

yeah, you’ve lost it. just have him buy one of those timers that go on the hose and can start watering in the morning when he’s supposed to. that way if it screws up, you’ll be awake to adjust his sprinkler. you’re not going to run into any major fungi this time of year.

svcrawf72 – posted 19 March 2004 20:21

I guess it would be like but not as drastic as….

If I put starter fertilizer down and 1 week later he did as well and doubled up on my lawn 10 feet or so. right?

Water is water but if it just rained 2 inch, I watered 1 inch a few days before and he just watered another inch for me = 4 inch in a week. Ok, one time… no big deal but …..

svcrawf72 – posted 19 March 2004 20:22

well, now or in 2 months…. So if no fungi right now, what about when it goes on and is the middle of summer? Maybe he doesn’t want to have a hose in his yard all day or buy a timer or whatever.

cohiba – posted 20 March 2004 07:40

I sympathize with you. I am a nut too. Just kidding. I think the thing to do is to get into a friendlier relationship with him now when the water issue can be put off a little. If this guy is watering alot after work and all, he has at least a little interest in his lawn. Also he may be a little jealous about your lawn. Opening lines of communication about other interests, or the neighborhood in general, may start communication on your lawns. Key is to let him come to you for help. Who knows he may be a nut in the rough.

Good luck and remember: Keep it Green

svcrawf72 – posted 20 March 2004 16:20

Well, I saw him today and I was able to mention it in a good way. I was out pulling weeds and he came over, we got to talking and in the middle of it all as we stood on the property line I said to him, “Is your front yard lumpy like mine” He said yeah and went on to explain the workers actions and how it will all work its self out in a few years. I we got on to the grass and told him when st aug grass starts to fold and wilt is when it needs water and will look fine the next day. I told him I made sure my water didn’t cross over into his yard so I didn’t mess up his schedule or whatever. He said “she dual?” I was like, well when you fertilize or that st aug grass only needs an inch of water a week and went on about the wilting part again. I didn’t want to over water his yard and so on. I hope he got the hint and that is that. Will see, now when the house next to me is built I have to do it agian..arrrrg!

Just incase he didn’t pick up on my hint; helpful ideas on what to do would still be great. Thanks all

cohiba – posted 20 March 2004 16:45

Another idea: Plant a hedge row of swamp loving plants Hopefully ones that grow tall enough to keep the water from getting on your side.

Take Care…..