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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
I need some support! I feel like we are alone doing this (though I can tell by looking at lawns in our area that there are a few others who are not spreading pesticides all over the place).
Today my neighbor told me again, what a wonderful job her lawn service does and how safe pesticides really are--I'm guessing she saw the dandelions that grew like crazy last week and freaked at the idea that a single one might spread to her pristine lawn next year. She also noted how many weeds we have. I told her (again, not the first time) that our son is very young and we want to feel comfortable with the grass he's running on. She got annoyed and went on a rant about all the tree huggers out there today who can't take care of their lawns. This was when I cut her off and told her we DO take care of our lawn. We cut it, do the edging, water it, reseed, use corn gluten, aerate, etc. But we still get some weeds and that's how it's going to be.
How dare she! I'm not demanding that she stop spreading chemicals on her grass that will wash onto our lawn with rain. I just don't get why more people don't understand how dangerous this stuff is.
Thanks for listening to my rant!
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Posted 5/11/10 3:39 PM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
 for speaking up to her. I feel like people just don't understand. grass is green, weeds are green, when they are cut you really can't tell unless you look close. We don't use anything on our lawn. Water it & cut it. Unless we have to seed a little. there are so many other ways to take care of your lawn, you just have to want to do it. but to each is own and she should do what works best for her and leave you alone! 
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| Posted 5/11/10 3:47 PM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
Thanks Jen! This just annoyed me so much. I feel like she basically said our lawn looks like crap, and perhaps by her standards, it does. But it annoyed me because we do take care of it, it's not like the grass is a foot high and things are unkempt. Somehow, it helps to read that other people do the same thing we do, not everyone freaks about a weed.
Oh well. She said what she wanted to say and so did I. Guess I should drop it and go on.
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| Posted 5/11/10 3:53 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
You're damned if you do and damned if you don't with some people. You don't go up to them, telling them why they shouldn't use chemicals. Why should they come up to you, chastising you for what you do?
I wouldn't even entertain the conversation or explain anything. People like that are not worth talking to. Amazing, the gall. You work harder than they do, considering they pay someone to come and put chemicals on their yard and do all the work - and they still give you crap for it? Let me guess, chemicals are safe because her landscaper says so?
I think you should gently take all those dandelion seedheads, put them in a plastic bag and then in the middle of the night, go and mash them into her yard and water well. 
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| Posted 5/11/10 3:56 PM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
Posted by greenfreak
I think you should gently take all those dandelion seedheads, put them in a plastic bag and then in the middle of the night, go and mash them into her yard and water well.
Too funny! My toddler may have done the job for me though--he discovered how much fun they are to blow around, and our lawns are attached, so guess where some probably landed?
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| Posted 5/11/10 4:00 PM |
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Mrs007
Im obsessed w my lil man!
Member since 3/09 2528 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
Tell her that you were considering getting astro turf but then your lawn would look greener than hers year round
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| Posted 5/11/10 4:01 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
We don't use any chemicals either - it's just not worth it to us and the environment.
But I have the fewest dandilions on my block, b/c I actually go out and pull them all. I used to do it by hand with a small wedding tool, but I found this a few years ago and I love it - my neighbor even bought one this year:
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| Posted 5/11/10 4:39 PM |
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checka
She's here!
Member since 5/05 1769 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
Posted by Erica
We don't use any chemicals either - it's just not worth it to us and the environment.
But I have the fewest dandilions on my block, b/c I actually go out and pull them all. I used to do it by hand with a small wedding tool, but I found this a few years ago and I love it - my neighbor even bought one this year:
IMAGE
I just bought this thing and I love it. I am trying to not use chemicals on my lawn too.
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| Posted 5/11/10 7:43 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
I'm very "organic" with my lawn too....
No watering, no fertilizing, no weeding... I just cut it with my electric lawn mower (that gets power from my solar panels) when it gets so high that I can't find DC playing in the yard..... 
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| Posted 5/12/10 7:38 AM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
Posted by checka
Posted by Erica
We don't use any chemicals either - it's just not worth it to us and the environment.
But I have the fewest dandilions on my block, b/c I actually go out and pull them all. I used to do it by hand with a small wedding tool, but I found this a few years ago and I love it - my neighbor even bought one this year:
IMAGE
I just bought this thing and I love it. I am trying to not use chemicals on my lawn too.
I'll have to look for this--the dandelions were hard to yank in places where the grass is dense (without yanking a lot of the grass).
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| Posted 5/12/10 8:36 AM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
Posted by greenfreak
I think you should gently take all those dandelion seedheads, put them in a plastic bag and then in the middle of the night, go and mash them into her yard and water well.
Greenfreak......bad girl! I can so see you doing this though.  Just like you did with your pineneedle gathering.
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| Posted 5/12/10 11:14 AM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
What is this called and where can I buy it? Thanks! 
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| Posted 5/12/10 11:22 AM |
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maybemommy10
Big Brothers to Be !
Member since 2/10 3868 total posts
Name:
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
For many reasons including environment and our dog, we choose to not use any chemicals on our lawn either.
People are so rudeeeeeeeee!
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| Posted 5/12/10 1:30 PM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
What an idiot. We don't use any chemicals on our lawn either; never will.
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| Posted 5/12/10 1:37 PM |
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mrsandek
LIF Zygote
Member since 3/08 44 total posts
Name:
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
I want one too!
I found this, looks like the same tool
Hound Dog HDP6-4 Products Steppin' Edger
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| Posted 5/12/10 2:50 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
yes - it's a hound dog - I got mine at Home depot about 5 years ago for $15.
the thing with dandelions is that you have to get at least 3/4 of the tap root out to kill it. So this thing goes into the ground to grab the root - it will grab a little grass here and there, but it's worth it.
I'm still figuring out what to do with my violets - I'm actually thinking of burning them with a propane weed burner.
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| Posted 5/12/10 6:34 PM |
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HollaDay
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/08 620 total posts
Name:
Holla!
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
omg I can't believe this woman ranted on you like that!!
It's your lawn, your property and you can care for it however you see fit!
Once we close on our house I plan on keeping our lawncare as organic as possible! 
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| Posted 5/13/10 9:11 AM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
Posted by Erica
yes - it's a hound dog - I got mine at Home depot about 5 years ago for $15.
the thing with dandelions is that you have to get at least 3/4 of the tap root out to kill it. So this thing goes into the ground to grab the root - it will grab a little grass here and there, but it's worth it.
I'm still figuring out what to do with my violets - I'm actually thinking of burning them with a propane weed burner.
Thank you!  I'm def. getting one of these.
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| Posted 5/13/10 10:01 AM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
I cannot stand people like that!!!
She's a friggin moron.
The reason people with golf course looking lawns have to pay for chemical treatments is because the grass that looks the most beautiful is not native to this region and its a battle to grow it successfully.
If people would realize that & understand that weeds have a puropse too, we'd all be a lot healthier.
A Native American Proverb I think of whenever I hear about people like your neighbor
"When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money."
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| Posted 5/13/10 10:06 AM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
Posted by KellyFG
I cannot stand people like that!!!
She's a friggin moron.
The reason people with golf course looking lawns have to pay for chemical treatments is because the grass that looks the most beautiful is not native to this region and its a battle to grow it successfully.
If people would realize that & understand that weeds have a puropse too, we'd all be a lot healthier.
A Native American Proverb I think of whenever I hear about people like your neighbor
"When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money."
So well said Kelly!!!
That Proverb is so true! 
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| Posted 5/13/10 10:56 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
My Dad has one of those dandelion pulling things too and he swears by it. Especially considering the man is in his 70's and isn't keen on bending and kneeling.
If you put your spouses to work like I do, one can use the tool and the other spray the hole with vinegar/soap/water mixture and you're done.
Erica, I have violets too and at first I rebelled against them. I've actually changed my outlook and consider them volunteer flowers now. Ditto for the white clover, I let them fill in areas that are not conducive to grass like this one corner where the gutterspout is that doesn't get much sun. Better than bare dirt, right?
Kelly, thank you for saying what I was thinking! That class we took at Cornell was such an eye opener. I was looking at a weed listing the other day and Kentucky Bluegrass was on it. One person's weed is another person's turfgrass! That's an excellent quote too.
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| Posted 5/13/10 12:08 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
Posted by greenfreak
If you put your spouses to work like I do, one can use the tool and the other spray the hole with vinegar/soap/water mixture and you're done.
Do you put this into a spray bottle and spray the hole? How much vinegar/dishsoap/water are we talking about? A couple of sprays or pour in the whole? I don't like how large our weeds get because we haven't been taking care of the yard since we don't have much grass back there as it is. But we will fix that after Fernando is done with the pavers.
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| Posted 5/13/10 12:39 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
Woop! :D
I think you should comment and suggest that product.
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| Posted 5/13/10 3:38 PM |
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Gertyrae
Peace out Homies!
Member since 5/05 20046 total posts
Name:
Gerty ®
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
I would totally have flipped out on her...we are "green" with our lawn also. And although it's not perfect, it makes us happy.
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| Posted 5/14/10 9:04 PM |
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Mrs213
????????
Member since 2/09 18986 total posts
Name:
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Re: Organic Lawn Folks...Need to Vent!
What a jerk! I mean who cares!! Our lawn has weeds too we don't put any pesticides or chemicals on it and its still green and looks good. Sounds like this broad has nothing better to do with her time...
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| Posted 5/15/10 11:14 AM |
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