5 ms·

This is something I read about years ago, and have slowly done. I've let native clover (and some transplanted from nearby) take over a bit of the lawn. In my b

This is something I read about years ago, and have slowly done. I've let native clover (and some transplanted from nearby) take over a bit of the lawn. In my back yard, I've been even less meticulous, letting whatever grow do so as long as it's not unsightly. Clover (and others), in addition to the different yet nice flowers, are also beneficial to the local environment. Bees love them. As such, I have to be careful to keep it back from walkways. Dandelion leaves picked right can be used in salads. I've started using the Plant.net app to identify some of the better looking "weeds", and this summer will make it a goal to learn how to get them to propagate more. Some of these are actually part of the rose family, yet considered "bad weeds." One thing the article doesn't mention, as maybe it's not an issue where the author lives: Unfortunately some municipalities, (like my town in New Jersey) can be a pain. If you don't have a good looking lawn, you'll have Code Enforcement knocking on your door. I've had the guy stop in front of my house while I was working and tell me my grass looked a little long (in fact the mower at top deck height couldn't cut it). Especially if you have what they consider excessive weeds (clover, goldenrod and others ,while native and nice looking IMO are considered "weeds"). So the native thing can only be taken but so far. The chosen ground cover may not cover as much as grass either, which may be a turn off. If this is an appealing idea, before you really get into it, check with your town/municipalty/homeowners association.

hosh 5y ago
There are some tricks with this too. If it looks cultivated, then neighbors generally think it is supposed to be there. If parts of it is set aside to let it grow out with borders, it's amazing how people think that it is somehow contained. I have seen people put signs out on the front declaring the space to be a wildlife habitat. I have no idea if there are anything official like a registry that protects that.
- rascul 5y ago
  > I have seen people put signs out on the front declaring the space to be a wildlife habitat. I have no idea if there are anything official like a registry that protects that. The National Wildlife Federation [0][1] will certify a space to be a wildlife habitat [2] in the United States. [0] https://www.nwf.org/ https://www.nwf.org/ [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Wildlife_Federation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Wildlife_Federation [2] https://www.nwf.org/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat https://www.nwf.org/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat
derekp7 5y ago
The main thing against specific weeds is that they spread easily and infest other areas. If your neighbors don't want flowers in their grass, but restricted to flower beds, then they will respond by using more weed killer on their lawns. I wonder if the code enforcement has a requirement about how much of your yard can be garden vs lawn. That is if you specifically designate a section to be flowers and other plants (and make it look like a garden), if that ends up covering 70% of the yard with grass borders ribboned throughout, if that still accomplishes the natural environment goal but also pleases the city or HOA?
Faaak 5y ago
As a European, I find it crazy that a municipality (or worse, an HOA), can order you to cut your lawn.
- wonderwonder 5y ago
  That's because here in America we are free and love our freedom! You Europeans wouldn't understand. /s
  - momirlan 5y ago
    Another stereotype.
    - developer93 5y ago
      hence the /s, presumably
- silicon2401 5y ago
  HOAs are part of having freedom over your land. Why shouldn't I be able to team up with my neighbors to set standards for our community? The crazy part is choosing to buy a home that's part of an HOA. That's always been an instant dq for me and I would never consider entering into such a restricting arrangement.
  - capableweb 5y ago
    Just like you should have the freedom to be a part of one, you should have the freedom to not be a part of one. But right now HOA works over full neighborhoods, there is no opt-out. If I move into a neighborhood like that, suddenly neighbors have control over how my house look. I think that's the crazy part. It's like a marriage you cannot leave without moving away from it. And yes I agree, don't move into such a neighborhood then. But it's still strange that a whole community can unite against one house within the gates (or whatever) and decide how things should be. Not what I would expect in a country that prides itself on its freedoms.
readflaggedcomm 5y ago
Seems that service can be used without the app at https://identify.plantnet.org/ https://identify.plantnet.org/ (I only found a placeholder at plant.net). This will be useful to me, thanks.
- ragingrobot 5y ago
  I had to double check my tablet, as I didn't have it handy. That is the exact same service as the app. You are correct in that there is no dot, nor in the app name, either. My error, sorry.

hosh 5y ago

There are some tricks with this too. If it looks cultivated, then neighbors generally think it is supposed to be there. If parts of it is set aside to let it grow out with borders, it's amazing how people think that it is somehow contained. I have seen people put signs out on the front declaring the space to be a wildlife habitat. I have no idea if there are anything official like a registry that protects that.

rascul 5y ago
> I have seen people put signs out on the front declaring the space to be a wildlife habitat. I have no idea if there are anything official like a registry that protects that. The National Wildlife Federation [0][1] will certify a space to be a wildlife habitat [2] in the United States. [0] https://www.nwf.org/ https://www.nwf.org/ [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Wildlife_Federation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Wildlife_Federation [2] https://www.nwf.org/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat https://www.nwf.org/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat

derekp7 5y ago

The main thing against specific weeds is that they spread easily and infest other areas. If your neighbors don't want flowers in their grass, but restricted to flower beds, then they will respond by using more weed killer on their lawns. I wonder if the code enforcement has a requirement about how much of your yard can be garden vs lawn. That is if you specifically designate a section to be flowers and other plants (and make it look like a garden), if that ends up covering 70% of the yard with grass borders ribboned throughout, if that still accomplishes the natural environment goal but also pleases the city or HOA?

Faaak 5y ago

As a European, I find it crazy that a municipality (or worse, an HOA), can order you to cut your lawn.

wonderwonder 5y ago
That's because here in America we are free and love our freedom! You Europeans wouldn't understand. /s
- momirlan 5y ago
  Another stereotype.
  - developer93 5y ago
    hence the /s, presumably
silicon2401 5y ago
HOAs are part of having freedom over your land. Why shouldn't I be able to team up with my neighbors to set standards for our community? The crazy part is choosing to buy a home that's part of an HOA. That's always been an instant dq for me and I would never consider entering into such a restricting arrangement.
- capableweb 5y ago
  Just like you should have the freedom to be a part of one, you should have the freedom to not be a part of one. But right now HOA works over full neighborhoods, there is no opt-out. If I move into a neighborhood like that, suddenly neighbors have control over how my house look. I think that's the crazy part. It's like a marriage you cannot leave without moving away from it. And yes I agree, don't move into such a neighborhood then. But it's still strange that a whole community can unite against one house within the gates (or whatever) and decide how things should be. Not what I would expect in a country that prides itself on its freedoms.

readflaggedcomm 5y ago

Seems that service can be used without the app at https://identify.plantnet.org/ https://identify.plantnet.org/ (I only found a placeholder at plant.net). This will be useful to me, thanks.

ragingrobot 5y ago
I had to double check my tablet, as I didn't have it handy. That is the exact same service as the app. You are correct in that there is no dot, nor in the app name, either. My error, sorry.