Be a good garden neighbor
Perhaps it’s because the weather is turning hot, or perhaps it’s
my age. But as I’ve been taking my dog, Wrigley, for his regular
constitutionals around our neighborhood I’ve found food for
positive thought and, unfortunately, some for negative thought.
Do you recognize yourself here?
Be a good garden neighbor
Perhaps it’s because the weather is turning hot, or perhaps it’s my age. But as I’ve been taking my dog, Wrigley, for his regular constitutionals around our neighborhood I’ve found food for positive thought and, unfortunately, some for negative thought.
Do you recognize yourself here?
Nothing annoys a homeowner more than to see dog walker stand passively while the pooch leaves a souvenir on the lawn or sidewalk. And then walk on.
This is just plain wrong. When you walk your dog, carry a plastic bag, pick up the souvenir and take it home to deposit in the garbage can. When you are walking in a park or other public area, clean up after your dog, seal the bag and drop it in a trash container. It’s not someone else’s job to clean up after your dog.
As a homeowner and a dog lover, I see both sides of the elimination situation very clearly. It’s really not that difficult to carry a plastic bag along and pick up the poop yourself. Even if it doesn’t seem like anyone is around, they may be watching you through their curtains. And homeowners can re-enforce this by thanking dog owners when they see this small task perfomed.
Of course, dog urine doesn’t do a thing for lawns either, but life isn’t perfect.
We are half way into the year. Christmas is still six months away. So, why are Christmas lights still dangling off the eaves of so many houses?
While some people host Christmas in July parties, if you’re not one of them, lose the lights. Besides beautifying the neighborhood, the lights will last for many holidays to come.
Magnolia trees are widely used as street trees. But their leafy litter is beyond messy. Leaves along with grass clippings in the street gutters are unsightly, and they clog up the street drainage network. Take a broom and sweep up your leaves. Put them in the green waste containers.
We all love the look of a neat and tidy driveway, sidewalk and gutter. Use a rake and a broom to keep things under control. Using a hose is not only a waste of good water, it can be ecologically detrimental. Water picks up chemicals that can then enter storm drains or the groundwater.
The same goes for watering the lawn. Don’t waste water on concrete sidewalks and driveways. Check your sprinkler heads to see if they need adjustment or replacement.
Are you using RoundUp or another herbicide to control weed growth in your yard? If so, be mindful of your next-door-neighbor’s plants, too. Spray carefully so that drift from the herbicide does not drift over onto your neighbor’s prize roses or apple tree. Remember, these non-selective herbicides kill everything they touch, both good plants and bad. Spray early in the morning, when the wind is still. Use pieces of cardboard to protect your own valuable plants – and your neighbor’s too – from the killing drift.
Back to the topic of dogs. Let’s add cats and wildlife to this list. Although you may not have a pet of your own, use caution on where you spread snail bait, particularly in your front yard. Snail pellets look like pet food. Wildlife, cats, or passing dogs may sniffle around and eat the deadly snail bait. In fact, why are you using this stuff when there are animal-safe snail controls on the market?
It may be tempting but do not pick flowers from other people’s yards. Also, do not help yourself to fruit growing on trees near the sidewalk. Ditto, do not reach through the fence and pick just one tomato or an orange, or take clippings to root geraniums and other tempting flowers. This is illegal. It’s called stealing. If you feel brave, knock on the door and request a clipping or a couple of lemons. Many people are happy to share, but certainly, as a courtesy, ask first.
I have a friend who shares her persimmons with everyone who asks and does the picking for them. Persimmon tree limbs can be very brittle and two years ago she lost a major limb when someone walking by decided to reach up and yank at a piece of unripe fruit. It cracked the limb and a few weeks later it was dead.
Your front yard is the face you present to the world. Or, at least, folks walking or driving by. Take pleasure in a newly mown lawn, flowers to cheer the soul, a bird bath, a wind chime, fluttery windsock, an American flag. These are the things to share with your neighbors and to tell the world “I live here and I’m happy about it.”
