"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
. net...

"nobody" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I not sure if this is the correct group to put this in, but let me
give this a try an see what you folks think.

It now takes about $30 in gas to fill up my mower. That does not even
take into account maintenance and labor. I was musing that if some
safe chemical could be sprayed on the grounds that would retard grass
growth either partially or completely, it would be worth significant
dollars in savings.

Is anyone currently doing this or is anything like this in the
pipeline?

My lawn is not big enough to make that a concern, but if it was, it would
not longer be lawn as we know it. There are plants that can be used to
give a nice even looking filed of green but does not grow much more than
6" or so. It will not only save gas, but you labor if you converted a
portion to some natural plantings, clover, etc. We put too much emphasis
on having that large perfectly manicured lawn as a status symbol.
I agree, but when you live in a subdivision, even a rural one like mine,
what are your alternatives? Even assuming you can get past the cranky
neighbors and nanny code officers, anything 'weird' is likely to bite you in
the butt come resale time. Unless it is in a clearly defined planting bed,
anything other than grass is cosidered a weed. Most of my neigbors are
retired, with too much spare time, and really like driving their toy
tractors around. Me, as long as it is green and holds the dirt down, I'm
happy. My neighbors don't talk to me much anymore......

(And of course, if you are in an HOA neighborhood, well, we all know what
they think about individuality....)

I bought this place 2.5 years ago, when interest rates were at a 40-year
low. My broker told me they were about to go up, so I settled. What I
really wanted was a place rural enough where I could just mow a fire break
around the house, and let the rest of the land do whatever it wanted to. But
short of hitting the lotto, unlikely I'll ever be high up enough on food
chain to afford that. (Much less waterfront land, but that is a lost dream
for another time...)

aem sends....