My neighbors have poisoned the grass in my yard!
August 25, 2008 3:08 PM Subscribe
My neighbors have poisoned the grass in my yard!
Background: I live in suburban Chicago, and have a house with a lawn. The backyard is fenced in with a 4' chain link fence which belongs to me. Because of the way the chain links are, it's really hard to cut the grass closely along the fence, so there's a few blades that wouldn't get cut.
Last week, I noticed that the grass along the fence line is dying. Not just a little bit, but about 6" on my neighbors side and almost a foot on my side of the fence. I've lived here for five years, and never noticed this before. Based on the way it looks, it really looks like my neighbors sprayed some kind of chemical that killed the grass.
My neighbors are retired, and work on their lawn constantly, so it is a 'pristine' lawn. I, on the other hand, do the minimum in mowing, and refuse to use chemicals, so my lawn has a fair share of weeds. My neighbors, in the past, have complained to me about the condition of the yard, and I have been very responsive.
So, my question is in two parts: Do I have the right to be pissed off about this? And what should I do about it?
Background: I live in suburban Chicago, and have a house with a lawn. The backyard is fenced in with a 4' chain link fence which belongs to me. Because of the way the chain links are, it's really hard to cut the grass closely along the fence, so there's a few blades that wouldn't get cut.
Last week, I noticed that the grass along the fence line is dying. Not just a little bit, but about 6" on my neighbors side and almost a foot on my side of the fence. I've lived here for five years, and never noticed this before. Based on the way it looks, it really looks like my neighbors sprayed some kind of chemical that killed the grass.
My neighbors are retired, and work on their lawn constantly, so it is a 'pristine' lawn. I, on the other hand, do the minimum in mowing, and refuse to use chemicals, so my lawn has a fair share of weeds. My neighbors, in the past, have complained to me about the condition of the yard, and I have been very responsive.
So, my question is in two parts: Do I have the right to be pissed off about this? And what should I do about it?
The first course of action would be to simply ask your neighbors if they know what happened to the grass, so you'll know exactly what you're dealing with. It probably goes without saying not to get (visibly) upset with your neighbors over anything they might tell you they've done at that point; just accept the information and decide from there what the most sensible course of action would be.
posted by frobozz at 3:23 PM on August 25, 2008
posted by frobozz at 3:23 PM on August 25, 2008
It is not uncommon to spray Roundup along a fence line.
posted by sageleaf at 3:24 PM on August 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by sageleaf at 3:24 PM on August 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
Could it be poison or Roundup or similar? Sure, absolutely. But I doubt your neighbor would do that if they love their lawn and if it's hurting them just as badly.
If you're seeing dead grass on both sides (brown, dry, etc.) of a chain link fence, there's a good chance it's not poison but from the heat radiating off the metal fence. This is very common with driveways, too - grass next to blacktop dies very quickly because of heat radiation - but can happen near any metal or dark surface. Is the fence in the sunlight for a good part of the day? Does your side of the fence get a lot more sunlight than their side? Is that grass getting a lot of water to compensate? What about the grass on the other side of the lawn - is it near a fence, too? Same amount of light? How's it holding up?
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:27 PM on August 25, 2008
If you're seeing dead grass on both sides (brown, dry, etc.) of a chain link fence, there's a good chance it's not poison but from the heat radiating off the metal fence. This is very common with driveways, too - grass next to blacktop dies very quickly because of heat radiation - but can happen near any metal or dark surface. Is the fence in the sunlight for a good part of the day? Does your side of the fence get a lot more sunlight than their side? Is that grass getting a lot of water to compensate? What about the grass on the other side of the lawn - is it near a fence, too? Same amount of light? How's it holding up?
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 3:27 PM on August 25, 2008
This sounds like they did something to their own lawn that has affected yours, and probably something they thought would be beneficial to their lawn. They could've burned their own lawn with any number of fertilizers and treatments, and you're getting an overspray effect.
Because of the way the chain links are, it's really hard to cut the grass closely along the fence, so there's a few blades that wouldn't get cut.
This is why man invented the weed whacker, many of which are electric and quite easy to use.
almost a foot on my side of the fence.
Take advantage of it. Cover the dead grass with a line of mulch or bark, or even crushed rock, and create a manicured-looking border between your lawn and the fence. No more uncut grass along the fence. Get your neighbors to shut up and increase the value of your house in one fell swoop.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:33 PM on August 25, 2008 [11 favorites]
Because of the way the chain links are, it's really hard to cut the grass closely along the fence, so there's a few blades that wouldn't get cut.
This is why man invented the weed whacker, many of which are electric and quite easy to use.
almost a foot on my side of the fence.
Take advantage of it. Cover the dead grass with a line of mulch or bark, or even crushed rock, and create a manicured-looking border between your lawn and the fence. No more uncut grass along the fence. Get your neighbors to shut up and increase the value of your house in one fell swoop.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 3:33 PM on August 25, 2008 [11 favorites]
Assuming they sprayed your side of the fence with plant killer, yes, that's pretty uncool.
Here's what you could say.
"Hi, my grass near the fence is dieing, and it looks like it's because of something you sprayed on your lawn. I like my grass. Could you please be careful not to spray on my side of the fence?"
The way you've described it, it's conceivable that there have been repeated weed problems that they have had to bring to your attention - not weeds in your yard, that's not a problem, but weeds on the border which may have spread into their yard. If this is the case, I would recommend being pro-active and taking care of things on your side of the fence.
posted by zippy at 3:39 PM on August 25, 2008
Here's what you could say.
"Hi, my grass near the fence is dieing, and it looks like it's because of something you sprayed on your lawn. I like my grass. Could you please be careful not to spray on my side of the fence?"
The way you've described it, it's conceivable that there have been repeated weed problems that they have had to bring to your attention - not weeds in your yard, that's not a problem, but weeds on the border which may have spread into their yard. If this is the case, I would recommend being pro-active and taking care of things on your side of the fence.
posted by zippy at 3:39 PM on August 25, 2008
Man there's some passive aggressive folks around here. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and go the route of:
"Hey Mr. Johnson, I know you guys are really into your landscaping and all that, I've always wished I had the time and money to get a real understanding of that stuff. I noticed that a big chunk of my yard that touches your yard is like burned up or something, do you think it's going to keep spreading? What do you think I should do?"
That's me though.
posted by TomMelee at 3:43 PM on August 25, 2008 [1 favorite]
"Hey Mr. Johnson, I know you guys are really into your landscaping and all that, I've always wished I had the time and money to get a real understanding of that stuff. I noticed that a big chunk of my yard that touches your yard is like burned up or something, do you think it's going to keep spreading? What do you think I should do?"
That's me though.
posted by TomMelee at 3:43 PM on August 25, 2008 [1 favorite]
Papa Bell nails it. Put in a nice garden bed, just dig up all the dead crap (and dispose of the poisoned soil), lay a bunch of newspaper and compost, some fresh filler, stomp it all down, more filler, mulch, woodchips, and plant something lovely! You'd be surprised how much fun you'll have snazzing the place up and it should stop the folks next door from moaning. And while you're working away in the backyard of a Saturday afternoon, and they pop out to mosey around and see what you're up to, you can say "Howdy there neighboureeno! I'm planting some lovely things in here AND I'LL THANK YOU KINDLY TO NOT SPRAY YOUR DEADLY CHEMICAL SHIT ON THEM! Fresh lemonade?"
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:24 PM on August 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:24 PM on August 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: papa, the mulch is probably what i'm going to do--but i'm pretty lazy about things like that. What I'd like is some kind of climbing ivy. there is some on the other side, but it's a native wed that i've let go, and probably would be considered a nusiance. also, I don't have the means of digging up the 'dead' soil .. how long does roundup last?
oh, and i have an electric weed wacker ... it's just that my efforts aren't good enough for them.
i don't think it's the heat--we've had a cool summer, and there are other areas of the fence that are fine.
i probably will ask them, but from past experience, i do not expect them to tell the truth. i've caught them lying about such matters before.
posted by lester at 4:37 PM on August 25, 2008
oh, and i have an electric weed wacker ... it's just that my efforts aren't good enough for them.
i don't think it's the heat--we've had a cool summer, and there are other areas of the fence that are fine.
i probably will ask them, but from past experience, i do not expect them to tell the truth. i've caught them lying about such matters before.
posted by lester at 4:37 PM on August 25, 2008
Agree with others: they sprayed Roundup, you don't really care about your grass, don't trim along the fence, etc.
So, thank them. And ask them if they wouldn't mind aiming the nozzle a little closer to the fence next time. Or to instruct their lawn service to do same. That stuff is quite deadly (to flora- relatively safe for fauna) and they probably inadvertantly oversprayed, or it was windy that day.
The best response is to always assume the other party was well-intended.
And once the grass dies completely and blows away to grass heaven, it will look much nicer. I personally think that a small "Roundup dead zone" along a chain link fence is very easy to maintain and looks quite tidy.
Or you could be a dick about it, as others suggest.
posted by gjc at 4:38 PM on August 25, 2008
So, thank them. And ask them if they wouldn't mind aiming the nozzle a little closer to the fence next time. Or to instruct their lawn service to do same. That stuff is quite deadly (to flora- relatively safe for fauna) and they probably inadvertantly oversprayed, or it was windy that day.
The best response is to always assume the other party was well-intended.
And once the grass dies completely and blows away to grass heaven, it will look much nicer. I personally think that a small "Roundup dead zone" along a chain link fence is very easy to maintain and looks quite tidy.
Or you could be a dick about it, as others suggest.
posted by gjc at 4:38 PM on August 25, 2008
Roundup kills by coming into contact with the plant and messing with its metabolism. It quickly biodegrades in soil leaving it ready for planting.
And I'd like to extend my comment as such:
The best response is to always assume the other party was well-intended. Especially if they weren't- it makes them feel foolish.
posted by gjc at 4:41 PM on August 25, 2008
And I'd like to extend my comment as such:
The best response is to always assume the other party was well-intended. Especially if they weren't- it makes them feel foolish.
posted by gjc at 4:41 PM on August 25, 2008
I don't have the means of digging up the 'dead' soil
Seriously mang? A spade is like twenty bucks and is a super-useful thing to have around the home.
It's hard to say how long the poison will last, if it is indeed poison, without knowing what kind of poison it is exactly. There's some useful information here.
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:42 PM on August 25, 2008
Seriously mang? A spade is like twenty bucks and is a super-useful thing to have around the home.
It's hard to say how long the poison will last, if it is indeed poison, without knowing what kind of poison it is exactly. There's some useful information here.
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:42 PM on August 25, 2008
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure you don't need to dig out soil from beneath an area that's been treated with Roundup. It kills the plants via transmission through cell walls, but doesn't linger in soil at all.
That said, it may not have been Roundup, but something else that does cling to soil. Your neighbors will likely know. I'm betting it was fertilizer and not Roundup, in which case things will get better once it's diluted by water and time.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:57 PM on August 25, 2008
That said, it may not have been Roundup, but something else that does cling to soil. Your neighbors will likely know. I'm betting it was fertilizer and not Roundup, in which case things will get better once it's diluted by water and time.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:57 PM on August 25, 2008
What I'd like is some kind of climbing ivy.
If you want a fast grower, get some creeping fig, but be prepared to have to beat it back.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:59 PM on August 25, 2008
If you want a fast grower, get some creeping fig, but be prepared to have to beat it back.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:59 PM on August 25, 2008
Yeah, don't do climbing ivy unless you like keeping up after it, *and* hearing about it from your neighbors that they've got to keep up after it.
Strongly seconding the advise about a perimeter of stone or somesuch; be sure to lay down landscaping fabric first, just to make sure the grass doesn't start growing back through the rocks.
posted by davejay at 5:25 PM on August 25, 2008
Strongly seconding the advise about a perimeter of stone or somesuch; be sure to lay down landscaping fabric first, just to make sure the grass doesn't start growing back through the rocks.
posted by davejay at 5:25 PM on August 25, 2008
If you are planning ground cover, do the ecologists and gardeners of the world a favor and pick one native to your area. This may not be creeping fig or ivy. Actually, it usually isn't the fastest-growing plants--there's a reason invasive species are called "invasive".
posted by Anonymous at 5:38 PM on August 25, 2008
posted by Anonymous at 5:38 PM on August 25, 2008
Can't 2nd the bamboo idea, it's hell to contain.
posted by Echidna882003 at 6:18 PM on August 25, 2008
posted by Echidna882003 at 6:18 PM on August 25, 2008
Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm going to take a wild guess that the grass in your yard isn't actually a fine, green, velvety turf that just happens to not get trimmed with precision. I'm betting that your "grass" is similar to that of my lovely, but really laid-back neighbors and in fact consists of a generous portion of noxious weeds that are creeping into their yard. My neighbors lawn is covered with creeping ivy, creeping jenny, milk weed, english ivy, crab grass and other stuff that comes through the chain link fence and chokes out the bushes, perennials, herbs, native grasses and heirloom vegetables that I've spent a lot of money and time cultivating.
I'll bet that your neighbors sprayed weedkiller or round-up on your yard because they thought you would not notice or care. I've heard of people buying sheets of metal and driving them down into the ground between yards to keep the a neighbor's weed problem from taking over. This might be a non-poison option to explore.
If you are going to do any planting, make sure you get stuff that doesn't need much maintenance. Big clumps of native grasses are great for this. You pretty much just ignore them and let them grow until they die for the winter and you cut them back. Do not plant any kind of ivy near your property line or your neighbors will probably start slipping Round-up into your drinking water.
This might be a job for a landscape company. Call them, tell them you want a low-maintenance, but attractive design for part of your yard so you don't have to mow it. They will help you pick out plants that will not infiltrate your neighbor's yard and will even come over and plant them for you. It is money well spent!
Otherwise, just ask your neighbors what they sprayed on the yard. Ask them if they have suggestions on stuff you could plant there. I'll bet they would love to give you advice!
posted by pluckysparrow at 6:20 PM on August 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'll bet that your neighbors sprayed weedkiller or round-up on your yard because they thought you would not notice or care. I've heard of people buying sheets of metal and driving them down into the ground between yards to keep the a neighbor's weed problem from taking over. This might be a non-poison option to explore.
If you are going to do any planting, make sure you get stuff that doesn't need much maintenance. Big clumps of native grasses are great for this. You pretty much just ignore them and let them grow until they die for the winter and you cut them back. Do not plant any kind of ivy near your property line or your neighbors will probably start slipping Round-up into your drinking water.
This might be a job for a landscape company. Call them, tell them you want a low-maintenance, but attractive design for part of your yard so you don't have to mow it. They will help you pick out plants that will not infiltrate your neighbor's yard and will even come over and plant them for you. It is money well spent!
Otherwise, just ask your neighbors what they sprayed on the yard. Ask them if they have suggestions on stuff you could plant there. I'll bet they would love to give you advice!
posted by pluckysparrow at 6:20 PM on August 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
The best response is to always assume the other party was well-intended. Especially if they weren't- it makes them feel foolish.
Excellent advice in this and all situations. (Equally useful and universal: DO NOT PLANT BAMBOO. NOT NOW, NOT EVER. )
For this particular situation, pluckysparrow has it covered.
posted by dogrose at 7:08 PM on August 25, 2008
Excellent advice in this and all situations. (Equally useful and universal: DO NOT PLANT BAMBOO. NOT NOW, NOT EVER. )
For this particular situation, pluckysparrow has it covered.
posted by dogrose at 7:08 PM on August 25, 2008
Climbing Ivy is way more work than grass - you'll need to keep a really sharp eye on it - the same with bamboo. If you really hate gardening, just put down some weed-block paper and plastic edging strips and fill it all with decorative gravel. If you feel the need to decorate later, you can put potted plants out - easy to replace after their eventual demise.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 7:11 PM on August 25, 2008
posted by The Light Fantastic at 7:11 PM on August 25, 2008
Ask them what they used to kill the grass along the fenceline. It was probably Roundup or some other flavor of glyphosate, because that's what most people use. If it was glyphosate, you don't need to do anything at all to un-poison your soil, since glyphosate is not a persistent herbicide (it has about a two week half-life in topsoil). Glyphosate's main longterm effect on topsoil is to shift the microflora balance in favor of fungi, some of which can be destructive to crops. If you were growing peas or something along your chainlink, you'd have reason to be pissed off; grass and weeds, not so much.
In fact, now that you have a weed-free strip along your chainlink, it might be a good time to consider putting a climbing food crop in there. Make it clear to your neighbors that they're welcome to all of what grows on their side.
posted by flabdablet at 8:12 PM on August 25, 2008
In fact, now that you have a weed-free strip along your chainlink, it might be a good time to consider putting a climbing food crop in there. Make it clear to your neighbors that they're welcome to all of what grows on their side.
posted by flabdablet at 8:12 PM on August 25, 2008
Oh yeah, bamboo: never plant it along a fenceline. If you're going to plant it at all, make sure you get a clumping variety, not a running variety.
posted by flabdablet at 8:14 PM on August 25, 2008
posted by flabdablet at 8:14 PM on August 25, 2008
What are your goals? It's not clear what you want to see happen.
Do you need suggestions what your goals should be? I'd suggest that a reasonable set of goals would be:
1) Harmonious relations with the neighbors.
2) Want your fence area to look OK.
3) Don't want to chemicalize your yard or do a lot of work on your lawn.
4) Don't want to spend a lot of money.
Am I close? If so, your neighbors may have just done all the work for you, even if they did chemicalize your yard a little bit. Pull out the yellow dead stuff by hand or by weed wacking it down, trash it, and forget about it.
If you want to plant something there, you need to ask your neighbors what they sprayed there. The right way is to go to them and say, "Hey, what did you spray along the fence? Was it Roundup or Triox?" If it was Roundup it'll be safe to replant in 14 days. If it was Triox nothing will ever grow in that dirt again; you will need to spade the dirt into a barrow and truck it to a dump and transplant new soil in if you want to grow anything there.
FYI, a strip of Triox'd dirt along a fence may not necessarily be the worst thing that ever happened, especially if it keeps your neighbors happy. I dunno if you care about their perspective, but frankly it is very difficult and exponentially more costly to maintain a nice lawn when the neighbors are slobs about their adjoining lawn.
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:19 PM on August 25, 2008
Do you need suggestions what your goals should be? I'd suggest that a reasonable set of goals would be:
1) Harmonious relations with the neighbors.
2) Want your fence area to look OK.
3) Don't want to chemicalize your yard or do a lot of work on your lawn.
4) Don't want to spend a lot of money.
Am I close? If so, your neighbors may have just done all the work for you, even if they did chemicalize your yard a little bit. Pull out the yellow dead stuff by hand or by weed wacking it down, trash it, and forget about it.
If you want to plant something there, you need to ask your neighbors what they sprayed there. The right way is to go to them and say, "Hey, what did you spray along the fence? Was it Roundup or Triox?" If it was Roundup it'll be safe to replant in 14 days. If it was Triox nothing will ever grow in that dirt again; you will need to spade the dirt into a barrow and truck it to a dump and transplant new soil in if you want to grow anything there.
FYI, a strip of Triox'd dirt along a fence may not necessarily be the worst thing that ever happened, especially if it keeps your neighbors happy. I dunno if you care about their perspective, but frankly it is very difficult and exponentially more costly to maintain a nice lawn when the neighbors are slobs about their adjoining lawn.
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:19 PM on August 25, 2008
My neighbors (the ones in the back) knocked on my door and asked permission to spray weedkiller in the no man's land between our two sets of fences. THAT is what they should have done.
Go ahead and ask what they sprayed, so you will know. If it's roundup, no big deal. If it was a true poison I would be pissed off.
And to all you lovely lawn nazis out there-you can do what you like with your own lawn but others have the right to have what they like on THEIR property. Just a thought.
posted by konolia at 8:58 PM on August 25, 2008
Go ahead and ask what they sprayed, so you will know. If it's roundup, no big deal. If it was a true poison I would be pissed off.
And to all you lovely lawn nazis out there-you can do what you like with your own lawn but others have the right to have what they like on THEIR property. Just a thought.
posted by konolia at 8:58 PM on August 25, 2008
Oh, and ixnay on the bamboo-it WILL get away from you and will be a rampaging pain in the butt.
posted by konolia at 8:59 PM on August 25, 2008
posted by konolia at 8:59 PM on August 25, 2008
I'll bet that your neighbors sprayed weedkiller or round-up on your yard because they thought you would not notice or care.
Or they're jerks. You don't go and trash someone else's property because you think that they won't notice or care.
Go ask your neighbors if they know what happened.
posted by 26.2 at 9:09 PM on August 25, 2008 [1 favorite]
Or they're jerks. You don't go and trash someone else's property because you think that they won't notice or care.
Go ask your neighbors if they know what happened.
posted by 26.2 at 9:09 PM on August 25, 2008 [1 favorite]
Do NOT plant bamboo. It's actually against city ordinance in some places because it's so invasive. Some neighbors near my friend's house had to take a backhoe to their yard to get rid of the bamboo.
posted by Happydaz at 9:48 PM on August 25, 2008
posted by Happydaz at 9:48 PM on August 25, 2008
DO NOT PLANT BAMBOO. NOT NOW, NOT EVER.
Oh my lord yes. When our garden was planted (~20 years ago now) it had a nice little bit of running bamboo in the corner. It's now got runners 5, 6m in all directions, under our conservatory and out the other side, and ruining our patio. Don't do it.
posted by katrielalex at 11:20 PM on August 25, 2008
Oh my lord yes. When our garden was planted (~20 years ago now) it had a nice little bit of running bamboo in the corner. It's now got runners 5, 6m in all directions, under our conservatory and out the other side, and ruining our patio. Don't do it.
posted by katrielalex at 11:20 PM on August 25, 2008
Looks like lots of people in this thread have been brainwashed by lawn propaganda. Me? I'd like to thank you for not contributing to lawn-related pollution and the soul-crushing homogeneity of the suburbs. Your goal should be to plant something non-invasive, but also not as stupid/evil/boring as grass. I'd suggest marigolds, since you don't eat them (god knows what is in the soil thanks to people like your neighbors), they look nice, and they are pretty damn hardy. The mulch that Cool Papa Bell suggests sounds good too.
I've also always wanted to try no mow mixes.
My neighbors lawn is covered with creeping ivy, creeping jenny, milk weed, english ivy, crab grass and other stuff that comes through the chain link fence and chokes out the bushes, perennials, herbs, native grasses and heirloom vegetables that I've spent a lot of money and time cultivating.
Those things are great to have in your yard, but you probably know well enough that a buffer zone, not fiddling with someone else's lawn, is the way to go.
posted by melissam at 11:36 PM on August 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
I've also always wanted to try no mow mixes.
My neighbors lawn is covered with creeping ivy, creeping jenny, milk weed, english ivy, crab grass and other stuff that comes through the chain link fence and chokes out the bushes, perennials, herbs, native grasses and heirloom vegetables that I've spent a lot of money and time cultivating.
Those things are great to have in your yard, but you probably know well enough that a buffer zone, not fiddling with someone else's lawn, is the way to go.
posted by melissam at 11:36 PM on August 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
OP I've got a native grapevine growing on the cyclone fence betw me and my neighbor Ialso in Chicago). You've probably seen these-- walk down any alley; they're all over the north side. You should be able to find someone you know who will give you a rooting or three (maybe me!). They grow very fast, almost invasively, but they will stay on the fence. Once they get going they look beautiful and they are indestructible. Just don't put one in if there is any kind of garden on either side of the fence, because the grapevine will strangle any plants it winds around. You can see a little bit of it on this photo about halfway up the fence. Here's what it looks like close up (on a different kind of fence, but still).
MeMail if you want some rootings.
posted by nax at 3:44 PM on August 26, 2008
MeMail if you want some rootings.
posted by nax at 3:44 PM on August 26, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ShootTheMoon at 3:15 PM on August 25, 2008