On Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:49:59 EDT, Galen Hekhuis
wrote:

That's kind of a false dichotomy. It just isn't true that the only
two choices are a well-tended lawn and a seedy, weed infested, dying
lawn. There are oodles of things you can do.

A lot depends, imo, what part of the country you live in, county, urban or
suburban, etc.

Now country living - anything goes!!

True.

Hmmmm, I disagree. I believe even locally, if you have anything but native
vegetation you still have to clip it short so it isn't a fire hazard. In
the spring, locally, our weeds and cheet grass grow quite well and tall in
disturbed areas, thus the need to clip eventually. Granted only 1 or 2
clippings versus weekly.

Way I see it is this, we're all sinners against nature for the resources we
use. Some would see only living as a 3rd world country as acceptable....
(while they drive around in their Hummers spreading the word. ;-) LOL!
Okay, I made that up.

I mow my lawn, something that has and is growing smaller and smaller,
between ponds and flower beds each year. Some want to say that my ponds
aren't water or power conscious. I want to say, hey... your diesel truck,
horse trailers, RV's, 4 wheelers, etc. aren't either. Basically fill in the
sins one doesn't do in comparison to the sins you do, be it mowing, Sunday
driving, running under the sprinkler to cool off, running you dryer. etc.
etc. We'll all be guilty of SOME modern luxury that someone else thinks
isn't prudent. It all evens out. Some people live in apartments and travel.
Then there are people like my family, homebodies, we garden. Bet I use less
gas in my mower all summer than one flight across country. ;-)

Btw, I just have to add this. I use a mulching mower, and have found I only
have to fertilize once in the spring with crab grass control and then I put
a winterizer on. My grass looks pretty darn good and though a little long,
I can by with only 1/week mowing. So if you're using a service who will
sometimes put down fertilizer up to 6 times a season, and you're mowing a
LOT, you might want to rethink paying for so much love. ;-) ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us