Is the Insect Apocalypse Upon Us?

Re:Is the Insect Apocalypse Upon Us? by AlexandrB on Wednesday February 20, 2019 @11:26AM (#19209149)

Unfortunately, just like with municipal support of car culture, lawns and their upkeep are often written into municipal bylaws. That's not even getting into HOAs and how restrictive their lawn policies can be - often having requirements down to which species of grass[1] you're allowed to use. Finally there's communal pressure from neighbours, who will give you the stink eye if the weeds from your wild lawn even might encroach onto their manicured grass.

[1] https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/real-estate-and-landlordin...

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Re:Is the Insect Apocalypse Upon Us? by goda90 on Wednesday February 20, 2019 @11:56AM (#19209467)

I just bought my first home last spring. No HOA, but I did get the city called on me for being close to the 8 inch limit on grass. We also heard on the grape vine that one neighbor blamed our longer grass for the mosquitoes keeping them from enjoying the outdoors, instead of, you know, the record rainfall and nearby drainage ditch.

Luckily my city's ordinances have a provision for a "natural lawn" made up of native grasses and plants that can be extra tall. I intend to turn my front yard into one to reduce how much mowing I need to do.

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Re:Is the Insect Apocalypse Upon Us? by NeedMoreTea on Wednesday February 20, 2019 @11:53PM (#19214645)

> for being close to the 8 inch limit on grass.

What the hell?

I assume simply concreting over it for more parking space would be fine though.

Most UK streets will have a property or two where the garden does whatever it is that gardens do when completely ignored for a decade. Or with meadow or wildlife friendly planting, maybe intentionally including weeds.

I love this. All over HN American folks talk now and then about how govt should keep out of things, and how that works so much better than in that terrible interfering socialist place, Europe. You regulate your front lawns and grass height. There's probably an ANSI standard for them. Sorry. ;)

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