Spraying to Make Yards Green ... but With Paint, Not Water

[Liberal_in_LA]

Spraying to Make Yards Green ... but With Paint, Not Water

The pressure to keep grass green has prompted some residents to try money-saving shortcuts, the most innovative of which is to dye the grass green.

The grass spraying business took off here as the housing crisis escalated and real estate brokers were looking to quickly increase the curb appeal of abandoned properties on the cheap. A lawn painting, using a vegetable-based dye, can cost about $200. Vigorous homeowners’ associations, which can fine owners thousands of dollars if a dispute drags on, have also been good for business, said Klaus Lehmann of Turf-Painters Enterprise.

Doug McGraw, who lives in the Dreaming Summit subdivision in western Phoenix, has been cited for neglecting his lawn. Like many homeowners here, Mr. McGraw saw his finances in turmoil of couple of years back and had no extra money to spend on the lawn. “I just let it go one year, and it went to brown,” he said.

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Unsure whether this would be allowed by his association, and somewhat embarrassed to be taking the easy way out, he dyed his lawn one night in the spring of 2009 without telling a soul in the neighborhood.


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/us/10grass.html

[NC_Nurse]

1. Stupid to have a lawn in the desert. Some day they'll have to get over it if

They want to have any water to drink.

[SPedigrees]

3. stupid too to live under the domination of a HOA nt

[Kablooie]

2. My Tucson relatives all have cactus gardens at their houses. All native plants.

[Keith Bee]

4. Lawns are stupid, regardless of location

[KT2000]

5. I'm with Doug McGraw

The last thing I have money for is my stupid lawn. I have discussed with friends what I will say when my repub neighbors complain - things like - quit voting for repubs that are making life hard for all but the rich.

But my friend had the best one - "I'm too busy having abortions to take care of my lawn."