Forget the Fertilizer, Break Out the Paint
By Christa TerrySelling foreclosures has to be a pain. When The Beard and I were looking at houses, we saw a few foreclosures and all of them had been trashed. I’m not saying that every foreclosed homes everywhere has been given a nasty once over, but I will put forth that houses that sit empty long enough begin to look…well, empty. A house with a rock “lawn” or lots of shrubs may not lose all that much curb appear for lack of care, but lawns can drop dead pretty darned quickly.
Some banks trying to sell empty homes are apparently taking the easy way out when it comes to lawn care. Companies like the Greener Grass Company in California and Tate Turf Painting in South Carolina will paint a lawn green for about $200. The benefits, according to Tate, are multifold:
Apparently, it won’t harm the individual blades of grass or the root system, and the paint itself is applies in such a way that sunlight can still reach each blade. It seems odd, but at the same time, is intriguing. A quarter of my lawn recently died mysteriously, and we’re not quite sure what to do about it.
November 9th, 2008 at 9:37 am
If their claims are true, I think this is a great idea and would do it in a heartbeat. I do not water my lawn so it never looks terrific. I wish it did but am not willing to pay for the water and I feel wasteful doing it so my lawn always looks mediocre at best.
Secondly, as re the foreclosed people trashing their houses? I can’t condone it but can most certainly understand it.
Third, if you take a sample of your soil to your local university or some garden stores, they can test it for you to see if your grass is diseased. THere is also a good article here:
http://www.grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_closer_look/
November 10th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s true, rural juror, seeing as that the main consumers of this particular service tend to be business with bits of lawn in front. I feel the same way about watering my lawn…and consequently mine looks much the same.
I’ve been wondering about my soil’s condition…at least in that one area. Grass just seems to not want to grow.
December 1st, 2008 at 7:04 pm
NtB, I wonder if there are dogs running loose in your neighborhood that have developed a fondness for that patch. That will take the colour right out of a lawn!
That said, I have no problem with colouring my hair, why not colour an unsatisfactory lawn? If it’s not harmful to the vegetation or to anything that might nibble it, whyever not?
December 4th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
They’d have to be some pretty big dogs, La BellaDonna!
Not sure about the nibbling…environmentally friendly doesn’t always mean safe for mouthy pets like the member of our little cat pack who is allowed to roam the yard.