A homeowner recently took to Reddit in a desperate search for advice. For years, their HOA ignored a leaky sprinkler system, causing their yard to flood regularly.
After years of fighting, the HOA finally relented and fixed the sprinkler system. While the flooding eventually stopped, the damage had already been done.
A massive amount of water was wasted. And now, despite watering their yard in a more consistent and normal pattern, the homeowner's grass remains dead. Even worse, the homeowner began to notice deep cracks in the soil, suggesting lasting damage.
"We're completely out of our depth here," wrote the homeowner.
Overwatered lawns can make your yard less drought tolerant and unhealthy, according to The Family Handyman.
The HOA's inaction in addressing the leaking sprinkler system was particularly egregious. The health of the homeowner's lawn suffered irreparably, likely requiring costly repairs. And even worse, a drastic amount of water could have been saved with more immediate measures.
In recent years, frustrations with HOAs seem to be boiling over. Homeowners have expressed annoyance with outdated rules hindering them from making meaningful changes. HOA-imposed obstacles preventing everything from the installation of solar panels to the use of electric vehicle charging stations can be both devastating for your wallet and the environment.
However, if you're having trouble with your own HOA, there are ways you can revise your bylaws to make eco-friendly changes.
When it comes to lawn maintenance, some frustrated homeowners have abandoned traditional yards altogether. But the OP wanted to recapture the lushness of their old yard. They asked the Reddit community if ripping up the dead grass and planting seeds on top of fresh topsoil in the early spring sounded like a good plan.
🗣️ Should HOAs be able to force homeowners to change their yards?
🔘 Absolutely not 💯
🔘 Yes — it's part of the deal 🤝
🔘 Only in extreme circumstances 🏚️
🔘 We should ban HOAs 🚫
🗳️ Click your choice to see results and speak your mind
"Your plan is good," one user said. "No use trying now with winter setting in."
"But come spring, scalp it, plug it, work in some gypsum, spray fertilizer, spray iron, and water the hell out of it," another Redditor suggested.
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