(Un)Friendly neighborhood quandary?

Question

I don't have a bagger on my lawn mower and the clippings go out into the street. I know that it doesn't look very good and eventually when I buy a new mower, I will bag it and will not have this problem any more. However, I received an anonymous letter in the mail yesterday. It was a cutout of a recent article in our local newspaper in a section where people write in and have an "expert" answer your question. The person was complaining how people shouldn't let their grass clippings blow into the yard.
I was extremely mad when I opened this letter. First it was anonymous (If you have something to tell me, tell me to my face). Second, we just had a new baby and so I spend my time with him. Third, We have lived here a year, and all but one of my neighbors has mad an effort to introduce themselves.

I have thought about going door to door and asking who sent me this and try to explain myself (new baby, time, etc..) Any suggestions on how I should handle this?????

sorry, only one neighbor has introduced themselves.

Answer 1

I wouldn't bother going door to door asking who sent the letter. It will probably just cause more problems in the long run.

Actually...if you keep up with your mowing and most of the clippings go into your yard...it's better for your lawn. I wouldn't bother getting a bagger at all.

My hubby will just drive our mower out onto the road and "blow" the clippings back into the lawn (when he feels like it LOL) and then there's no mess.

Or, do what others have suggested. Get an old broom and brush the clippings off the street. Then, you don't have to spend the extra money on a mower just to make a neighbor quit complaining.

Good luck. I have a couple neighbors like this also...They're so anal! UGH

Answer 2

Save the letter and for now ignore it. If harrassment becomes a problem- take all of the letters or whatever evidences of harrassment you find to the police. Most of the time people just think they are being helpful and a good citizen. Personally i think that the crass clippings in the street is petty- now if it was litter and trash that is another issue. THey should be thankful you are cutting your lawn because since someone in my neighborhood has not it has caused health issues because of rodents and the like. If you have a neighborhood committee and this is a "rule" then sweep up the street or mow in the other direction so th grass is blown back in the yard. Otherwise, it is biodegradable material that is usually washed away by the rain- it's not a big deal- get yur bag when you can, spend your time with your baby- he wont be a baby forever. And dont sweat overi t, it will only make matters worse. The neighbor will just have to get over it or buy you a lawnmower with a bag. :)

Answer 3

Well, you shouldn't think of this person as a coward or someone meaning ill will on you. I think the anonymous person did not want to come 'face to face' because they did not know how you would respond. So they took that route to avoid a confrontation.

Now don't get steamed up or mad about anyone or anything because your neighbors just want the neighborhood to be kept nice and clean. The best solution is not to respond or retaliate to the note but, the next time you mow your lawn then you should sweep up the debris that blows into the street.

I am a homeowner in a pretty nice area and it would annoy me if my neighbor mowed their lawn and left their mess in the street. So be the responsible adult and clean up any mess you make. It would earn the admiration and comradery of your neighbors.

Answer 4

The best answer that I can offer is this. just suck it up even if you don't want to do it and go down to home depot and buy a wide push broom. you should be able to find one for about fifteen bucks. sweep up some after you finish mowing, it only takes ten extra minutes and will solve the problem. if you do choose to take the avenue of persuing the writer of the letter, then make sure that when you confront them that you tell them you have a child you can't spend that much time away from and you wouldn't mind at all the help if they would like to come sweep it up for you until your child is grown enough, or if they would mind loaning you their bag mower till you are in a position to buy a mower with a bag on it. hope it helps.

Answer 5

Hmmm... There's one in every neighborhood. That's my theory. Maybe you should show them that you're the bigger person and introduce youself to those who haven't yet. And, just to make conversation, tell them about yourself... your new baby and how busy you are. Don't bring up the letter to anyone. But make a point of saying something like "I have so little time these days with my new baby, I don't even have time to get the clippings out of the street, and I feel awful... It hope it's not a bother." And see what they say. Even if they don't admit they were the one, you still would have explained yourself in a polite way. And you'll get to know your neighbors in the process.
Hope that helps... I've been there too. :-)
Also... there is no law against it.. so what's the worst they can do?

Answer 6

I used to be the official mower at our house and we didn't have a grass catcher on the lawn mower. I used to go around the lawn in an anti-clockwise (or clockwise, depending on which side it comes out) direction so that the cutting always went towards the centre of the garden. It used to bury the flower bed in the middle, but it didn't make a mess on the street.
There's nothing you can do about anonymous letters except feel bad. Just consider that the person who did it was too cowardly to come in person and discuss it with you. Let it pass and enjoy your family.
The thing that I found offensive was other people allowing their dogs to poop on our lawn and not cleaning it up, although we always cleaned up after our own dog.

Answer 7

Congratulations on your new baby!

I am sure you are very tired with running about adjusting to the new baby. Anonymous letters are annoying, immature and insulting and don't normally lead to a productive outcome.

I think it would be a waste of your time and energy to find out who sent it, time which would be better spent with your baby.

That said maybe you should get a new lawn mower pronto. It is probably upsetting more than one neighbour that your grass clippings fall on the street.

Some people who write letters like this anonymous one are petty and lonely and maybe have no one to talk to. Feel sorry for them, don't waste energy getting angry with them. Rise above it and be more friendly to your neighbours (especially the one you think wrote the letter). Speaking from experience this is the most satisfying way of dealing with people who try to make you angry. They just don't know how to respond!

Good luck with your newborn.

Answer 8

That is a shame about your neighbors. We have lived here for almost 20 years and still don't know ours. I am going to have a street party next holiday and invite them all. Maybe you could try the same. Take the baby for a walk and explain it to a few of them when they make over the baby and ask their opinion. They will understand and don't mention the newspaper in the mail.

Answer 9

Just let it go. You don't have time to deal with NastyGrams from neighbors with a new baby! No one would admit to it, anyway...and it may not even be that elusive neighbor. Could be the one next door who's always nice!

You could, in the meantime, go behind yourself with a broom when you're done and sweep the grass clippings off the street. Dump them in the woods or something, or spread them over your garden if you have one. Then go hang out with your little one!

Answer 10

Channel the anger in a positive manner. say "God bless them and free me from the bondage." Hug your sweet child, congrats!

Then, next time you mow make the first two passes with the exhaust vent facing inward. When you reverse direction you will remow the cut clippings and produce beautiful mulch for your yard.

Or you could mow in an inward direction, leaving all of the clippings in a central pile for easy removal.

Happy mowing!