Steve Turnipseed, a Florida master gardener, transformed 7,000 square feet of bare grass into a thriving garden filled with native plants, despite restrictive HOA rules. Dwell reports.
according to He livesTurnipseed is the founder and president of his local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. When he moved into the Village’s planned retirement community, he was disappointed by the landscaping surrounding his new home.
He immediately began looking for ways to incorporate beautiful native plants without violating his HOA rules — including a rule requiring a “grass-like” appearance be maintained with plants less than a foot tall.
Even with these restrictions, says turnip“I knew I could create something amazing.”
First, he chose the native groundcover toadstool, whose flowers attract three species of butterflies and many other insects. His garden also includes herbs, trees and shrubs – nearly 100 native species in total.
“Sometimes people wonder why I’m sitting in my garden,” he said. He lives. “I’ll tell them: ‘This is where the butterflies come in.’
Commenters on Reddit are impressed with his results. “Very nice, within guidelines, and native to the area!” books 1 user. “God bless him, I wish he would come help me do the same, plus there is no HOA.”
While Turnipseed may not make house calls, it does offer to do so He lives Advice for those who want to replace their lawns.
First, he recommends killing the existing grass and its seeds, and it’s best to leave the dead grass in the ground to return nutrients to the soil. There are several ways to achieve this, including covering the grass with cardboard or plastic.
Then plant something low-maintenance in its place. If possible, homeowners should choose a native plant that supports insect and bird pollination, but he says other hardy plants like Asian jasmine are still better than grass. This is because they use less water, which is good for your utility bill and the environment.
Turnipseed has been following the HOA rules from the beginning and has not reported any issues from the organization. But other homeowners who start eco-friendly home improvement projects sometimes encounter resistance.
The good news is that it’s possible to win a legal battle against a restricted HOA, like the Maryland couple who planted native flowers and the Reddit user who cited a state law to defend their solar panels.
join us Free newsletter For easy tips for Save more, Less wasteand Help yourself While helping the planet.