lawn issues with neighbors

[mhbratt]

When I bought my home almost 3 years ago the yard was dry dirt, clay and crabgrass. It was horrible. But with a lot of soil amendments and weed control within a year or so I had and still have a gorgeous lush green lawn, that is virtually weed free. I should mention that I live in Maryland so my lawn is a combination of cool grasses. One neighbor on one side of me does nothing but mow his yard which is weeds and bermuda grass. Up until several months ago everything was fine, but then I discovered that his bermuda grass (which is a weed as far as I'm concerned) has now infiltrated the side of my yard that abuts his up to my driveway which is about 15'. It's really starting to take over that section how can I get rid of his bermuda grass in my lawn? The park prohibits any type of dividers. I used to just pull it up when the soil was wet and have gotten pieces as long as 5' long. There is so much there now pulling it up is not an option. So am I just going to have to suffer and give up my gorgeous lawn for his Bermuda weeds?

The neighbor on the other side is sort of the same situation except she has no grass that I can tell, mostly just big sections of dirt and all kinds of weeds. Often I'm out there pulling weeds that have crept from here yard to mine, but I certainly can't do anything to her yard.

When you have a tenant like me that pays lot rent early every month and has made a bad situation a beautiful one that gets lots of compliments, what I am supposed to do. It's hard work and expensive to keep a nice lawn nice and now I feel like just throwing up my hands and giving in. At some point my lawn will not exist as it does, it will look like theirs? And forget management, they don't care what if anything you have growing in your yard as long as it's kept cut, and refuse to help in this situation by advising Mr. Bermuda that it is a warm grass not meant to grow in Maryland and neither are his weeds, and to Ms. Weeds do something about your weeds. Both are adversely affecting your neighbors lovely lawn.

Any words of wisdom?
Thanks
Jen

[David Oxhandler]

Just keep doing what you are doing. Your problem is not unique to manufactured homes or parks. Anyplace you live where there are neighbors you may find yourself along side the good the bad or the ugly.

The only way to assure that your neighbors will manage and maintained their home and gardens is to move into a community or subdivision where there are reasonable deed restrictions or park rules that suite the life style features that you value.

It is critical to learn the parks rule and regulations, virtues and pitfalls prior to making the commitment to live there. We call this Due Diligence and it is an important part of buying any home that many people overlook in favor of location, price or a home that particularly suites their special needs.

[mhbratt]

Oh there are rules, lots of them. Unfortunately we have a manager who has no clue what she is doing and applies the rules selectively. It's not enough to just have rules they must be enforced across the board.

I'd say better than 90% of the residents do maintain there lawns and homes wonderfully, I just happen to live in between two who just don't care. We have annual inspections and this year they will start June 1st, and I'm sure this year like previous years those few who have violations that they have yet to remedy will just get written up again.

The biggest violation is the one pet rule, under 13" and up to 35#, no rottweilers, pit bulls or other dogs known to bite. The day I moved in I discovered Mr. Bermuda Grass had a huge pit bull and when I called the manager and the salesman that sold me the home, both of them lied straight to my face and said they weren't aware and they would take care of it right away. A few days later I met my neighbor and we had a nice chat we agreed that I wouldn't continue to make a big deal about it if he kept the dog in and/or under control at all times. Then he told me he had the dog since he was a pup and he was then 8 years old and management has always known about the dog. They are really nice people to live next too except for the bermuda grass issue. And the dog died a few months ago. It was sad even for me, as I am generally an animal lover, but for 8 years management was clearly aware that they were violating the rules.

I can hardly wait to see what violations they will come up with for me. LOL

Thanks a lot for responding.

Jennifer

[Celtlund]

Another good reason to NOT live in a park. And if you must, you should do your homework thoroughly before moving into one.

[mhbratt]

Cetlund,
Did you not read what I wrote? Or are you just assuming I didn't do my homework? I did all my homework, and I was given a copy of the rules like everyone else. But what does that have to do with my grass issue? The problem is since then the new manager has no clue what she is doing, but apparently has some residents that she lets get away with whatever they want. As faras manufactured homes go there isn't much choice but parks, and this does happen to be one the nicest all around. I'm talking about Bermuda grass that has started to overtake my lawn anyway. And as for land do you know what a small lot zoned for mobile homes would cost between Washington DC & Baltimore??? A lot and certainly more than I could afford.
Jennifer