If I Give You Six Inches, Will You Take My Yard?

Last month, members of my [townhome] community's Home Owners' Association (HOA) received a letter informing us that our monthly HOA dues would no longer cover landscaping services to the front of our homes. According to the letter, each owner would now be responsible for maintaining the 3 square feet [or so] of front yard grass, as well as his/her approximately 12 square feet of back yard space (which each owner was already responsible for). Keep in mind, the HOA fees were not being reduced. So, to follow in compliance with what had been agreed to (unbeknownst to me), I set out to get rid of the grass in my front yard altogether. My mission: keep maintenance to an absolute minimum. I went to the local hardware store to purchase weed/grass killer, mulch, edging and other garden tools. Boy, was I being a responsible homeowner, or what? I thought.
I had no idea yard work could be such a great workout (I was exhausted)! My next door neighbor arrived home just as I was hammering the edging around the perimeter of my estimated 3 square foot plot. I can usually get at least a hello out of him, but he had guests; so I figured it may not have been the best time for me to bother him with a "Hey, how's it going?!" He, and his comrades went in continuing their 'car-ride' conversations, while I continued and completed the first half of my project, spraying the weed/grass killer, laying the landscaping fabric, inserting the edging and applying two bags of mulch. My plan was to finish the other half the following weekend.

Throughout the week, I looked at my little piece of yard proudly, thinking: "Maybe it was a good idea for each owner to be responsible for the front yards." Other neighbors began to address the new mandate in his/her own creative way. The diversity was nice. Towards the end of the week, however, I noticed that my two shrubs were beginning to wither and die. I thought I avoided that area when spraying the weed/grass killer. Who knew it would also kill my shrubs?! They should add 'shrub' to the label (weed/grass/shrub/and all living things with roots in the ground killer).

I digress.

Now, I would add 'uproot and replant shrubs' to my yard work assignment for the following weekend. I went back to the hardware store to purchase shrubs, soil, annual florals, mulch and additional metal stakes, as the edging wasn't hammered into the ground deep enough. I mistakenly left some of the purchased items in the cart (along with my umbrella) at the store, having to return the next morning to recover them...ugh. Side note: it really bothers me when retail staff give you that 'side-eye' look of suspicion. "C'mon lady, would I really want to steal a $2.00 rubber mallet and a $3.00 4-pack of metal stakes? Give me a break!" I even surrendered the original receipt!

But anyway...

I got back home just in time to begin the second half of my yard work assignment. I began watering the area to soften the soil. Just as I was preparing to uproot the shrubs, my neighbor appears. He and I say our hellos. I was beginning to grab my shovel, when he said, "Just to let you know, you went over the line about six inches. You killed the grass on my piece of property, and I just got it to start growing."

Wow...

I walked over to the 'line' to get a better idea of what he was referring to. "Oh, this piece right here? I'm sorry. Let me pull this edging up." I relented, pulling the metal stakes and edging out of the ground, moving the mulch and landscaping fabric over, I asked him, "Does this look about right?" He responded that it did. I bit my tongue and thought, "This guy's whining over six inches of grass? Okay..."

I acknowledge that I was a little annoyed at his petty request. I suppose most understand that six inches does indeed make a difference. But for Pete's sake, this is a segment of grass that I'd be willing to take care of! I thought, "Well, it is his property. I shouldn't be turned off by his pettiness." But I was. The frustration gave me the added energy I needed to re-pound the edging back into my inexact 3 square foot plot (minus 6 inches). Since I had soil, I laid more down to his new identified area and inserted the metal stakes to secure the edging. While I was doing this, he and his guest left for a walk and he was able to get another glance at what I was doing. I asked, "Is it OK that I laid some soil down on your six inches?" He replied that it was fine and added "I'll just have to lay some grass seed down." However, I insisted that I clean up my mess. So, I let him know, "Oh no - totally my mistake. I'll reseed for ya..." After digging a small area and planting my annual flowers, I got back in my car to get some grass seed. I returned home, deepened the edging, up rooted and replanted my shrubs, and applied more mulch.

I thought I did a pretty good job and began to put the finishing touches on my project. Meanwhile, the two walkers returned. "Now would be a good time for him to give his approval/rejection of where his 'property line' was" I thought. But since he waited a week, who knows? He re-exited his garage, now walking his dog. I wondered: "Why didn't he say something when I began this project last week?! He saw me sweating and struggling with this shovel! This guy has no clue of the cost and energy that went into this 3 & 2.5 x 3 foot area. All I know is, he better maintain this six inches!" I loosened the soil to the six inch property line and sprinkled the grass seed, as promised. I then watered the whole ballpark 3 square foot area thinking, "We should swap. I SO wish he could take care of my little area - I'll take care of his -- six inches."
HOA Conspiracy? I don't know. Is this new association rule an attempt for the HOA to increase Homeowner participation in those inconveniently scheduled meetings? I better be careful. If this guy's going to point these types of issues out, who knows what's next. One thing's for sure, folks are talking to each other more than ever...