A New Survey Reveals Many Americans Think Their Neighbors’ Yards are Better
As we enter the warmer months, you may have seen your neighbors putting down some fresh mulch or planting some new flowers. And, you just may find yourself having a case of lawn envy. After all, it can seem like their gardens get just a little more sun and their flowers bloom just a little brighter. If you’re feeling a little bit guilty about your garden envy, just know you’re not alone.
In fact, a new survey from Michigan Bulb found that over 1 in 5 Americans feel that their neighbors have a better yard. The study attempted to understand Americans’ confidence in their own curb appeal and how attitudes about neighborhood gardens affect relationships with the folks next door.
The survey found that the states with the most garden envy included many central states including Colorado, South Dakota and Nebraska. This may be relatively surprising given that extra space for many landowners in these places may keep them from frequently seeing their neighbors’ lawns.
The study also asked about neighborhood disputes, and nearly a third of the respondents said that they had experienced a negative encounter with a neighbor about their yard. While these disputes may have come from issues with untrimmed hedges or forgotten Christmas lights, there are also plenty of surprising and, frankly, funny homeowners’ associations’ rules that homeowners have experienced throughout the years. This list collected a few bizarre rules including rules about lawn-mowing patterns and concealing trash cans.
Finally, to prevent future neighborhood drama, the survey asked respondents about best practice for letting neighbors know about issues with their lawn. The vast majority of respondents said that a face-to-face discussion is best, whereas only about 12% said that they would go to the HOA. While a fair amount of respondents said that they would write a note, but manner experts say that an in-person conversation should always come first.
So, as grasses get greener this year, it’s ok to feel a little lawn envy, just make sure that if you’re disappointed with your neighbors’ yards, go straight to the root and talk!
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