Sand/pebble garden in Buttonwood
 

We have lived in TV for a year, and our constant "tweeking" of the lawn has driven us crazy. First it was grubs eating the roots, then it froze, then it had to be thatched due to damage caused by grubs, and so on.:sing: We went to Sea World recently and I admired the sand/pebble gardens throughout the park and thought such a thing would be an excellent replacement for our "lawn". Can anyone offer advice on how to do this, recommend a landscaper, and while I understand we have to leave SOME grass, does anyone know what percentage? Thank you'all.

Please call me i am a landscaper at Fairfield farms nurseries on hwy 301 i can help you with your garden i am a landscape designer and can help you with any type of landscaping project you wish. Thank you Jay @ Fairfield Farms (352)748-7337

Hi
In your post, Shrandell, you write that you understand we have to leave some grass........
Is that true? I've noticed some homes with very nice attractive shrubbery and rock landscaping. Is there something somewhere in writing that a homeowner needs a percentage of grass? Grass in not environmentally friendly in Florida, so my partner and I would prefer to avoid using it. Also, have you been able to replace your lawn? Hope everything has worked out!

Just remember everything you do needs prior approval from the ARC. I have also heard about some % of grass but have seen nothing on paper. I would say just submit it for review and see what they say. It is a very easy process.

Okay, here I go!
 

:wave: Hi Chocolaht.... I see this is your second post. Welcome and I hope you will keep posting!
This isn't meant as a challenge, but I really felt compelled to throw my two cents in about grass in general.
Lawns have benefits. They cool the air on a hot summer day. They give off oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. They trap air pollution and dust. They control erosion. They feel good to body and spirit.
Some of the most beautiful, ecological research gardens I have seen (California, Seattle and Chicago) include green lawns, moss and green ground cover as integral design elements.
One can always use a push type mulching mower, 'water wise' grass varieties, mow to a length (3") to help shade and supress weeds and use eco-friendly organic products to treat problems- if they want to. A healthy lawn chokes out weeds anyway.
Water usage is the least effective argument for doing away with lawns.
A look at "water challenged" cities shows that more efficient toilets and shower heads would do as much or more as restricting lawn watering. Some think "A Brick in Every Toilet" could save the planet. I don't know.
For those who prefer no maintenance, or those who prefer the look of stone or sand over green.... they are perfectly entitled. I for one, love the look of zen gardens!
But as for me and MY house, I will hang on tenaciously to my grass, if it only be a 12" strip. And I'll do it without feeling guilty. I'll enjoy the heck out of TV's 39 public pools, too.
I'm an earth kid. I love this planet- including the little green blades of grass that my creator made for me to enjoy.
Again, no offense intended to you..... it's nice that you care about things!
Just saying......
So, many good wishes to You!

:swear:The purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention that, after a recent inspection of the above referenced
property, the property is in violation of paragraph 2, section 2.7 of the Deed Restrictions as adopted by the
District for unit 33 which states:
"Each Home and Lot must contain a concrete driveway, the lawn must be sodded, and a lamppost erected in the
front yard of each Lot"

Just received this letter from the VCDD

You are funny. But please tell us who you used to be.

It is not funny. We are having our lawn totally replaced and it has been spread to kill the roots before they resod the lawn. A neighbor called the VCDD and complained about our dead lawn so the VCDD sent us that letter without checking first with Us. They also said in the letter, if we didn't comply within 7 days, they could replace our sod and bills us for it and fine Us $150.00 noncompliance fee.

Now do you think that is funny???

Do you know why your lawn died in the first place? Did you not water it or was it something else?

Now I new to the Villages and too Florida.Our house is being built. I see all the time of people having trouble with their lawns. How many pay to have their lawns done and how many do their own?

I agree with you 100% Uptown Girl. Rocks and concrete hold heat well into the night and you will pay the price in electric bills. Some of my neighbors in Hawaii have concreted their whole back yard and put rocks in other areas. I hear their air conditioners running day and night. I, on the other hand, have large trees on the West side and in other areas around the house along with lots of grass and plants. I do not own and air conditioner. My water bill is higher than theirs but I feel so much better breathing the fresh air and watching all the wild life enjoy my yard.

There was a thread previously about replacing lawn with rock, but I can't find it. In that old thread, we were discussing TV covenants and restrictions which require you to have at least 70% sod for a house lawn. (Of course, CYVs can be all rock.) In that thread, a poster advised me that there is a Florida "green" LAW permitting the rocking of entire properties. For purposes of water conservation. And that the Florida law overrides any local Villages covenants or restrictions.

Does anyone remember that thread .. perhaps a year or more ago?

"Lawn" AKA "Place to throw money"
 

Since I asked for input about replacing our lawn with other alternatives, I was contacted by a landscaper. He said he has replaced sod with water conserving landscaping especially using few plants and many types of rocks, pebbles, etc.
I wrote to the ARC attaching photos I'd found on the internet, all featuring sand, rocks, grasses, trees, and received a notice that my examples would not pass muster because "you will need to add plants" Huh? I DID show plants. So, I am stuck between a rock (had to go there) and a hard place. The landscaper is going to give me his take on my ideas, along with a price. We are not ready to undergo any expense at the moment, I simply wanted to determine the what, and why's of the project. I have received conflicting information. I intend to leave SOME grass, just not much. Appreciate more input. Sandra

Yes, I remember reading that ruling, and that's why I was surprised when I got the negative response from the powers that be.

The grass did not die. We just wanted to get rid of the St Aug grass and have Zoysia grass.

I thought you were being facetious.

Don't you think that it is great that dead lawns do not go unnoticed?

Somewhere, the unseen powers are protecting us from urban blight but they can't know what happened unless you tell them.

Which I am sure you did, and it is all settled. Much better than just tolerating dead grass all over The Villages.

I wouldn't think I was being picked on if this happened to me...I would just explain.

All's well that ends well.

Where is the lot. My deed says nothing of the kind. Thanks.

http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu/ffl/Senate_Bill_2080.shtml

Florida Senate Bill 2080 seems to cover changing the landscaping to "Florida Friendly."

We were told 51% but I haven't seen anything in writing yet. It would be nice to really understand this. Thanks for asking.

Florida Senate Bill 2080 seems to cover changing the landscaping to "Florida Friendly."[/QUOTE]

Sure makes sense to have a bill where you can landscape and eliminate the waste of water used for watering lawns. Making irrigation a requirement so we can look at pretty grass seems to me to be a waste of a precious resourse. If attractive landscaping can be achieved by using native drought tolorant plants, shrubs, flowers, and rocks....sounds good to me.

;)....Good call on the Zoysia.....
......WHAT !!!!!!......you DESTROYED a SNAKE HABITAT :sad:.......I know of 6 others who have gotten rid of the St. Augustine ...AND...their snake problems :boxing2: were over. ...... A friend of a friend overheard a stranger say that Zoysia could be BEAUTIFUL if it was watered 3 times :evil6: per week for 18 minutes per station.....WHODAKNEW :shrug:......Of course "WE" ;) only water 2 times :police: per week for about 35 minutes per station...

.................JUNE 30, 2009 was a VERY good day.................

I don't mind the watering or the lawn-care cost, but I hate the pesticides. I would love to hear what the ARC has to say about Bill 2080 which seems to override local covenants.

I have definitely seen homes (not CYVs) that have totally rocked their front lawns. They are tastefully done and look great. Perhaps if neighbours don't complain, they're OK.

Landscaping New Home - Need Advice
 

Our new home will be ready in October and we can't wait.

We are supposed to talk to the landscaper tomorrow afternoon before they start work to request certain types of plants.

We have a dog and have heard there are certain palm trees and shrubs use around The Villages that are very dangerous to animals.
Does anyone have some advice as to nonpoisonous plants for dogs?

Also, we need suggestions on plants that will grow quickly to provide privacy around the lanai.

Thanks in advance for your help. I have learned a lot on TOTV which has helped us before we move in to our permanent home.

I've lived in FL for nearly 40 yrs
 

and have found the best landscaping to be Florida native grasses, trees, and
shrubs...some, of course, must be trimmed to keep tidy. However, moving
to The Villages from the Boca Raton area I have found a basic lack of these available in local nurseries. Now I ask friends visiting from South Florida to bring me some when they visit!!!!

The Senate did pass the Florida Friendly landscaping plans (xeriscaping for e.g.) and many HOA's in South Florida particularly are having a difficult time accepting these changes with landscaping rules written 30 or so years ago in their documents. However, while we are basically surounded by salt water, we are at risk with water for irrigation. And, if the water for irrigation is dangerous for humans and animals to drink, it isn't something I really want on my lawn...just sayin'. Look at your sprinkler system and see if there is that notation on yours.

The latest issue of the POA bulletin has a list of some of those grasses, and
the local agricultural extension agency can also help in identifying those which are not only beautiful, but encouraged for birds and bees and butterflies. Remember that a grass lawn likes some shade too, that makes all
the difference in how one landscapes and the type of grass and ornamental grasses selected.

Sadly, my cyv is entirely hardscaped along the side and back with a gazillion tons of river rock. I may be tilting the earth and causing global warming. It is a real struggle to bring oxygen back, but I'm working on it with my Florida grasses. Just wish our local nurseries would supply and stock more.