OT: Neighbor Troubles - opinions.

[Jacob Dryer]

So awhile ago before all kinds of crazy construction at my house my wife had a discussion with my neighbors because they park in there front yard (off the street with no curbs) and when they would leave they would drive across a small part of our grass. Not a huge deal but we have a nice yard and like to keep it that way. All was fine and dandy for several months and then they did construction on our whole street so it was all kinds of tore up.



So skip forward to today, where the construction is done and they put down topsoil and seeded and the grass was filling in nicely where it was torn up. I come home from work and there is a nice long tire mark ALL the way across my WHOLE yard. They left their front yard with 1 tire on the street and got closer and closer to having the second on the street which didn't happen until they hit my driveway! So now I have a nice rut with muddy grass.



So first thing I did was put up 3 stakes across my whole front yard. Now I'm worried about the conversion that I'm sure I'm going to have with my neighbors. I'm a pretty passive guy but I'm PISSED. We aren't at war with the neighbors in fact while we were gone they got the mail for us. We aren't exactly best friends either, just friendly neighborly sort of situation. I don't really want to upset that, so what do I do/say?

 

[Keith Lewis]

STAY THE F*** OFF MY LAWN!!! Have a nice day

 

[P M]

I would start by asking them in a reasonable tone to stay off your yard so that it can grow back. You can always dial up the tone if that does not work. If they actually hear you say you don't want them on your yard they'll probably stay off.

 

[Jacob Dryer]

We already did that once. It was a few months ago before all the construction. It worked for awhile but obviously not permanetly.

 

[Keith Lewis]

Fences are great for keeping people off your lawn...if you want to avoid confrontation

 

[P M]

Go with large landscaping stones, and/or very sharp objects (kind of like those small gates you're not supposed to back over). They'll figure it out. Then I'd go with Daeron's advice.

 

[Greg Stuhlsatz]

I would leave the stakes. If they ask then tell them about the rut and the reason why you put up the stakes and asking didn't help. Maybe if you leave the stakes long enough they may get in the habit of staying off your grass.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

Most likely they won't ask about the stakes as they didn't give a damn while they were driving over your lawn.



If it was me...I would ask them if they ran over their lawn and when they will be footing the bill to replace the sod. Then I would landscape so that when they do it again it does damage to their car. Such as nice size bolders.



I tell my neighbors visitors all the time not to park in front of our house and I dont' do it politely because there is a damn sign that says no parking on this side of road for emergency vehicles.



I've already had our walk way arch knocked over twice due to the neighbors friends parking in front of our house and backing into the arch.

 

[Jacob Dryer]

My plan was something like Stu's. I really don't even want to talk to them about it because I'm scared I will blow up. Like I said I'm pretty passive until a certain point. My action was the stakes, if they run over a stakes I'm going to trip out hard though

 

[Michael Hale]

I'm like you are; I try not to be confrontational. I do like the idea of the landscape stones. More aesthetically pleasing vs. stakes.

 

[Mark S 3]

You sure it was them? I'd probably mention it but not accuse them. It could of always been a visitor of theirs who didn't know better, or it could of even been an accident.



Oh, and then I'd replace the 3 "steaks" with stakes. :lol: (Sorry, couldn't help myself)

 

[Keith Lewis]

Better put up stakes, not steaks...you'll only be worrying about dogs with the latter

 

[Jacob Dryer]

Whats funny is I just noticed that I was using steaks and edited it right before you posted

 

[Casey B]

Ask the neighbors, "Hey, did you guys notice anyone driving across my lawn? That really sent my temp to boiling. Could you keep an eye out for trespassers?"



That let's them know that you are ticked without accusing them.

 

[TomT]

land mines.

 

[Rodger Tellefson]

I agree with "C" above. Also, take pics of the "lawn job" each time it happens and show it to the police for the record to keep a paper trail. Whe you ask your neighbors if they noticed anyone driving across your lawn let them know that you took pics and made a police report.

 

[Fred]

Vote #2 for land mines!

 

[Jacob Dryer]

Well just a few minutes ago my neighbor came home. He parked in his driveway (not his normal lawn spot) and put up stakes across the front of his whole yard too. So maybe it wasn't him and it was someone else driving by? Or maybe he's avoiding confrontation too by doing it. Either way I think it makes the whole scenerio a little easier for us both to talk about (unless he's lying)

 

[Mike Dziubina]

vote 3 for land mines....:lol:

 

[P M]

the land mines would be way cooler!