It’s a 2018 Tale of True Southern Landscaping: Yard Wars Edition

Hey Y’all!

Landscaping is a very serious because when someone sees your home, they see the outside before the see in the inside. In the south landscaping  has become somewhat of art form. Nearly, every pickup truck or large truck  that you pass while driving is dedicated to a landscaping business. There are multi-dollar businesses in the south that just sell sod, because they know how important it is to have a beautiful manicured lawn. It may sound trivial to some that aren’t from the south, but if you’re a true southerner you know what I’m taking about. In the south the inside of your home could be falling apart, but your lawn will be pristine and immaculate.

Landscaping is extremely competitive, and between  the months of February and May, everyone in the neighborhood begins to  size one another up. You and your neighbors begin looking  out the window to see the damage that the winter left behind.  You’re all just waiting for the last March frost, to pass before anything can be planted.

Southern Landscaping

Then, ever so slowly floral hanging baskets, go up hopefully unnoticed by the rest of your neighbors. You stand there smirking to yourself thinking, that this year you finally have the edge on your competition, I mean neighbors. Until you hear the dreaded sound of a lawn mower down the street, and your blood begins to boil. As you think to yourself  “How dare that cut their grass.”.. Yard Wars!

In southern neighborhoods during spring and summer, usually  friendly neighbors become strangers.  We don’t know each other, we don’t make eye contact,  and we don’t speak.  Neighbors, are putting down weed and feed in the evening, to ensure  that no one can see the brand they are using. It’s always the same though, Scotts Turf Builder, everyone uses it.

Then Saturday Morning it’s all out WAR! Everyone is up early headed to Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, and the various nurseries. Neighbors, seeing each other in these places, but not engaging, just side eyeing one another’s shopping carts. I still  remember when I saw my neighbors at Lowes, and they usually speak, but when they saw me they  were silent. There was no smile, wave, or anything it was as if we were strangers. Even though we had lived in the same street  for over five years.

Use Pine straw instead of Mulch

The sprinklers, are going, cars are driving slowly by; people walking dogs, you didn’t even know they had, just to check out the competition. By competition, I mean their neighbor’s yard. Various strangers driving through the neighborhood, selling  fresh straw. They know that we are crazy, and will purchase it at any cost..lol!

Instead of using mulch, try incorporating pine straw into your yard. Pine straw will keep the bugs aways from your home and it also keeps cats away. In my neighborhood, we have stray cats that are always trying to find a place to use the bathroom.

Landscaping Tip: Plant a Flower Bed in Your Yard

Landscaping Tip: Add Wreaths to Your Home

Flowerbeds, green grass, floral wreaths, riding mowers, push mowers, and weed eaters. I(Juliette) decided that I wasn’t going to be competitive this year. However, I wanted to make my year as aesthetically pleasing as I could. So I decided to place three different wreaths outside; one on the door, one over the garage, and of course one on the mailbox.

Benefits of Planting  a Lemon Tree

There are many benefits You can also add a lemon tree, lemons can be very beneficial to your lawn.  The weather is getting warmer and that means you will have to deal with unwanted pests. The smell of lemons repels a large variety of insects, it also helps if you have a cat problem in your neighborhood.

There are also health benefits of having your own lemon tree, lemons are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for many things  in relation to our bodies.  For example, Vitamin C involved is  in formation of collagen, absorption of iron, the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth. So not only is a lemon tree a nice addition to your yard, when your lemons start to grow. You can use them to keep your body healthy.

The south has always been known for our slow drawl, our unending kindness and hospitality. However, there is a bit of a dark side to southerners, we’re extremely competitive especially when it comes to yard work. So if you ever plan on moving to a southern neighborhood, be prepared for YARD WARS. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Hope Y’all Enjoy!

Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments section. Do you and  your neighbors take your landscaping seriously?

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Juliette and Jennifer

Hey Y’all and Welcome to Southern Love! We’re Juliette and Jennifer a mother/daughter duo that lives in South Carolina. We created Southern Love to give people a real look into the lives of modern day southerners. You’ll be a able to find entertaining stories, amazing recipes, and southern decor.

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