Comments on: The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Learning Yard Care Edition http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Susan McGehee http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-284170 Susan McGehee Thu, 22 May 2008 21:35:07 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-284170 Caring about the state of one’s lawn seems antithetical to socially responsible standards. Do you consider the impact of products as they leach into the aquifer? Do you consider the senseless use of precious water resources? Does a perfectly green , weed-free lawn really reflect your values?

What about using native plants in lieu of the conventional?

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-284016 Jeremy Thu, 22 May 2008 18:00:45 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-284016 The Dave Ramsey article had a few significant incorrect statements about his plan, and I would compare the deep financial trouble his target audience is in more to alcoholism versus going on a diet, where moderation DOESN’T work and you have to go cold turkey.

]]> By: Anitra http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283822 Anitra Thu, 22 May 2008 14:05:05 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283822 I don’t really get the lawn care obsession in the suburbs. As long as it’s green and trimmed, and there’s nothing that’s going to harm our feet (for example, dandelions are thorny)… who cares if it’s one variety of grass, or many, or even a hodgepodge of grass and “weeds” like violets?

“Lawn care” for me means mowing and sprinkling grass seed in the bare spots.

]]> By: Shareef http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283768 Shareef Thu, 22 May 2008 13:08:48 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283768 Thanks for the Dave Ramsey post. I listen to his podcast daily and he dispenses great advice, though I never got the feeling that I needed to follow his plan exactly. Many of the financial gurus are for inspiration and tactics, but you always have to meld it to what you know works for you. I do think that Dave’s method can work for people that in beyond serious condition, such as a majority of the people that call his show.

]]> By: Jim http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283763 Jim Thu, 22 May 2008 12:59:10 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283763 I grew up in a ‘weed’ neighborhood, and the house I have now has weeds for a lawn, as do the rest of the houses in the neighborhood. I had not even thought it through until I read this post. Lawn care registers a big giant yawn with me.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283342 Sarah Thu, 22 May 2008 00:36:14 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283342 A place to play is certainly valuable to kids, I agree. Why that place needs to be a lawn that is fertilized, mowed, watered, fussed over, weeded, etc.–that’s what I don’t get.

]]> By: pfadvice http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283282 pfadvice Wed, 21 May 2008 23:10:20 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283282 Thanks for the mention. Always greatly appreciated. Dave and his system always seem to create quite a converation with a variety of opposing views.

]]> By: Mike http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283231 Mike Wed, 21 May 2008 22:26:07 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283231 Trent–Get rid of the broadcast spredder and get yourself a drop spredder. They are best because you can easily know how much and where you’ve put stuff down. You just align an arrow on the spreader with your previous wheel mark in the grass and you’re golden. Plus, it keeps stuff from being thrown where you don’t want it, like on concrete where you will develop rust stains if you don’t get the fertilizer removed. I started out with a broadcast and then quickly switched to a drop myself a long time ago. Also, DO NOT add lime unless you’ve had a soil test done and the results say you need it. A lot of places in the midwest have extremely alkaline soil and you need to add sulfur to correct it. Lime reduces acidity and will make the problem worse if this is the case. Regarding weed & feed, I’ve found that it is cheaper and yields much better results buying weed killer in concentrate and mixing it up in a sprayer. This way you only spray chemicals on the weeds and you also know that they are thoroughly coated. Straight fertilizer is also cheaper. If you want to get fertilizer on the cheap, look around Home Depot or Lowe’s for torn bags. If you find some, ask an associate about marking them down for you. A lot of bags get cut open from carts so there is usually a steady supply of torn bags. The same applies to all bagged yard products. I worked for Home Depot for a while when I was laid off and going to school. I probably bought 30 bags of fertilizer for $0.25-$0.50 a bag.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283227 Jennifer Wed, 21 May 2008 22:22:28 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283227 Now that you have it figured out though it will be easy to do it right from now on. There is a learning curve frequently, but most things are worth learning.

]]> By: michael http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283183 michael Wed, 21 May 2008 21:29:01 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283183 @sarah: “Children don’t actually require carefully manicured lawns to play on. I didn’t have one when I was growing up, for sure.”

Kids don’t actually require fruits and vegetables either, and many grow up on McDonalds and Taco Bell. That doesn’t mean that a good diet is a bad idea! In many areas, the small lawn you provide them may be the safest play area kids have outdoors.

All this is moot in my area (Las Vegas) anyway — I have desert landscaping that does a pretty good job of taking care of itself. Occasional weeding and pruning, and that’s about it. No dogs, no kids.

]]> By: Martha Beddoe http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283171 Martha Beddoe Wed, 21 May 2008 21:20:37 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283171 I would also love to know what organic “weed n’feed product you found. thanks.

]]> By: jtimberman http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283156 jtimberman Wed, 21 May 2008 21:08:26 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283156 WRT Dave Ramsey’s “black and white” approach, the reason is quite simple, and its in the gauruntee on FPU: “If you do it, it works. If you don’t do it, it won’t work.”

He repeatedly states that personal finance is 80% behavior and 20% knowledge and he’s right. If you *do* the plan, then it works. But you have to actually do it. Also, he’s been teaching personal finance for *TWENTY YEARS*. Apologies to Trent, JD and others, but that gives him a lot more credibility than any of the personal finance bloggers and certainly more than any people who comment on said blogs. That hundreds of thousands, if not millions, have done his plan and are at financial peace really does prove that his plan works.

As for lawns – yes they’re a waste of time and money, and don’t really add much to quality of life. However as mentioned, they’re a good place for children and pets to play. I certainly wouldn’t want my 2 year old tromping in a veggie garden.

]]> By: Kelly http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283154 Kelly Wed, 21 May 2008 21:07:29 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283154 Regarding One Bag Travel- Another financial benefit: American announced today that they’ll be charging $15 for ONE checked bag.

]]> By: momof4 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283124 momof4 Wed, 21 May 2008 20:43:09 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283124 i hire out the weed and feed because it is only $10 more than the cost of self application and I hate that kind of yard work. we went without any weed and feed for 5 years because of the kids, but now, out of respect for our neighbors we’re going to try to spiff up the lawn.

]]> By: CheapGirl http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283113 CheapGirl Wed, 21 May 2008 20:35:45 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283113 Organic weed & feed is usually cornmeal gluten.

]]> By: KAD http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283090 KAD Wed, 21 May 2008 20:06:52 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283090 What organic weed and feed did you use? The broadleaf is taking over my backyard — but I don’t want to put chemicals down!

Help!
KAD

]]> By: J.D. http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283070 J.D. Wed, 21 May 2008 19:49:42 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283070 You know, it might also be possible to do a TEAM podcast…

]]> By: Marisa http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283035 Marisa Wed, 21 May 2008 18:59:28 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-283035 “Know the market rate” frustrates me to no end. How am I supposed to know the market rate, exactly? Maybe I’m unusually ignorant? Job titles don’t match up anymore across companies. Also, I work in one city for a company based out of another.

Can someone suggest ideas on HOW to know the market rate of your current job?

]]> By: Trent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-282987 Trent Wed, 21 May 2008 17:56:57 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-282987 “I have to admit, I was surprised by how bad the Dave Ramsey article was, considering that you promoted it. He doesn’t fairly represent the program at all. Dave prescribes adjustments to the program for many situations, “blow” money, and to work several of the steps (retirement, kids college, house paying off) concurrently if you can afford it. I thought it was a under-researched and under-considered review. I hope it doesn’t lead too many people away from something that could be very useful for them.”

His books describe a plan that’s pretty black and white without much room for deviation. That’s the introduction many people get to Ramsey – I know it certainly was mine.

]]> By: Greenthumb223 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-282983 Greenthumb223 Wed, 21 May 2008 17:51:13 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/05/21/the-simple-dollar-weekly-roundup-learning-yard-care-edition/#comment-282983 Trent – when you fertilize, go over your yard with granular lime as well. It will change the soil pH and help the grass grow better.
Use the 3-day plan too – fertilize and lime on Mother’s Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving. Grass is a cool weather crop, but weeds love hot weather. If you fertilize in the summer, you are helping the wrong thing!
Finally, set your blades at least 3 inches above the ground for a longer cut – the longer the grass above the ground, the longer the roots are below ground. That helps with drought and keeps grash lush.
To get the best results for anything you want to grow, use a soil test. If you go through the county extension office, they get a copy of the results too so they can help you with the application rates and the details!
For more free information – check your local county extension office and ask for the Master Gardener program. They are a dedicated group of volunteers who help homeowners with their questions. Grow green!

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