All this sprinkler action is on the property belonging to a real estate office called VIVE Asbury Park. According to their ads, they’re planning to build townhouses. We walked by the place a second time late Sunday afternoon and sprinklers were still going, watering their grass and decorative plantings. Maybe we should have called the cops, but what would be the point? It’s clear that nobody was ever serious about enforcing this watering ban.
Asbury’s always flaunted water bans. They have their sprinklers going regardless of what restrictions, for whatever reason. Drive by the lakeside around 6 AM during a drought, and the sprinklers are on.
The best is people watering their lawns in 105 degree heat, regardless of a watering ban or not. Even in the 90′s it’s stupid. I saw at least two or three people in OG watering their lawns during the height of the ban. Don’t people understand that grass goes dormant, anyway? Watering brown grass is pretty much pointless. On top of that, the whole concept of the lawn is, IMHO, highly overrated and definitely wasteful. Who even uses their lawn? The amount of resources that go into maintaining these is incredible. How much gas is used? How much pollution and small particles spread around the neighborhood? How much noise is created? Leaf blowers? You’d think it’s a big joke, but people are pretty serious about this.
Let me also add that a lot of what people consider “grass” isn’t so. Half of the time a lawn consists of Crabgrass, Johnson grass, miniaturized Mugwort, Lamb’s Quraters, wild plaintains and Ragweed (from mowing) and other weeds and native plants that are certainly not Kentucky Bluegrass. I’ve seen people fertilizing and watering lawns that consist of at least 50% of this stuff. Google image search the things I mentioned, especially the first two.
Not really, but I think the acceptance of the lawn as a standard without really knowing why we even have them is pretty disturbing. It’s just this thing that is sort of there. I’m all for public lawns, for one. It’s not something that is going to go away. If we’re going to have them, why don’t we make use of them and try to eliminate the ones that don’t have much use? There are plenty of plants that can replace a lawn that will do just fine without watering and much maintenance, specifically natives.
I’m also not telling anyone to do anything. My frustration lies in knowing what people will continue to do: fertilize, water, mow and use leaf blowers, all of which consume a lot of resources and have an effect on the environment and people. Three guys on leaf blowers at once is an accepted norm. I find that pretty bizarre. What’s the resulting soil ecology? In the case of a well maintained green lawn, you have a monocrop that depends on fertilizer and probably herbicides and/or pesticides. You’re not building up the soil much, especially after you blow away every last leaf fragment and whatever else. We live in a town with lakes to either side. What’s flowing into these lakes?
Maybe its well water?
All this sprinkler action is on the property belonging to a real estate office called VIVE Asbury Park. According to their ads, they’re planning to build townhouses. We walked by the place a second time late Sunday afternoon and sprinklers were still going, watering their grass and decorative plantings. Maybe we should have called the cops, but what would be the point? It’s clear that nobody was ever serious about enforcing this watering ban.
Charles –
Maybe nobody’s enforcing it because this water ban was not necessary after this past Tuesday, and everyone knows it.
Asbury’s always flaunted water bans. They have their sprinklers going regardless of what restrictions, for whatever reason. Drive by the lakeside around 6 AM during a drought, and the sprinklers are on.
The best is people watering their lawns in 105 degree heat, regardless of a watering ban or not. Even in the 90′s it’s stupid. I saw at least two or three people in OG watering their lawns during the height of the ban. Don’t people understand that grass goes dormant, anyway? Watering brown grass is pretty much pointless. On top of that, the whole concept of the lawn is, IMHO, highly overrated and definitely wasteful. Who even uses their lawn? The amount of resources that go into maintaining these is incredible. How much gas is used? How much pollution and small particles spread around the neighborhood? How much noise is created? Leaf blowers? You’d think it’s a big joke, but people are pretty serious about this.
Let me also add that a lot of what people consider “grass” isn’t so. Half of the time a lawn consists of Crabgrass, Johnson grass, miniaturized Mugwort, Lamb’s Quraters, wild plaintains and Ragweed (from mowing) and other weeds and native plants that are certainly not Kentucky Bluegrass. I’ve seen people fertilizing and watering lawns that consist of at least 50% of this stuff. Google image search the things I mentioned, especially the first two.
@Waterwise, I’m sorry; but I have to ask this.
Are you saying that we who love green lawns are stupid or not entitled to what we like? That we should do as you say?
Not really, but I think the acceptance of the lawn as a standard without really knowing why we even have them is pretty disturbing. It’s just this thing that is sort of there. I’m all for public lawns, for one. It’s not something that is going to go away. If we’re going to have them, why don’t we make use of them and try to eliminate the ones that don’t have much use? There are plenty of plants that can replace a lawn that will do just fine without watering and much maintenance, specifically natives.
I’m also not telling anyone to do anything. My frustration lies in knowing what people will continue to do: fertilize, water, mow and use leaf blowers, all of which consume a lot of resources and have an effect on the environment and people. Three guys on leaf blowers at once is an accepted norm. I find that pretty bizarre. What’s the resulting soil ecology? In the case of a well maintained green lawn, you have a monocrop that depends on fertilizer and probably herbicides and/or pesticides. You’re not building up the soil much, especially after you blow away every last leaf fragment and whatever else. We live in a town with lakes to either side. What’s flowing into these lakes?