types of front lawns

I live in Florida and have a Homeowner that has removed all the grass and planted several ground cover plants and mulch in the entire front lawn. Our covenants do not specifically say what type of grass you are suppose to have as your lawn.

Does anyone have it stated in there covenants? Anyone in your community have ground cover or just mulch as there front lawn?

Your feed back is appreciated.

Thanks Roger,

Our Rules and Regulation do not say it either. And they didn't request it to be done either.

Eric

I live in FL and our covenants/rules state that the lawn must be at least 50% sod. ie no xeriscaping, no rock gardens, no mulching most of the yard. It is my understanding, however, that if someone wanted to xeriscape they could get approval from the county and we would not be able to prohibit them from xeriscaping, but they would have to follow true xeriscaping guidelines, not just their interpretation or attempt at xeriscaping.

I know this is an old thread but I wanted to make an important point for those searching past posts, as I did. The State of Florida frowns on Associations taking action against Xeriscape. It is designed to use less water and as far as I know all water districts in Florida have had watering restrictions in place for several years.

Florida Statute 720.3075.4 says

(4) Homeowners' association documents, including declarations of covenants, articles of incorporation, or bylaws, entered after October 1, 2001, may not prohibit any property owner from implementing Xeriscape or Florida-friendly landscape, as defined in s. 373.185(1), on his or her land.

and Florida Statute 373.185 says

(1) As used in this section, the term:

(a) "Local government" means any county or municipality of the state.

(b) "Xeriscape" or "Florida-friendly landscape" means quality landscapes that conserve water and protect the environment and are adaptable to local conditions and which are drought tolerant. The principles of Xeriscape include planning and design, appropriate choice of plants, soil analysis which may include the use of solid waste compost, efficient irrigation, practical use of turf, appropriate use of mulches, and proper maintenance.

(2) Each water management district shall design and implement an incentive program to encourage all local governments within its district to adopt new ordinances or amend existing ordinances to require Xeriscape landscaping for development permitted after the effective date of the new ordinance or amendment. Each district shall adopt rules governing the implementation of its incentive program and governing the review and approval of local government Xeriscape ordinances or amendments which are intended to qualify a local government for the incentive program. Each district shall assist the local governments within its jurisdiction by providing a model Xeriscape code and other technical assistance. A local government Xeriscape ordinance or amendment, in order to qualify the local government for a district's incentive program, must include, at a minimum:

(a) Landscape design, installation, and maintenance standards that result in water conservation. Such standards shall address the use of plant groupings, soil analysis including the promotion of the use of solid waste compost, efficient irrigation systems, and other water-conserving practices.

(b) Identification of prohibited invasive exotic plant species.

(c) Identification of controlled plant species, accompanied by the conditions under which such plants may be used.

(d) A provision specifying the maximum percentage of turf and the maximum percentage of impervious surfaces allowed in a xeriscaped area and addressing the practical selection and installation of turf.

(e) Specific standards for land clearing and requirements for the preservation of existing native vegetation.

(f) A monitoring program for ordinance implementation and compliance.

The districts also shall work with local governments to promote, through educational programs and publications, the use of Xeriscape practices, including the use of solid waste compost, in existing residential and commercial development. This section may not be construed to limit the authority of the districts to require Xeriscape ordinances or practices as a condition of any consumptive use permit.

(3) A deed restriction or covenant entered after October 1, 2001, or local government ordinance may not prohibit any property owner from implementing Xeriscape or Florida-friendly landscape on his or her land.

The HOA that my father belongs to has taken several people to court over the color of their house, their landscaping, etc... and they have lost about as often as they have won. Their annual budget is $120,000 and it seems each year they loose a case and it costs them about $20,000. One such case was a house that removed its grass and made a rock garden against the wishes of the ACC. The judge ruled it was Xeriscape since they had amended their documents since October 2001 they could not have prevented it.

The same ruled against them when they took a man to court over a deep blue paint he used on his house. The covenants say that it must be an earth tone and so the judge ruled that the oceans are blue and therefore it is a tone you find naturally on earth. Whether you think it was just this judge or if it is a legitimate ruling be aware it has happened.

We have a house that is painted bright yellow...like the sun. Does that count??

I am probably in the minority, but I love grass and I love working on it. In reality grass does not need a ton of water, just about an inch per week for most types. To me there is nothing more attractive on a home that a manicured lawn that looks like carpet and is weed free. They are attainable and require work and I don't think it requires as much water as one would think. I haven't lived in the deep south so I can speak to their climates but the nother 2/3 of the states it shouldn't be that hard.

Living in the Atlanta area with 100% watering bans, its tough to have nice lawns. We have had a state wide watering ban for the past couple of years and when the water supply gets low, the counties put in tighter restrictions, start patroling and fining. We are already about 8" below normal for this year in rain fall.

Additionally, pre-emergent needs to be applied constantly through the entire year to prevent weed seeds from germinating. While we have Bermuda grass in the front lawns which can go 8 weeks without water (but doesn't look great), the fescue used for back yard lawns dies during the summer and needs to be completely reseeded every fall. Lawns are high maintenance... watering, mowing, weeding, edging, over seeding, lots of chemicals...every month of the year. Sounds like fun!