Lawn care for allergy sufferers who can barely walk

[Cara4497]

Our lawn is really, really bad...like we got a letter from the city bad. DH can't deal with it right now, with all of our time and money going toward the renovations on our new house. I have never done it myself because I have horrible allergies and a bad ankle that makes walking on uneven ground difficult. But it looks like I am going to have to figure it out if it is ever going to get done. Hiring someone isn't an option at the moment. 

 

Any tips on making it doable for me? Oh yeah, it is also 115 degrees heat index and storming. 

[*Jessica*]

Appeal to family and friends? Offer lunch in exchange for their help.

[zoobie]

DH should get up and start as soon as the noise ordinances allow. That's 7:30am here. The renovations can wait. Your current home and not being fined by the city is more important. If you get sick and injured, who's going to take care of the kids? How old are your kids?

Edited July 22, 2016 by zoobie

[Katy]

Take a double dose of antihistamine, go out early in the day, and get it over with. Wear boots for the ankle. Take a shower & some benadryl when you come inside.

[Ravin]

What Zoobie said. Although, if it's more than he can reasonably handle on his own, it might be better to just hire someone to do it.

[zoobie]

Take a double dose of antihistamine, go out early in the day, and get it over with. Wear boots for the ankle. Take a shower & some benadryl when you come inside.

 

Showering, absolutely! DH has to do this even coming home from a little league game in the spring. Wear goggles and mask if you can. The last time he tried outdoor work in spring (worst pollen time here), his throat started closing up. It was scary, and we hire everything out. He was miserable and useless for 2 days afterwards and then got a sinus infection.

[G5052]

Maybe my allergies aren't as bad as yours, but I wear a disposable mask when I mow. They're sold at hardware and home stores where you need dust protection like when you do drywall. Morning is actually the worst time for pollen, so I often mow after dinner. Still hot, but better.

 

I have one ankle that is a mess, but I'm very active. When I mow by hand, I wear boots. Afterwards I ice it. Thankfully most of our yard can be done with a lawn tractor, and I have a college son who does the hand mowing now :hurray: . 

[TX Native]

Barter services possibly? Is there someone you can exchange free babysitting for lawn care? I had a vet friend that bartered vet fees for free babysitting when I was a college student. So helpful!

[Cara4497]

These are some great ideas, thanks everyone. He said he will get to it Sunday. 

 

DH should get up and start as soon as the noise ordinances allow. That's 7:30am. The renovations can wait. Your current home and not being fined by the city is more important. If you get sick and injured, who's going to take care of the kids? How old are your kids?

 

Our son is 5 so he can't mow yet.

 

DH has been at the new house from 6:30 am to 8 or 8:30 pm every day except Sundays for the last 3 weeks trying to get it at least livable so we can move out of this place by the end of the month. We talked last night about trying to move the date back a week or two just to give us some breathing room. I'm going to call the property management company today to ask if that is an option.

 

The lawn has always been a sore spot between us. He grew up very, very poor in an almost desert climate. His mom always talked those stupid rich people wasting time and money on fancy yards just to impress strangers. While he sort of get that a decent lawn is important now, I think there is still a part of him that just sees it as a waste and not a priority. I guess since it matters more to me, I'm just going to have to take care of it myself from now on. Once he gets a new job, I may be able to talk him into hiring someone. Although he shoots that down every time I bring it up. 

 

Thanks again. 

[TX Native]

Or you could let this fall on your husband's shoulders. The fine will be more than hiring out lawn care I am sure. He will have to spend the money either way. Sometimes men just need to be forced to wear big boy panties. Sorry that is an unsympathetic answer, and I don't know the full situation. I just don't think your husband has his priorities straight. He wants to move out by the end of the month, but leave behind a trashy looking yard? ETA: In response to a post below, my attitude is likely too harsh. Either way, one of you need to take care of yard, hire out, barter, or get fined like Fried Clams mentioned below. Is there a plan set up for lawn care at the new place?

Edited July 22, 2016 by TX native

[zoobie]

Or you could let this fall on your husband's shoulders. The fine will be more than hiring out lawn care I am sure. He will have to spend the money either way. Sometimes men just need to be forced to wear big boy panties. Sorry that is an unsympathetic answer, and I don't know the full situation. I just don't think your husband has his priorities straight. He wants to move out by the end of the month, but leave behind a trashy looking yard?

 

Yeah, if you're renting, it has to be done not only to avoid the fine but to get your deposit back! 

[FriedClams]

I'm changing my answer...

 

Either DH does it, or you do, or you pay someone, or pay the fine. It doesn't sound like you can't do, just that it would be really hard. I get that. But, it sounds like it has to be done, quickly. If you can't pay someone (local teen, church member raising money for a trip, etc) then I'd medicate, put the boots on, go do it, and bless your husband by taking care of it (and you too, but it sounds like he's grinding it out on the new house and your help with this would be amazing).

Edited July 22, 2016 by FriedClams

[TX Native]

I'm deleting in response to above change ☺ï¸

 

ETA: if you do the yard, wear a mask and do a sinus rinse after the fact. My husband has bad allergies and I have bad feet. Neither of us want the other to do yard work due to our issues. We have a small lawn and would feel terrible hiring out lawn care since we are physically active. We also have more time than you and your dh. I usually mow and he usually trims. He takes a shower and does a sinus rinse immediately after trimming. I sometimes mow the front and back separately to rest my feet.

Edited July 22, 2016 by TX native

[FriedClams]

I could stand behind this except her husband is physically able to mow the lawn. I would save asking for an outright donation of a charity's time for a true charitable situation.

Totally agree. I changed my answer.

[FriedClams]

I also get heat index. I live in the Deep South and my kids mow lawns. One kid has been sick so I've been employed to help. We start no later than 7:30 and hydrate a ton as soon as we're done. If it's really bad, set your mowing deck as high add it will go for the first pass, then lower it and do it again. It will be easier than doing too low the first time.

[Jan in SC]

Do you have teens in your neighborhood? Even a 10-12 year old could mow your yard for $20-$30.

[SparklyUnicorn]

How big is the yard?

[Spryte]

When there are two spouses, and one has severe allergies/physical issues with a job - the other spouse needs to step in and do the job.  

 

It's a rental?  You're caring for someone else's investment.  Your DH needs to get out and do this, or you need to hire it out.  Yard work is a bummer, if that's not your thing (sounds like it's not his) but you live in a community and it's a necessity.  During yard work season it is a fact of life, and we all deal with it.

 

You'll either pay to hire it out, pay the fine, or just do it, right?  What's the lesser of the evils?  If you pay the fine, you'll still end up having to do the work, right?  Or would the city do it?

 

And don't forget - your reputation precedes you  You may not intend to rent again, but taking care of the rental that you're in now is the right thing to do.  You are people who do the right thing, so this needs to happen.

 

I'm sorry it's tough.  We aren't particularly enjoying yard work in the heat now, either, with a very ill child to take care of, and DH and I are both sick as well.  It's not really optional though.

[MEmama]

In our area, there is a company that rents out goats for yard maintenance. :)

 

Sorry it's tough. Assuming you don't have goats available, hiring a neighbor kid might be the easiest route. It'll be cheap and effective.

[SparklyUnicorn]

This is one nice thing about not having much of a yard.  And if it became overgrown nobody would notice.  LOL 

[TX Native]

I love the goats idea! In some 3rd world countries the goats, chickens, and cattle just roam around the villages like pet dogs and cats. No need for lawn mowers or fertilizer.

 

ETA: too bad our HOA doesn't allow free range anything, especially goats.

Edited July 22, 2016 by TX native