To think my new neighbour has over reacted...

[monotata]

I managed to get into my new house a couple of weeks ago. Took a lot to get in with lockdown etc but managed it - had viewed it before lockdown.

It’s a detached house but there’s a shared bit of grass at the front between the houses. Anyway, a couple of days after we moved in, I got the lawnmower out and cut front garden and moved over to the shared grass. As I was cutting it, I noticed the neighbour staring out the window at me.

I Smiled and waved and kind of signalled to him to open the window as I was going to ask him if he wanted me to cut the grass on his side.

Lo and behold the window opens and he screams out the window

“DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH MY GRASS. I HAVE JUST SCARIFIED IT. DO YOU HEAR ME? WELL DO YOU?!

I’m laughing writing this because he was like a man possessed and I nearly took a fit of the giggles.

My husband had been in the garage and he came out to see what was going on.

I said to the neighbour “no worries, I leave it alone...” Later on we were out the back having a glass of wine and I could hear him speaking to someone perhaps on the phone about the upstart neighbour trying to cut his “recently scarified” grass and how rude I was 😕

Now when I leave the house he glares Out the window and if he’s out the back he humphs about when I go out to hang the washing out.

He is going to be the neighbour from hell, isn’t he?

Probably

He sounds awful.

Yanbu. What even is scarifying grass?!

Did he scarify it by shouting at it?

Shouting aside, did he not perhaps say scarify? Scarify is a lawn care thing I think

@TyneTeas

Yeah he did...I said scarified...is that the past tense of scarify? 😂

Ignore my post

I misread OP. Twice

I don't even know what sacrified means! What a pillock

@upthewolves

I had to look it up. It’s some sort of thing you do to grass to make it grow

@BitOfFun 🤣🤣🤣

It could just be a gardening issue, (some people are precious about these things) but I'd keep a note of anything that concerns you, just in case. On a day to day basis just keep smiling and waving, from a distance.

You could write "you missed a bit" in salt and it will stop the grass growing where the salt is. But I have had a hard day and I've been dealing with fuckers like this since work started.

@TyneTeas

Shouting aside, did he not perhaps say scarify? Scarify is a lawn care thing I think

It is. A machine is used to remove debris and thatch from the ground to let air and water in better. There's no reason not to mow afterward as far as I know.

Some people are just bonkers about their lawns.

There's no reason not to mow a lawn that's just been scarified

And this is totally the wrong time of year to scarify a lawn 🤣 you should do it in spring/autumn

Lol. He's clueless and clearly a tad bonkers!

The lawn cuttings would have clogged up the holes he'd made by scarifying. So instead of getting nice new grass growing, he'd have just had the lawn cuttings turning to thatch.
Think he overreacted somewhat though!

I've never used a machine to scarify my lawn. I use a rake.

It is possible that he misinterpreted your signalling but he shouldn't have shouted at you! I'm assuming he has scarified and then planted some grass seed, which would be the reason why he didn't want it to be cut. To be fair this does take a lot of effort and I can see why he would be keen for you not to cut it but he totally overreacted.

I would just carry on smiling and being pleasant. Hopefully things will be resolved soon.

@monotata thanks! I thought grass just... grew! He'd probably hate living next to me. Oh I really hope he doesn't cause problems for you. I do hope you will update us on any other interactions if they happen though 😁

You could either ignore him,politely of course,or launch a mini charm offensive by popping round with a little gift eg nice bar of chocolate and a cheery hello. That might take the wind right out of his sails!

He may be a permanently grumpy old git - or a young one - or maybe a bit lacking in social niceties. Or both.He may even be OK really.

You'll be living next door so it's always worth making an effort to get on. If it doesn't work,well at least you tried.

Like a rain dance??

Jeez don't go round with a gift like you are appologizing.
Everytime you see him giving you the evils, smile and wave, or laugh.
If he thinks he can push you around he sounds like he will. Don't give him an inch.

I read and have been told by more experienced gardeners that lawn care should be done in Spring or Autumn as you risk not having enough rain and it being too hot in Summer. There are exceptions e.g. if you are doing playing pitches.

So I think your neighbour is crazy in scarifying the lawn now.

How old is he?

I used to laugh at people like this ... since lockdown I feel I’ve become one! Far too much time on my hands, obsessing about grass, bushes, vans .... I’m only early 50s, get me back to work!

I'd apologise, for the sake of being neighbourly (and tell him that was what you were trying to be), and ask if he would like you to cut both bits at the same time.
He will let you know what he wants and it will hopefully diffuse the situation.

If it's between the two houses then you presumably own half of it, so cut away, or neither of you owns any of it if it's outside the properties, in which case you can cut all of it at will.