Problems again.

The tenants who are new to me only want organic, nontoxic to pets or people, weed killer used on the front and backyard when my gardener comes to do the initial clean up next week. There are a lot of weeds. I told them I don't know what my gardener will use, but he *will* be using a weed killer.

The tenants said that, in the past, they had used some of their own concoction. I said that strong vinegar & dish soap had worked for me in years past. They're certainly not going to be buying or making the weed killer they want, they made that very clear but they want organic & non toxic.

From what I understand, weed killers are absorbed down to the roots through the green parts, and the weed killer becomes inert once it's totally dried. They have a puppy and they have friends with children who like to play on the grass in the big backyard.

I'm pretty sure my gardener uses something with glyphosate, because it works.

Can they insist or 'legally' force me or my gardener to buy something organic and non toxic to pets and children or should they just keep pets and children safe until everything is dried and therefore inert? They have the option to buy it and supply it themselves but they won't. Considering that I'm paying for the gardener and the gardener is paying for his supplies, I'm just not feeling the love from the tenants, you know?

Kind words and suggestions are, as always, appreciated.

Thanks, Robert J...that form thing is totally new to me! Is that form available on this site, or should I google it?

With all the different chemicals used I don't bother to spray anything. It's just too easy to wind up causing damage to people and pets. '

If I did, the vinegar and dish soap would get strong consideration.

I'm not going to risk making people or kids sick or worse just to have a pretty lawn or to make less work for whoever does the lawn maint. I can live with a few weeds.

You do know there are major lawsuits and settlements for people affected by glyphosphate (Roundup) don't you?

It's just too easy to use a chemical to make things easier and if it doesn't make you sick or kill you the same day, well who cares? We have become so desensitized to long term causes of sickness and death that it's ridiculous.

Push the easy button and just don't spray unless maybe it's vinegar and dish soap.

Keep the weeds and keep your tenants' children and puppy free of poisons. There is a torch type device that will burn them. There is a vinegar and salt recipe that might work.

Why does the appearance of a space mean more to you than the comfort of your tenants? Mow the weeds down. If you were ready to sell it I might agree with you but your job is to keep your tenants and not hurt them. Even if the chemical goes to the roots and goes away, THEY know it's there.

I will not get into a long roundup debate. But I know of a number of cases. One 82 year old friend spent 10 years. Spraying roundup one day every month for 8 hours. And is very healthy. Not discounting the studies. But like mold. Just because you see some. Some people want to run to the hills.

The problem is organic does not work as well and requires more labor. And it is standard to use chemicals for lawncare.

But I like to work with tenants and their concerns. Valid or not.

If they want something extra, like in this case. It is simple to figure out the extra cost. And the tenant makes the decision if they want it or not. The current rent amount did not include this extra. So increase to include.

This the tenant that you ‘ve already told you are NOT renewing their lease when it expires in January? If so….. best to only focus on what is essential. Weed killing is not essential. Save yourself the cost and the headache by just waiting till they are gone. The tenant will just see all these repairs now as being done for someone else, but the current tenant gets the inconvenience/ risk/ bother.

. Now, if you have decided to keep this tenant after January, then, my advice in the other thread to take it slow stands. I can understand a person/ tenant being cautious about what is sprayed on the yard. There are many ways to deal with plants that are not wanted. I was pleasantly surprised at the reduction of lawn weeds when I began applying Milorganite fertilizer, for instance. Grass became much thicker, healthier. Not sure if lawn grass is best option for your area though. We mostly don’t water it here, it pretty much just grows.

Well, not everyone was as nice as I had hoped but I appreciate your honesty.

The tenants were supposed to take care of the lawn & yard, acc/to the lease I read, but at the last moment, a couple days before escrow closed, the seller changed the lease & put in that the lawn care would be the responsibility of the new buyer. I just wanted the sale to go through.

My state, like California, requires tenant notification of any ‘cides’ ( pesticide/herbicide/fungicide) . The state statute is not very clear , as far as I have read, on how that notification must be given. I do so by text, both ahead of the applications, and at the time of the applications. I, myself, and only speaking for my own self, would respect a tenant’s wishes to avoid ‘codes’.

I didn’t see anyone being rude or harsh. It is understandable that you want to quickly get at renovating this property, however , if this is the tenant from the other post, tenant has two months till lease is up. I say this as kindly as I can, agitating a tenant that has already been given notice to vacate at the end of the term will only make things more anxious for all.

tenants making demands are the ones we toss. alternatively, if the organic stuff costs more let them know the rent will go up to accommodate their requests.

We had persnickety tenants like that. As they were nitpicking about a lot of weird stuff, we gave them the Happy Clause. They actually gave proper notice and moved (MTM).

I confess that when one of them saw me applying lawn fertilizer and inquired if it were chemical, I said " I have put down a chicken manure based product." It's true. I have IN THE PAST used that, and it did little. They were packing the car to go away for two weeks and rain was due anyway, so that placated them.