What would you do if ...?

if they asked politely, then i would not respond with any anger... I would just make a conscious effort to clean up when i have some free time

I guess as a human being, I would be mad and sad. I would probably want to be a brat and leave everything as is and let my hedges and lawn get even longer.

I hate busy-bodies! And really, the neighbor should have come to you FACE-TO-FACE. It would have been better etiquette, and you probably would take the suggestions they had better, rather than a random note. Then you could have explained that you've been busy, or whatever.

Now, with all that said, maybe you just need to buck it up and do a little trimming and cleaning.

Do you live in a neighborhood with ordinances? Could the city come after you for not keeping things tidy?

Personally, I live out in the country more, and if I don't want to cut my lawn that week, I feel that's my right. It's MY property you know?

I have done things like this before and typically gotten no results. I would recommend a more helpful approach that doesn't put the neighbor on the defensive. If you have older kids or even you could just go over and say "if you ever need a hand with anything like yard work or trimming we'd be happy to help." If they do need help they might just take the opportunity to acknowledge it if you initiate it.

It gets no more polite than an anon. note. Keep in mind though that the homeowners may have financial or physical reasons for the unkept yard. ( include in your note that you realise this may be the situation).Maybe offer to help them out if you want. You could include in your note a "signal" like "leave a pink hankie on the lawn if you would like us all to pitch in and have a yard-clean-up party for you. Be as nice as possible. good-luck.

Maybe your neighbors feel that taller hedges will give them more privacy. If their yard is otherwise neat, leave them alone.

If there is garbage laying around, maybe the city officials should cite them. That would be a health issue.

A note left by you will only cause neighborhood friction. Don't do that.

I would get my yard cleaned up asap. When you let your yard look bad, it affects your neighborhood's property value. I don't care for a home owner's association sometimes, but I'm glad we have one. Otherwise people will let their yards go and be an eyesore for everyone. If you don't want to keep your yard nice, you need to move into an apartment.

Sorry, but that is a sore subject for me!!!

i will do as i am told for my good and the good of the community. if i cant do those things, i will hire someone to do it for me. it is a shame that everyone's yard is clean except my own.

I'd straighten up,you dont want anyone else complaning,cause someone will eventually get the law involved.

Mind your business