HOA demands homeowner fix brown patch in his lawn, he obliges by planting heaps of mint which multiplies throughout the neighborhood: 'Spring comes and mint is EVERYWHERE - around mailboxes, along walking paths, even in their fancy entrance landscaping'

Mint is one of those things that most people have positive impressions of, associating it with cool green colors, refreshingly fresh tastes and smells, and summer beverages. It even has its own ice cream flavor and is synonymous with fresh breath. Overall, most of us regard it as being almost "friendly." But not gardeners and landscapers, just mention "mint" to them and watch them turn into one of those Mr. Incredible memes as they picture all sorts of nightmarish abject horrors caused by what is one of the hardest plants to remove from a garden or lawn once it has taken root, up there with enduring pesky persistence along with the likes of bamboo. It can even escape from pots it is planted in if that pot is placed on top of soil. Basically, you only ever plant mint intentionally if you have no idea what you're doing or really just like mint and want it to be everywhere.

It can be frustrating being granted an impossible task, especially when you're facing some sort of punishment or fine for not completing it in time. That's what this homeowner found himself facing when his HOA was threatening to fine him for the brown spot he had on his grass. No matter what he tried, be it seed or sod, everything that was planted there would go brown and wither. 

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    Those who don't know Gardeners
    via Victor Serban

    The image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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  • I myself have a spot out in my yard close to the fence where nothing will grow; anything that is planted there struggles on for a little while before shriveling up and calling it a day. The running theory is that there must be some sort of legacy contaminant in the soil in that spot, and as of now, that spot in my yard remains blank.

    While the spot in my own yard isn't under any threat of fines, this spot was. And when the HOA refused to relent he decided “Well, sod it.” and researched a plant that fit the HOA requirements to "establish adequate green coverage using appropriate plant materials for erosion control." Finding that mint wasn't banned in any way, he planted copious amounts of it. The rest, so they say, is history, as the aggressive plant spreads throughout the neighborhood, into other yards and common areas. 

    Hey, at least that neighborhood probably smells fantastically fresh… And if you're ever craving a Mojito, there will always be mint for you to harvest.

  • 02

    "HOA demanded "more green coverage" so I gave them ALL the green coverage..."

    So this happened last year but the mint is still spreading and the HOA is still losing their minds, so I figured you'd appreciate this. I live in one of those cookie-cutter suburban developments with an HOA that has nothing better to do than measure grass height and count dandelions. Behind my house there's this steep slope that's basically a de d zone - terrible soil, gets destroyed by sun, nothing grows there. Looks like sh but it's not my fault the builder graded it wrong.
    via raycostello
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    Enter the HOA Compliance Committee (aka three retired Karens with clipboards). They start sending me violation notices about "insufficient green coverage" and "failure to maintain community landscaping standards." I try explaining that it's an impossible area but they don't care. They want it green or they want fines.
    via raycostello
  • 04
    I spend like $200 on grass seed - dies. Another $300 on sod - dies. Hire a landscaper for $800 who basically tells me "some places aren't meant to be green" then leaves. More violation notices. Finally I'm browsing Reddit at 2am (as you do) and see this post for "Bad Apples Doublemint Seed Bombs" that claims to solve "impossible erosion problems." The whole thing sounds sketchy but I'm desperate and facing HOA fines, so f - $35 for 5 seed bombs.
    via raycostello
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  • 05
    Here's where the malicious compliance begins. The violation notice specifically said I needed to "establish adequate green coverage using appropriate plant materials for erosion control." It didn't say WHAT plants. Just "appropriate" and "green coverage." So I read up on mint. Turns out it's actually EXCELLENT for erosion control. Deep roots, spreads aggressively, thrives in terrible conditions. Technically checks every box they demanded.
    via raycostello
  • 06
    Friday evening I chuck all 5 seed bombs onto my de d zone like I'm lobbing grenades. Saturday morning I email the compliance committee that I've "deployed professional-grade erosion control featuring premium mint varieties selected for aggressive establishment in challenging terrain." Sounds official as h I, right?
    via raycostello
  • 07
    Plot twist: It actually worked. Six weeks later my de d zone is GREEN AS H L. Thick, lush, beautiful mint covering everything. The compliance officer does her walkthrough and actually COMPLIMENTS my "creative landscaping solution." Violation notices. stop. I'm feeling pretty smug.
    via raycostello
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  • 08
    Plot twist #2: Mint doesn't understand property lines. By fall I notice mint popping up in the common areas. Underground runners had snuck under the fence and were colonizing the neighbors. Spring comes and mint is EVERYWHERE - around mailboxes, along walking paths, even in their fancy entrance landscaping.
    via raycostello
  • 09
    Here's the beautiful part: The HOA charter (section 4.2.7 if anyone cares) specifically prohibits "removal or disturbance of vegetation that originates from individual property owner plantings without explicit written consent." They can't touch the mint without violating their own rules.
    via raycostello
  • 10
    Current situation (ongoing chaos): • HOA hired THREE different . landscaping companies. All basically said "you have mint now, learn to love mojitos" Community Facebook group is 50% people complaining about mint, 50% people asking where to harvest it for cocktails " • Last month's HOA meeting . included 20 minutes of heated debate about "aggressive aromatic species management" They're trying to revise the charter but need 75% homeowner approval and everyone thinks this is hilarious
    via raycostello
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  • 11
    Best part: Karen #1 from the compliance committee now sends passive-aggressive emails about "residents who deliberately introduce invasive species" but can't name names because that would be "creating a hostile community environment" (section 2.1.4). My neighbors love it. Free mint for everyone. The mailman said our whole street smells like a spa. I make mint juleps with ingredients harvested from the community mailbox area. The HOA wanted green coverage. Mission accomplished!!!!
    via raycostello
  • 12
    TL;DR: HOA harassed me about brown patch, so I seed bombed it with aggressive mint. Now mint has taken over the entire neighborhood and HOA can't remove it due to their own rules.
    via raycostello
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    Actual photo of the HOA when they figured out what the homeowner had done

    Cheezburger Image 10524145408
    via Daniele La Rosa Messina

    This is not actually the photo; this is a joke. Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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  • 14
    d-cent · 6h ago Make sure you save all documentation of them sending you fines and demanding you make that spot green. Great job by the way.
    via raycostello
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    CocklesTurnip • 6h ago Mint repels certain bugs. We were just debating trying to use it in a controlled way since it's one of the few plants that keeps fleas away and all the flea shots and pills can only do so much when wild animals are around and bring more fleas into my dog's life. You should point out that however the mint got there, it's now saving the community from fleas. And I think ticks also hate mint. I can't remember the whole list, but it doesn't include pollinators just pests as fa
    via raycostello
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    wolfgang784 • 6h ago residents who deliberately introduce invasive species Id bet good money that the approved grass strains for lawns are all invasive in the area. Except for a few specific geographic areas, nobody likes native grasses for the most part.
    via raycostello
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  • 17
    HeidiDover • 6h ago . What a creative solution to HOA jerks. I have never successfully grown mint. Ever. I love mint. I can grow all kinds of plants, but not mint. Wish you were my neighbor without an HOA. My husband and I are currently looking to buy a new home. HOAs are the top deal breaker for us. It could be the sweetest house with all the bells and whistles, and we would turn it down if there is an HOA included. We bought a house in an HOA neighborhood once. That was all it took. Never agai
    via raycostello
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    • zyzmog 6h ago Mint and blackberries are excellent for this. And they both kick like a mule in copper mugs. I've heard that bamboo is especially aggressive, but thankfully, I have no personal experience with this.
    via raycostello
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    bonfuto 6h ago • I have threatened to plant mint in my neighbor's yard. Oregano is also related to mint, in case you need variety.
    via raycostello
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