Howdy folks,
I am finally getting all my seeds and transplants in. But my neighbors on 2 sides of our yard use MG and who knows what for their lawns. My seedlings look "leggy" even though they looked great when I was growing them in the house. I plan to do a soil test but I'm wondering how much my neighbor's chemicals may be affecting the garden.
Toadherder

Hi toadherder! I would highly recomend getting a soil test to start. If both side neighbors are useing chemicals in will effect you but how much depends on the lay of the land. if on or both sloppe towards your yard you may want to use either a berm to divert runoff or lay an open french drain. its best to put on a rain coat during a heavy rain and go out in the yard to see how the runoff flows. dont overlook the possibility of runoff from roof tops, roadsides or even from the backside of your property. I do it all the time! :^O Its like being a kid again!

Sounds likie a plan creekrat! When I was a little kid I would go out in the rain in my underwear( I think I'd better wear that raincoat this time). I've worked hard at getting the soil in good condition. This year the neighbor on one side decided to redo their lawn so they tilled (they have lots of weeds now) and yesterday I noticed a large can of MG
which connects to the hose and is sprayed on. The plants growing in a bed furthest from their yards are the ones growing the best. Thanks for the advice-will follow.
Toadherder

Praise Jah! You are not your neighbors! forget the raincoat or the underwear and check it out in you birthday suit. You'll really feal like a kid again then!
B-)

I have a similar neighbor who uses all manner of chemicals in his garden. Fortunately, he lives below me (there is a 4-foot high retaining wall separating us, so I don't get the run-off. Unfortunately, I do get the airborne residue. Last week I was out working on my rock garden, and he started spraying some kind of poison. I had to run for cover because it was hard to breathe. I guess it's understandable why we have a shortage of bees. The only one we've seen is the lone intrepid bumblebee who likes to hang around our black raspberry vines.

Sometimes well-meaning people don't realize how they can affect others near by. They recently passed a law here that pestiicides sprayed by lawn care companies have to give 24 hour notice to any property within, I think, 150 yards of where they are spraying.
Toadherder

We have one neighbor who's nieces and nephews like to run through our garden, despite repeated requests that they stay out. X-(
the neighbor up hill from us fertilizes his lawn every other week and waters everday in the middle of the day for an hour per station. I think he is bribing the water cops. Our lawn on that side is a mess because of all of it.
Some people just have no brains I think.