Lawn Painting Grows as Foreclosures Spread
Lawn painting on foreclosed homes has become big business for Californian David Milligan’s company Alliance Environmental & Compliance.
Tired of seeing foreclosed homes’ lawns turning shades of brown, Milligan took the paint by the can and spray-painted his neighbor’s plot.
The result? Not only a feng shui moment for Milligan, but a thumbs-up from the real estate agent trying to sell the property.
Milligan has since started a lawn-dyeing division at his company that can’t help but thrive with an economy favoring foreclosure rates.
In an April article from Inc., Rene Avila, a director of development services for Perris, California and an Alliance customer says, “From an aesthetic standpoint, this is the worst part of the foreclosure crisis.”
More than 1,000 homes in Perris, population 53,000, are in foreclosure. “We’re trying to maintain properties so they stay at a decent value,” Avila says. “It’s money well spent.”
West Coasters, unlike their East Coast counterparts, are probably aware that lawn painting has actually been around for years.
There are significant benefits. Lawn-painting companies are giving homes instant curb appeal, with vacant homes more apt to get a second look from potential buyers who favor the green.
But is having a green lawn worth investing in spraying gallons of paint all over your yard? Are we just perpetuating a look that needs to be phased out?
Though all the lawn greening companies I found listed say the dye is non-toxic, (including a call from Milligan himself who swears it is safe) I couldn’t find a single site that clarifies what the paint is actually made of.
Is all this lawn greening really greenwashing? I hope I’m wrong.
Images: Treehugger, Lawns Gone Green
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7 Comments
May 4th, 2009 at 5:23 am
You might say that green begets the greenbacks. I have a grassy area that was flattened by the weight of snow piles and maybe by the end of July it will be green. Guess I could use a little spray job.
May 4th, 2009 at 7:19 am
The first time I saw this was in the Valentino movie – his house staff was painting the lawn of the designer’s manse before the arrival of celebrity guests.
It was pretty comical, and the audience laughed about it. I cannot imagine there is any paint that is healthy for the front lawn and it really highlights the need for visual perfection, not just on the part of a master like Valentino but the average suburban homeowner who has been trained to want the thirsty green lawn and two cars in the garage.
May 4th, 2009 at 10:12 am
This really is sad, I can’t imagine that anything short of algae to dye the lawn would be safe. What a waste of time and resources.
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May 4th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I say pass the houses on to people who need homes and will build a community style living situation, complete with organic food garden on those lawns. But that’s just my idealism talking.
May 4th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Yes to all of you.
I actually just had a neighbor (not kidding) yell at me today for not fertilizing my lawn!
My lawn is beautiful with clover and moss and Cape cod grass and I love it.
When we’re not able to drink water from the tap anymore, these people will be to blame.
May 5th, 2009 at 12:56 am
All goes to show that when buying a house you need to look closely at everything! If the lawn is painted green, who know’s what else has gone wrong!
June 1st, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Most grass “paints” are actually dyes, most of which are china clay or kaolin. China clay or kaolin is not like the paint you would use on or in your home (those paints are harmful – unless you are purchasing the organic paints). China Clay or kaolin is one of the purest clays. It comes out of the decomposition of feldspar in granite. Interestingly, this substance is used in cosmetics such as powders and makeup. China clay has a history of being used in the production of fine porcelain. Its other use, of course, is as a filler in paint (such as grass dye/paint), plastics, and some safer fertilizers. The grass “paint”, more accurately termed “dye” that I – and other grass painters -use is china clay which is safe and definitely not like the harmful chemical treatments and fertilizers used by homeowners and lawn services. Grass dye has been used on sports fields and golf courses for decades. Green grass dye is a great way to conserve water and therefore, a great way to live “green”. It just stains the grass so it lasts until the grass has to be cut or for up to 12 weeks. I love the product and feel that the term “paint” causes too many misunderstandings concerning the product.
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