CCFJ.NET:  Standing up for Florida-friendly lawns not easy when HOA says no

Article Courtesy of The Tampa Bay Times

By Alex Harris

Published August 8, 2015

All Dominic Bruno wanted was a lawn that was less work for him and took less water to maintain. That set off a battle that has lasted six years, generated two lawsuits and cost him at least $15,000.
Bruno is a 78-year-old former police officer who lives in Sable Ridge in Land O’Lakes. He has Parkinson’s disease. His wife, Ilona, has terminal cancer.

In 2009, he replaced his thirsty St. Augustine grass with a Florida-friendly lawn, which began with a $780 layer of mulch. That turned Bruno’s lawn into ground zero in a battle with the Sable Ridge Homeowners Association.

Today, he’s still fighting, and his lawn is still largely mulch.  Read more: