You replaced thirsty turf with coneflowers, milkweed, native grasses, and other plants that provide food and habitat for wildlife. The bees seem delighted, but then a letter arrives from the homeowners association saying your yard looks overgrown and needs to be cleaned up. HOA native plant rules are becoming a bigger issue as more homeowners replace conventional lawns with pollinator gardens and lower-maintenance landscaping. The frustrating part is that there isn’t one national rule determining whether the homeowner or HOA wins that argument, and state laws increasingly affect what associations can demand. Before pulling out plants—or ignoring a violation notice—gardeners should understand who actually gets to decide what belongs in the yard.
