Honey, time to spray the lawn

The next day, Insta-Green was at it again, painting the lawn of a foreclosed six-bedroom house with broken windows and a shopping cart marooned in the frontyard.

"We'll paint that too," cracked Milligan, pointing at the cart.

Leo Becerra, who lives on the street, stopped to watch. He said teenagers had been hanging out in front of the house, and the inside had been trashed.

"I have been keeping my eye on this place," he said. "I don't want to see it tagged because then the whole street will go downhill."

Perris City Councilman and local real estate agent Al Landers said he's seen a change in neighborhoods once the lawns are painted. Some people respond by taking better care of their own property, he said.

"I think it helps heal the neighborhood and makes people proud to live in Perris," he said. "It renews community spirit."

Milligan says lawn painting may be the ultimate green job. He even wonders if there's a television show in it.

"I'm thinking, 'Pimp My Lawn,' " he said. "You know how we could get something like that started?"

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david.kelly@latimes.com