The weather has turned, and it’s finally time to get your lawn looking great. The scorching sun is gone, and heavy snowfall has yet to brown your yard. You’re living in the perfect harmony of crisp, cool days and just enough night dampness to keep your grass looking lush. So what better time to cleanup your front lawn? While you’re at it, some landscaping around the porch and a little driveway decorating won’t hurt.
If you want to make your home look great for this fall season, all you have to do is follow a few simple tips. The key isn’t endless money or time — it’s putting in enough effort to make your property stand out without overdoing it. And lucky for you, we have just what you need.
‘Tis the Season…
More than $80 billion is spent on landscaping each year in the United States. Whether it’s hiring full-service companies or simply buying gardening supplies at the local hardware store, Americans are pumping cash into their landscaping. It’s no wonder the industry grew by more than 5 percent last year.
There is a clear emphasis on making outdoor space a gathering point of the home, and why wouldn’t there be? With room enough to entertain and great late-season weather setting in, there’s no better spot to host a family event. But to do that, you’re going to need to dress up your landscaping a bit. After all, you don’t want mulch fungus, shrub bugs and brown grass patches on display for your get together. So how do you solve the problem? Just like this
Fertilizer Is Fundamental
If you don’t know by now, you should. A healthy lawn needs to be fertilized. Specific times of the year call for specific fertilizations. Make sure you hit your lawn early, in the middle and at the end of the sunny season. To get the best lawn care, leave it up to the professionals. They’ll know exactly what your yard needs and when. If you choose to do it by yourself though, don’t forget to grab the appropriate seasonal blend of fertilizer. These will cover bugs, brown spots and weeds that want to invade your beautiful turf at different times of year.
Another important tip to keep in mind is that children, dogs and weather will play an important factor in your fertilization. You’ll want the treatment to stick to your grass, meaning it’s best to bust out the spreader after a good rain. It’s also best to fertilize your lawn in patches, as this will give your animals and kids an area of the yard to utilize at all times. Having your entire yard off-limits is not a good idea when you have little ones and family pets around.
Aeration Nation
It might sound counterintuitive to put holes in your yard, but that’s exactly what you should do around this time of year. Allowing air to get below the thick grassy surface and into the roots of your lawn is great for the long-term health of your grass. Simply rent an aeration machine once every spring, and give your lawn a once-over.
Turn Over a New (and Old) Leaf
Turns out all those years of your parents making you rake leaves weren’t just to keep you busy. Yep, cleaning up after the trees is actually great for your lawn! Fungal diseases and a restricted air supply can result from a heavy layer of leaves being left on your lawn. That’s why you’ll want to rake them up almost as soon as they hit the ground. But before you throw the bags in the trash, you should know that there’s an even better option.
To truly have a great garden you need top-grade soil. Many green thumbs opt for manure, but what really makes your crops pop is a rich, healthy compost. There’s no better way to start composting than with old leaves. Simply dump them in your garden and let them erode over time. While leaving the fallen foliage on your lawn may not be great for green grass, it is awesome for your other plants.
There are plenty of landscaping tips out there, but few of them are as affordable and easy as these ones. If you want a great exterior for the next few months (and even longer), give these a whirl!
