A green, well manicured lawn is key to curb appeal. A well maintained lawn increases the home’s value, makes it more inviting, and enhances the entire neighborhood. As the previous owners of our block’s worst lawn, we have learned firsthand the importance of vigilant maintenance.

Our lawn was beyond repair. This year my husband and I decided to rip everything out and start from scratch. While our Cranford NJ neighbors danced in the street with joy, we leveled and graded the yard, nourished the soil, and began our quest for grass.

Here are a few tips we can pass on from our experience:

1. Sod is expensive, so we decided to sow…from seed. This takes a lot of patience, but with consistent watering and feeding, it does pay off. When growing grass from seed, it is best to remove any weeds regularly, before they become a big problem. If you’re considering planting seed, this link is a great resource.
2. Sprinklers can be expensive, but TOTALLY worth it. After spending a few hours watering with a hose, we broke down and invested in a sprinkler system. The beauty of the sprinklers (beyond the lazy factor) is the fact that you can program the system to water the correct amount at the ideal time. They also automatically shut off when it rains. This actually saves water and prevents marital arguments about whose turn it is to water.
3. The best times to water are first thing in the morning when the ground is still covered with dew, and early evening before darkness begins to set. Avoid watering in mid-day to prevent evaporation. Watering after dark can promote some diseases.
4. Fertilize your lawn in early Spring and Fall to ensure resilience to drought and traffic. Reseed any bare spots as needed.
5. Mow your lawn often with sharp blades, preferably every five days. Employing your son to do this chore is a cost effective method provided one is willing to teach the boy to mow correctly. Adding mulch around trees looks nice, and protects the bark from the boy with the mower.

Following these tips will help your lawn grow lush and green. You’ll enjoy the sense of pride you have each time you enjoy it. Our lawn is MUCH improved, we’ve even received compliments and congratulations on our progress. Should we ever decide to sell, we’ll be a step ahead in creating awesome curb appeal.

Flickr Photo Credit: a. dombrowski