Lawn envy is that feeling you get when you walk by your neighbor’s house and see that everything has its place, flowers are growing, and the lawn is perfectly manicured. The good news: you’re not the only person who suffers from lawn envy. People all across this great nation are suffering from the same feelings of envy, wishing they could maintain their lawns to perfection, like their neighbors do. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to have a perfect lawn when you also have a family, a demanding job, and other responsibilities to attend to.
These tips are low-maintenance ways to achieve a fantastic looking property, without overwhelming yourself. This spring, you can cure your lawn envy and at the same time infect someone else. You’ll enjoy watching your neighbors walk by, admiring your beautiful property, and catching some lawn envy of their own. All it takes is around an hour a day to achieve a property that’s worthy of jealousy.
1. Apply Herbicide
After your second mowing, you’ll want to use a pre-emergence herbicide to prevent crabgrass. Once spring comes, you’ll need to begin regular mowing. Mowing typically happens one – two times a week. It’s after you’re second mowing that you’ll want to apply the herbicide, in order to stop crabgrass from germinating and taking over your lawn. Family Handyman suggests applying this herbicide each and every spring, to keep a lawn of grass only.
2. Plant Ground Cover
Ground cover is very low-maintenance. Plus, these hearty plants cover patches of dirt and control erosion. When you want to plant something in a place where grass just won’t grow, ground cover is your best low-maintenance option. It’s important to note that some ground cover is for shady areas and some for sunny areas. If you’re looking to cover the roots of a large, shady tree choose sweet woodruff or bishop’s weed. There are plenty of options for sunny spots, like thyme and sedums. These plants still need to be watered, but they hold up really well during times of drought.
3. Mow, Mow, Mow
An un-mowed lawn is a ghastly site. Weeds and tall grass spread quickly during the spring and summer months, so it’s important to regularly mow. Mowing is one of the easiest ways to keep a nice lawn, but a lot of folks don’t have time for it. Because this chore is time consuming, you may want to look into some residential lawn services to handle this weekly task. These trained professionals can be hired to regularly mow your lawn, trim your bushes, prune your plants, and weed your lawn and gardens.
4. Utilize Mowing Borders
Mowing borders are inexpensive and easy to install. It’s recommended by Family Handyman to install borders that are at least 4” deep. This will keep pesky grass roots from sprouting along your fence or in the flowerbed. Taking the time to install these borders means you can eliminate the grass-clipping chore.
5. Use Mulch
Applying a single layer of mulch means you’ll be doing a lot less weeding. Mulch keeps sunlight off the soil, thus preventing weeds. Mulch also saves water, because plants require less watering when they’re surrounded by mulch. Don’t worry about mulch destroying your soil, because as it breaks down in the colder months it actually enriches the soil beneath it.
I would also recommend aerating the lawn because it helps make it healthier.