How Even Busy Homeowners Can Create a Showcase Yard This Summer

Have you ever driven through a neighborhood and marveled at that one yard that puts every other lawn to shame? One yard always has emerald green blades of grass, sharply edged flower beds, healthy plants, manicured hedges,hedges, and weed-free mulch beds. You may have dismissed any thought of creating such a landscaping showcase at your home because it must involve hours and hours of hard work every weekend. In truth, yards that look like they popped out of a garden magazine's pages are not that difficult to maintain. Here are a few simple tips to make your yard the envy of the neighborhood.

Assess Your Starting Point

Thatch is an accumulation of plant material between the grass root and green growth. Untreated, this built-up hay-like substance crowds out the green and makes a lawn look substandard. Attack mulch early in the season. You can rent a power dethatcher, use a dethatching rake, or fit your standard lawn mower with a special blade that rips up the thatch. Once pulled up to the surface, make sure to rake or vacuum the material.

Keep Your Lawn Green by Weeding and Feeding

To thrive into a lush, bright lawn, grass needs more than just mowing. Depending on your region, your yard will require applications of pre-emergent weed control, growth fertilizer, pesticide, and late-season treatments. Be careful not to over-apply these chemicals, as too much can create burn spots on your lawn. Too much fertilizer affect your lawn-mowing schedule.

Mow Often, But Only a Small Amount at a Time

When it comes to mowing, make sure that you contain growth. A sure route to an unhealthy lawn is setting your mower blade too low or, sometimes, too high. A two to three-inch height creates a vibrant and stress-tolerant lawn.

Keep Separation Lines Sharp

For the areas where your lawn meets flower beds, an edging spade can create dramatically sharp lines. Over the seasons, however, grass will grow sideways, encroaching on your freshly edged beds. Stay on top of this by occasionally maintaining the bed throughout the summer.

You can also create an award-winning look by edging where your lawn meets your driveway and walkways. Some power trimmers convert easily to a vertical position for making an edging line. For a more dramatic look, rent a power edger at the beginning of the season and create the look of freshly laid sod.

Know When to Hire a Pro

While most of these jobs are easy and DIY-friendly, some landscape work is hazardous, such as tree trimming and removal. Accidental injuries can result from limbs falling on homeowners or damaging electrical lines. Damage from improper tool use is also a common risk. Avoid these by reaching out to a professional arborist. The average cost to trim or remove a tree is between $422 and $707, which is a good investment in your safety.

From tree-trimming to making your lawn green, showcase-quality front lawns are simple. All that is required is a plan and the dedication to stick to occasional maintenance.

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