Now that spring is right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about yard care. The National Garden Association estimates that an average household spends $350 per year on lawn and garden costs. For some, that might not sound like much. For others, though, it can take a toll. If you’re wanting to save in this area of your home care expenses, here are several tips for you to consider.
Seed Your Grass
If your grass was originally planted a few decades ago, it’s bound to be prone to disease and requires much more watering than today’s newer, modern species of grass. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to rip up your old yard and plant a brand new one. Instead, all you have to do is “overseed” your original grass to replace it. When you overseed your lawn, you can introduce a new, modern species of grass that will be more durable than the grass that you already have. This will help you get a greener yard without having to spend hundreds of dollars to tear up your old yard.
Aerate Your Yard
A second way you can keep your grass healthy and still avoid the high cost of replacing it is to aerate your yard every fall. Over time the dirt in your yard becomes compressed and the root mat can become very dense. Aeration is a lawn care process that involves prodding holes in your lawn to help loosen the soil, which you can either do by yourself or rent an aerator from your local garden center. However, aerating your lawn will help you save the money needed to water your lawn since this process can help your yard absorb water more efficiently. Also, aeration can help remove thatch, which is the dark brown material that builds up between the base of your grass and the soil beneath it.
Time Watering Your Yard
Although having an irrigation system can help your grass appear greener, the cost of watering your yard every day can add up to hundreds of dollars a month. Instead, you should work on timing your yard watering and avoid watering when it’s too hot out since the sun will simply evaporate the water. Also, you want to avoid watering your yard at night because it can cause fungus and other diseases to grow. The optimal time to water your yard is 4 to 8 am.
Choose Hardscaping Options
Installing more hardscaping in your yard is a great way to save money on lawn care. It’s an investment, sure, but it’s worth it in the long run. This is because hardscaping requires less maintenance than landscaping, making it less expensive as you won’t have to water your yard much (or, depending on how much hardscaping you have in place, at all).
There’s plenty of ways you can save money on yard care without giving up on aesthetic appeal. Even if you have the extra money to spend on your yard, it’s best to find good workarounds to avoid spending a fortune on your yard. With the above tips, you’ll be able to have the greenest yard on the block without spending your entire budget on yard care.
You might also like:
