Gardening

Have A Better-Looking Lawn On A Budget

Posted: 8/5/2010

Don't scalp your lawn. When you do mow, cut only one-third the length of the grass blade.

(NAPSI) - Got a hundred bucks and a free weekend? Then you've got what it takes to invest in some yard care improvements, according to a top expert on lawn and yard care.

"Some of the best improvements in your yard can be done with a few dollars and a few hours," says Trey Rogers, Ph.D., the Briggs & Stratton Yard Doctor. "When budgets are tight, get more creative and do it yourself."

What can you do with $100 right now?

• Mow the right way starting today. Don't scalp your lawn, thinking you will have to mow less often. Instead, let it grow a little longer, which is healthy for the lawn and saves on gas and wear and tear on your mower. When you do mow, cut only one-third the length of the grass blade. Cost: About $3 for a gallon of gas, enough for a month of mowing for many homeowners.

• Apply a few bags of bark mulch. Few things dress up a yard more than mulch properly applied on flower beds and around trees. It provides that finished look and is good for the plants because it retains moisture in the soil. Cost: About $3 per bag.

• Fertilize naturally. When you mow, leave a light layer of grass clippings on the lawn, which will become a natural fertilizer. Even better, a mulching mower finely minces the grass clippings so they decompose more rapidly. Cost: $0.

• Start a compost pile. This costs nothing but a little time as opposed to purchasing bags of compost at the garden center. It's easy. Start a pile that includes most leftovers from your meals (excluding proteins). Cost: $0.

• Take 30 minutes to maintain your mower. Change the oil, clean or replace the spark plug, and change the filter once a year. This simple task cuts emissions, makes your mower run better and may save you from repair bills down the road. Tune-up kits are available to make it easy. Cost: $10−14 for the average walk-behind mower.

• Let nature water your lawn. Your lawn needs about one inch of water a week to be green and thrive. But if water is costly where you live, let nature handle irrigation. Cost: $0.

With the rest of your $100 bill, splurge on some flowers, inexpensive clay pots and a bag of potting soil to dress up your front doorway, patio or deck. Then sit back and admire what you accomplished on a shoestring.

For more yard care tips and to learn about the Yard Smarts Boot Camp hosted by Trey Rogers, visit www.yardsmarts.com. The Yard Doctor is part of the Briggs & Stratton Yard Smarts program, created to help homeowners achieve the yard they want to have.

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