Lawn Maintenance for the Relaxed Homeowner
by
Kelly Richardson, All About Lawns Columnist
If you're like most homeowners, you want to get out in the
yard, finish the job, and get back to doing the things you love. But
the lawn has to look good, right? If you concentrate on these three
areas of your lawn, you can maximize your results and minimize your
overall maintenance time. We all face the
universal conundrum when it comes to our lawns. We want an outdoor area
we can be proud of without spending too much time on maintenance. The
fact is that there's no way around some basic projects. They key to
limiting the amount of work that you must spend is concentrating on the
major lawn areas that most people notice. If you are going for lawn of
the month, have out of town guests coming over, or you're just tired of
looking at the overgrowth, these three areas will make a huge
difference.
Top Three Lawn Areas:
- Lawn. Lawn maintenance is easy. Cut once around
your yard to create an outline; then, cut lengthwise, strip by strip,
until you reach the other end.
- Edges. Edging is a quick job that really makes
your lawn look manicured. Use a manual or automatic edger depending on
how much exercise you want.
- Greenery. Clip all the greenery in your yard that is visible from the street. This includes shrubbery, bushes, and trees.
Of course, the size of your lawn will dictate the actual amount of
maintenance time you will be required to spend. Here are some quick
tips that will save you some time if you have more than an acre's worth
of yard to take care of.
Time-Saving Tips
- Edge First. Edging your lawn before you cut it
will make it easier for you to see the blades to be cut. Edging
post-cut will mar the area with clippings.
- Mulch. Using a mulch mower will remove the need to collect clippings after you cut.
Weekly lawn maintenance doesn't have to be a weekly nuisance. Take care
of the major areas first and you'll be pleased with the results.
About the Author
Kelly Richardson has obsessive compulsive lawn disorder and is
afflicted with the need to share his knowledge with the world. Kelly
writes lawn columns for a variety of home and garden magazines and
e-zines.
|
