Most lawn-conscious folks have developed a routine they follow to keep their lawns lush and green throughout the growing season. These routines are great--but they're not always necessary. If you want to keep your lawn green, but the economy has left you reluctant to spend as much on your lawn as you have in years past, it's time to break the routine. In times of plenty, it's fine to baby your lawn. When times are tight, give it what it needs, and no more.
Whether to Weed
If your lawn was in good shape at the end of last season, then it likely will start this season the same way. This good health makes it less vulnerable to weed invasion, so you should be able to skip the pre-emergent this year. For far less money you can pick up a bottle of lawn weed spray and simply spot spray any weeds that emerge during the year.
Is Aeration Necessary?
In most parts of the country, aeration is a huge benefit--for the landscapers who charge a bundle to do it. A well-established lawn should keep your soil from becoming compressed, which is what aeration combats. The exception is in areas where soil has a high clay content, which will harden like a mud brick without periodic aeration.
Feed Your Lawn Leftovers
Unless your lawn is comprised of native grass, which is unlikely, it will need to be fertilized. Even this cost can be reduced or eliminated. For less than the cost of a fifty-pound bag of fertilizer you can buy a home composter, which will allow you to turn your table scraps into nutrient-rich compost, which is an ideal lawn fertilizer.
The Need for Seed
Here's the truth about overseeding: In the areas of your lawn where the grass is healthy, the seed never makes it to the soil and thus never germinates. Stop wasting your time and money. Instead, just get a small bag of grass seed this year, and spread it by hand only on bare patches and where your lawn is thin.
You can save a bundle this year if you remember that lawn care can be costly--but it doesn't have to be.
Brett Freeman is a freelance journalist. He also owns a landscaping and irrigation company in North Carolina. Previously he has worked as a beat reporter, a teacher, and for a home improvement company, and he used to own a bar/live music venue.
