A well-maintained lawn can influence property values and even improve the way you feel about life more than just about anything else. When you take care of your lawn, using techniques like lawn care brush trimming, Roundup for yards or other pet friendly weed killer, or if you don’t know where to start, Google “turf care near me” online, the result feels like a maintenance-free sanctuary ready to impress your visitors. It will also maintain its green hue and lushness throughout the year. Some of the hacks to make yard work easy include:

1. Install a rain barrel
Install a rain barrel to capture and absorb rainwater to prevent grass growth. Construct a rain barrel to let the rainwater fall into a trap before it goes into your gutters. Your gutter guard will let the rainwater pass through, but you want it to enter a trap where the soil can absorb it. Gutters and gutter guards with leaf filters are essential to collect rainwater, and can cause problems if they become clogged. The best way to drain water is through gutter systems. So ensure gutters are clear and draining properly.

2. Correct watering with sprinklers
Sprinklers can help reduce weeding and aerate while watering simultaneously. Water early in the day to allow water to soak into the soil. Watering every 6 to 8 hours is generally sufficient.

3. Aerate
Aerating the soil to help control weeds and improve tilth: Some grasses thrive in poor soils and die in rich soil. Aerate your lawn at least once a year to improve the inflow and outflow of water, so you can reduce the amount of water you use to maintain the lawn.

4. Keep grass mowed and trimmed
Mowing grass helps keep it at a manageable height so that water can get to grass roots easily. Also be sure to leave your grass clippings on the lawn. This provides nutrients for the rest of your lawn to grow. The debris will also hide areas of your lawn that don’t look as healthy. If you must mow, wait until the second day after you have mowed so that it doesn’t dry out too much and kill the grass.

5. Plant more trees
Evergreens, fruit trees, and shrubs all provide valuable shade. They also reduce the impact of stormwater by intercepting rainfall, absorbing and transpiring moisture from the soil into the air and increasing infiltration of water into the soil. Lastly, a yard with trees brings you closer to nature by fostering an awareness of the importance of preserving the environment.

6. Feed the lawn
Lawns need their kind of food. It helps them look healthy and adds to the beauty of your yard. Adding compost and fertilizer boosts the nutrients in your soil, encouraging your grass to grow well and look vibrant. While mulch suppresses weeds and helps improve soil conditions while adding nutrients back into your soil.

7. Understand and recognize common lawn issues
Yard Work is much easier when you understand what causes common lawn issues and how to prepare your lawn for the season ahead. Keeping a healthy lawn can help you save money on lawn maintenance, repairs, and replacements. The signs of a healthy lawn include dense, thick, green grass and evenly spaced growth. They also include robust grass blades with small yellow leaves, evenly spaced shrubs and flowers, and regular watering. Despite the importance of a well-maintained lawn, some homeowners neglect their grass and flower bed care because they don’t understand what causes common lawn issues, such as sedge wilt, black spots on leaves with mosaic symptoms, orchardgrass problems, poor grass growth, weeds or crabgrass, and pests like moles or grubs.