Home & Garden
How To Win Yard Of The Year (And What It'll Cost You)
Let's face it: You want your grass to be greener than the neighbors' on the other side.
What goes on behind closed doors is your own business, but there's no hiding what state your front yard is in. So while your neighbors will never know about stacks of dirty dishes or a baking disaster in the kitchen, they can see who has the best yard on the block!
If you're wanting to win yard of the year, you're in good company. The worth of well-maintained yards and gardens is measured both in quality of life and home resale value. In other words, greener grass pays in more ways than one. It's not just the lawn that needs maintaining, though; there are shrubs, trees, sprinklers and more that require proper upkeep, too.
Not sure where to start? Don't worry. We've got you covered. Here's what you need to do to get your yard looking lovely — and a look at how much it’s going to cost you.
Average cost: $150
Why you should consider it: If the grass is brown, patchy or even just unkempt, it's hard to notice anything else. Maintaining your lawn can be as simple as regularly mowing, watering, fertilizing, and utilizing pesticides and insecticides to keep insects and weeds away. Basic maintenance and upkeep can be an easy DIY, but if you're too busy and don't have the time, your lawn will show that it's suffering. An experienced professional or lawn service
The biggest hidden cost: Average lawn mowing prices range from about $30 to $80 per visit, depending on the square footage of your yard. Many services will offer flat rates for larger cutting projects or seasonal cleanup visits.
How to save: Do your research! It's important to take the time to find a reputable lawn care provider that suits your needs and offers competitive pricing.
Hire a Lawn Care Professional Today
Trim or Remove Trees and Shrubs
Average cost: $706
Why you should consider it: If you want your plants to grow and be healthy in the long run, you need to trim your trees and shrubs. Also, if any of the trees or shrubs are diseased, trimming away the dead portions (or removing them entirely) can help stop the spread of the disease.
The biggest hidden cost: Grinding the stump of a dead tree to the ground is usually a straightforward job, and a tree trimmer can easily provide a quote for the job at an hourly rate. But, because it's difficult to know in advance how complex a tree's root system may be, removing or excavating a stump completely can be a more complicated and costly procedure. Sometimes, it’s best to grind it and leave it.
How to save: The larger your tree trimming job is, the more felled wood there will be. For smaller jobs, the trimming company may include removal of the wood as part of the job. But for larger jobs, you may incur additional costs for cutting and splitting the felled wood. In this case, cutting and disposing of the wood yourself — or using it as firewood — can save you some money.
Find a Local Tree and Shrub Professional
Average cost: $3,324
Why you should consider it: Landscaping can dramatically change (and improve) the look of your house and property. Depending on climate and personal preferences, your yard can be landscaped in a style that matches your ideal outdoor aesthetic.
The biggest hidden cost: Although seeding a lawn isn't expensive, maintaining it can be costly. Especially in the beginning, lawns need plenty of water and careful maintenance in order to thrive. There's no use spending money to plant grass, plants or flowers if you fail to maintain them.
How to save: Xeriscaping is a style of landscaping that utilizes plants, shrubs, ground covers and rocks that need very little water to thrive. As HomeAdvisor notes, installing a xeriscaped yard can be pricier than simply planting grass and flowers. But once you’re your xeriscaped yard is established, you'll save money on maintenance and water costs.
Average cost: $329
Why you should consider it: Leaves are beautiful — until they become a rotting mess on the ground. Don't be that yard.
The biggest hidden cost: Certain trees produce more leaves than others. So, depending on what's rooted on and around your property, you may pay more than you’d expect for professional cleanup.
How to save: Blowing leaves off your lawn is less expensive than having them bagged and removed from your property, but you'll want to make sure you're not just relocating the leaves next door. Another option is to have the leaves vacuumed, chopped into dust and poured onto your garden as mulch.
Hire a Leaf Removal Company Now
Average cost: $81
Why you should consider it: If you want your existing sprinkler system to continue working properly season after season, regular maintenance is essential. When spring rolls around, activating the sprinkler system is often as simple as turning the water back on. If you live in an area with cold winters, be sure to blow all the water out of the system to prevent cracking or breaking in your pipes.
If you don't already have a sprinkler system, spring (after the final frost of the season) is an ideal time to consider the benefits of installing one. That way, it can be set up in time for the spring and summer watering seasons, but you won't yet need to winterize the equipment.
The biggest hidden cost: Most homeowners spend between $127 and $374 just to repair a broken or damaged sprinkler system. But, the cost can rise as high as $680 or more.
How to save: Unless your yard has a great degree of slope to it, you will need to buy or rent an air compressor to blow the water out of the sprinkler system (and avoid bursting pipes). Of course, while it’s possible — and cheaper — to winterize your sprinkler system yourself, it is typically easier to hire a professional to do the job and ensure it's done correctly.
Service a Lawn and Garden Sprinkler System
Photo Credit: Thirsty Turf Irrigation via Unsplash
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