Maintaining a Green Lawn Doesn't Require a Green Thumb

Particularly in today's economy, homeowners are looking for inexpensive ways to add value to their homes. Perhaps nowhere is that more possible than out in the yard, where the landscape can be a blank palette just waiting for homeowners to add their individual touches. The following easy and inexpensive tips don't require a green thumb, just a little elbow grease and dedication.

* Aerate: When kids and pets play in the yard, it's not only the grass that can take a pounding. The soil beneath that grass can become compacted, resulting in poor air circulation, drainage problems and possibly even causing nutrient depletion in your yard. Aerating the lawn will loosen the soil underneath, allowing for better circulation and ensuring your grass and soil get all the water and nutrients they need to stay green and healthy.

* Mow at the correct height: Busy homeowners understandably want to cut their lawn as low as possible to minimize the number of times they need to cut the grass. However, different grasses require different cutting heights, and homeowners could be doing significant damage to their lawn by cutting too low or too high. Homeowners should first determine what type of grass they have, and then consult a professional to determine the best height at which to cut.

* Consider composting your grass: The benefits of composting grass clippings are numerous. Composting helps give grass a greener look, and is also beneficial to the environment by cutting down on waste. In addition, composting stimulates root growth while preventing topsoil erosion.

* Water at the right time: While it might seem ideal to set sprinklers in mid-afternoon when the sun is shining brightest, mornings are actually the ideal time to water. Because it's cooler in the morning, the water will not evaporate as much as it will during the midday heat, and watering in midday will draw the hot sun to a lawn, potentially burning the grass as a result.