Beautiful lawns are valuable assets. Not only can they improve the market value of properties, but studies reveal that they can contribute to a family’s quality of life as well. This is more evident nowadays with the trend toward creative home living and home-based activities.

According to Patricia Bowling, the vice president of communications for the American Furniture Manufacturers Association, “People are spending more time at home, so they are creating havens inside and out that help them live happily and entertain with ease.”

Indeed, with an attractive lawn, you can create more fun moments with your family and friends. However, it can be a lot of work most of the time. When it comes to lawn care, St. Peters, MO specialists say constant upkeep is a must, which is not only time-consuming but also costly. The American Life Magazine reports that most households in the US spend at least $5,000 a year on lawn and garden maintenance.

Simplifying lawn and garden maintenance for beauty and utility is possible, though. Here are seven turf ideas to accomplish this goal.

1. Stick to grass varieties that are endemic to and easily thrive in your area.

If you want to make lawn care not only more affordable but simpler as well, stick to grass cultures from your area. They require less work in keeping healthy. Plus, they are more usually affordable because they are highly accessible.

2. Always combine different grass cultures.

Using different grass varieties for your lawn can enhance its appearance. According to local landscapers, a polyculture lawn usually looks thicker and fluffier.

But aside from that, it tends to be healthier. It’s not as prone to weeds, pest damage, and even weather setbacks. To know the best combinations of grass cultures for your lawn, turn to your local nursery. They can easily come up with a mix that will look good and thrive well.

3. Consider other ground covers.

One of the most common issues with grass is it can often be challenging to ensure its even growth throughout the yard. When this is the case, even with polycultures, do not be afraid to include other ground covers. The following are some that you might want to use:

• Creeping Jenny – This an evergreen perennial plant also known to many as moneywort. It has small heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers that look quite friendly. Creeping Jenny is very low maintenance and thrives well both in the sun and shade.
• Creeping Thyme – This ground cover produces thick sets of leaves and lilac flowers. It can grow in any climate. However, it doesn’t handle foot traffic well. So, use these more in areas of the lawn that people do not go to much.
• Roman Chamomile – This ground cover is not only pretty, but it also smells lovely. Plus, it’s edible. It grows daisy-like flowers that usually come out in the spring and last throughout the summer. And like the two other alternative ground covers shared above, it does not require much care. You can leave it to thrive on its own.
• Moss – This is the most affordable and easy to maintain alternative ground cover for grass. It doesn’t take root and gets its sustenance from the moisture in the air. This is perfect for those spots in the yard where most things refuse to grow. The only problem with moss is it can be rather slippery.

4. Work in pest-repelling plants into the landscape.

If you wish to protect your lawn from harmful and pesky pests, surround your yard or garden with pest-repelling plants. There are a lot actually – some of the best picks are:

• Basil – It repels mosquitoes, houseflies, and other tiny fliers.
• Dill – This is an excellent plant for hedging, and it can drive away everything from aphids to squash bugs, mites, and others.
• Marigolds – These flowers can drive away aphids, beetles, garden snakes, and mosquitoes.

5. Make deep watering a lawn care habit.

Setting several different times of the day for watering can be a hassle. Instead of doing this, focus more on deep watering just twice a day – once in the morning and once in the late afternoon or early evening.

Deep watering can make a whole world of difference in turf health. It allows for roots to grow much deeper, which will make the grass less prone to withering during the intense temperature and dryness of the summer season.

6. Use outdoor furniture and set up or build structures in your outdoor space.

Two of the easiest ways to decrease the size of your lawn for a fresh aesthetic appeal and easier maintenance are setting out furniture and building structures. Different pieces of outdoor furniture such as relaxation chairs, and a picnic table and benches will reduce the size of your lawn and lessen maintenance responsibilities.

The same with structures such as a playground, big freestanding letterboxes, firepits, a gazebo, and shed. With these around, there’ll be less grassy space to mow and fertilize.

7. Create a walking path for your lawn.

You have different options for including a walking path to your lawn design or layout. One is by lining up stepping stones. Two is by covering a path with gravel and lining it with bricks or concrete blocks. And three is by mowing down a path and letting the rest of the area grow wildly.

Out of the three options, the last one is clearly the simplest. All you have to do is to let your turf grow to the height of your shins or even your knees and then “plow” a trail. This will create a charming and whimsical passageway that can lead to a little seating area or a large-scale lawn feature.

There you have it – a few turf tricks that are simple to implement for the improved beauty and function of your outdoor space, shared by professionals in lawn care from Manchester, MO. Some may be a bit pricey to use, but combining them with the other tactics can easily recoup your investment.