Landscape Your Yard On The Cheap

Yes, your yard or lawn could look a lot better with some landscaping—but that doesn’t mean you need to start hiring. Removing brown spots, killing weeds and brightening your green space can be relatively cheap and DIY jobs.

Photo by #Justin.

A Money Magazine writer runs through some common fixes that, while not exactly automatic, don’t require a whole day’s work or a hired crew. The tips range from basic lawn maintenance (cut the grasss to three inches, not less) to improvement ideas (stock up on impatiens, verbena, or zinnias). This real beginners’ tip, quoted from Lewes, Del. landscaper Chris Valenti, clears up at least one source of anxiety for anyone trying to spruce things up:

Not sure what blooms late in your climate? Just shop when you want the flowers. “Nurseries tend to stock plants when they’re flowering, because that’s when they’re most appealing,” says Valenti.

“Duh” moment, but a rewarding one for anyone afraid of planting the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Simple do-it-yourself landscaping tricks [CNN/Money.com via Consumerist]