Conclusion

A great lawn doesn't just happen. And even a bad lawn can be expensive and time consuming.

If you've read all the articles in this series, you may feel overwhelmed. There's so much to do! Hopefully you learned some new stuff that will allow you to have better success with less effort (and for less money) than what you've got now. But that still doesn't erase the fact that a lawn is a lot of work. It may seem like a lawn is easy because it's this big mass that you can mow all at once. Surely it's easier than any of the alternatives (other than artificial turf).

Nope! There are lots of things you can do with your yard that are less trouble than a lawn.

What's best for you depends on a number of factors. Your climate is a big factor. How much sun or shade is another, as is whether or not there is a slope. And the archetecture and aestetics of your neighborhood matters, too! Chances are the easiest and quickest thing you can do right now is to widen the border beds that suround the lawn. Take a foot or two off each side, and you'll have made a significant dent in your yardwork without having to plant anything new!

If you have places in the yard that grass just doesn't grow, don't fight it. Take out the grass. Put in an island bed (a flower or shrub bed surounded by lawn like an island), or build a raised bed. Or maybe just put in a different kind of ground cover!

There are really only three things that will result in more work than a lawn:

1. Plants that aren't suited for your climate
2. Vegetables
3. Annual flowers, aka "colorspots"

Of course that doesn't mean you need to avoid those things, too. A few annuals will brighten things up (as long as you remember to water them), and vegetables give you something in return for your work.

What it comes down to is this: The work you put in maintaining your landscape should match what you expect to get out of it. A lawn is a lot of work, so you want to make sure that it's worth it before you commit yourself to having a huge lawn. There are alternatives that you may find just as attractive, or even more attractive, and in many cases they'll take less work than a lawn.

So why did we spend so much time learning about lawncare? Well, most of us are still going to opt to have at least some lawn. Few of us will ever rip-out the whole lawn, and replace it with something else. And if you're only going to stay in a home for a couple of years, houses with big lawns sell faster than houses with attractive landscaping.

In future series of articles, we'll look more closely at some of those alternatives.

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Recommended Products

Gardena Aquazoom 350/T Oscillating Sprinkler This innovative oscillating sprinkler design can water medium-to-large yards, is fully adjustable, and comes with a built-in timer and flow control mechanisms. While many oscillating sprinklers allow you to adjust the range of the spray, this one also provides adjustments for controlling the width and the water flow. At the highest water pressure (56 psi), the width can be adjusted from 13 to 56 feet and the range from 23 to 69 feet. At low water pressure (28 psi), the width can be set from 11-1/2 to 47-1/2 feet and the range from 19-1/2 to 56.7 feet. The timer allows you to select watering times from 15 to 120 minutes, or it can be bypassed for constant flow. Gardena includes its Quick Connector hose adapter for easy time-saving hose changes and a special needle for keeping spray nozzles clean. The Aquazoom provides all the versatility and design features you could ask for in an oscillating sprinkler.

Melnor Electronic Water Timer If you'd rather have time to sip lemonade than spend time watering your lawn or garden, start thinking about a Melnor electronic water timer. Here's how simple it can be: attach the timer to your hose faucet, press a few buttons, and use the digital display to set the clock; then just press a few more buttons to establish a preset schedule, watering up to six times a day. That's it! You're free to enjoy a frosty beverage on your deck. Or water while you sleep in, taking advantage of the cool morning air to avoid excess evaporation. Either way, you won't have to worry about overwatering. This is Melnor's most advanced timer, so programming your own watering schedule (instead of using one of the five preset schedules) may take you a few minutes with the aid of the instruction manual. That said, the timer's infinite programmability and ability to water up to six times a day more than compensates for its operational complexity.

Push-Pull Weeder The Multi-Star system is a truly ingenious creation that allows gardener's to quickly change tools in one-click, and eliminates the need for having a garage full of unsightly, and space consuming long-handled tools. Our push-pull weeder works by simply working the blade back and forth below the soil level. Wavy dual-edged blades cut through the soil effortlessly. Side guards allow you to work closely to plants with disturbing them. Uses strong WOLF Multi-Star snap-lock handle connection. Requires one of our WOLF-Garten handles