Having the best yard on the street doesn’t have to drain your savings account. Here are some budget-friendly lawn care tips to have and maintain a great lawn.
DIY Budget-Friendly Lawn Care
Hiring a landscaping company can be pricey; it’s much more affordable to do as much as you can on your own. The basic equipment you will require depends on your yard, but typically you will need a mower, weed-eater, and some basic gardening tools.
Pick the Right Mower
The type of lawn mower you need is determined by the size of your yard and how much time you are willing to spend cutting the grass every week or two. There are five basic types of mowers and each uses a rotating blade to cut grass at an even height.
- Push Reel Mower– These are the mowers that have been around since the 1830s and feature prominently in the “back in my day” stories that elders tell. These mowers do not have an engine and are powered solely by human force. These are an economical option if you have a small, flat yard.
- Walk-behind Mower– Also called push mowers, these are the most popular type of lawn mower. They can be gas or electric and come with a variety of features, such as self-propelling or wide-area options, which can help you find the best one for your lawn.
- Riding Lawn Mower– This type of mower is best suited for a large yard and is more expensive than the push reel or walk-behind. This mower features a large engine with a transmission and has a seat and gears which can be switched to fit the terrain of the yard and desired length of cut grass.
- Hover Mower– Hover mowers are used mainly by commercial landscapers on steep slopes, waterfronts, and areas with lots of tall weeds. The mowers work by pushing air downwards, which lifts the mower off the ground, so it can float over the grass while cutting.
- Robotic Mower– The most recently invented type of mower is the robotic mower. Much like there are robotic vacuums that will clean your house at the push of a button, the robotic mower will cut your lawn. This mower uses a wire buried a few inches underground, which defines a boundary of areas to be cut. Robotic mowers are powered by electricity and need to be docked prior to use, and the most recent models can be controlled remotely by a smartphone.
Make Your Own Lawn Treatments
Avoid handing over your hard-earned money for things you can make yourself for a fraction of the price. Fertilizing your lawn in the spring and fall can help it look healthy all year and helps to control weeds, but fertilizer is expensive. You can make your own budget-friendly lawn care fertilizer by composting your yard debris, such as leaves and grass clippings, and kitchen scraps, like fruit and vegetable peels and coffee grounds. Herbicides and insect sprays can also be made at home with common ingredients such as vinegar, dish soap, and garlic.
Be Sprinkler-Savvy
Watering your lawn frequently is a quick way to run up your water bill. Grass needs only about an inch of water per week and a single watering that soaks the roots can be more beneficial than frequent light watering. Also, check the weather forecast before you turn on the sprinkler. If rain is imminent, you might be able to skip watering that week. The time of day that you water your lawn is also important. Watering at mid-day means that most of the water sprayed on your lawn will be evaporated by the sun. Watering in the morning before it is too hot is the most effective time to turn on the sprinklers. To save even more money on watering, connect rain barrels to your house’s gutters and use the collected rainwater on your yard and plants.
At Eastex Credit Union, we want your yard to be the envy of the neighborhood. If you need help financing a new lawn mower, speak with one of our friendly loan officers today. Call us at 866-445-9622 or stop by any of our convenient locations and we’ll help find the best option for you and your lawn.
Sources: LawnEQ.com and U.S.News.com
