Software
Houzz Logo Print
webuser_327121540

Please help my lawn

7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

I just moved into this place about a week ago. Yes, I knew the yard was as terrible as it is. What can i do that is budget friendly? Rocks, mulch? Anything. Please help. The entire yard is pretty much shaded by trees. The shrubs were cut down to what you see right before I moved in. I’d love to just pull them up because they’re terrible. I will take any advice. Lawn care is included with my rent, but



I want to be proud of my lawn!

Comments (12)

  • 7 years ago

    I’m having trouble getting them uploaded. Still waiting on WiFi! Here’s an imgur link


    https://imgur.com/a/BV82AOt

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Back up a little with the camera and show the whole unit plus a few feet at each side -- especially the left.

    HU-327121540 thanked Yardvaark
  • 7 years ago

    Will do in the morning. It’s pretty dark out now.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    yikes, that might be worth a professional! you’ll get there though, dont worry

    HU-327121540 thanked st5330
  • 7 years ago

    How much do you wish to spend?

    HU-327121540 thanked lizziesma
  • 7 years ago

    I just googled the address. Not sure how old this street view is, but it obviously doesn’t look like this anymore. Just trying to give you guys a rough idea. I’ll take an actual zoomed out picture of what it’s like currently tomorrow.


    I dont want to put a lot of money into it honestly. I’m just the tenant so it’s not really my responsibility, but I want my yard to look halfway decent to take my kid out front ya know? The back is so much worse jeez. If I can stay under $300, that’d be ideal. The cheaper the better honestly. I called a few local landscaping companies and was quoted around $600 for general yard maintenance and to pull up the shrubs and replant.


  • PRO
    7 years ago

    When you submit a current picture of the overall conditions, it will be easier to give specific advice. But in general, for low cost, you can define beds, mulch, cut down and remove undesirable plants, limb up trees, trim shrubs and plant a few flowers.

    Many people obtain free mulch from utility or tree trimming companies. The problem in doing that is that they need a place to dump a huge truckload of it at a time. If you have a place where they can dump it, it might work out for you. If you have a pickup truck, sometimes free or low cost mulch can be obtained from recyclers organized through municipalities. If not, getting mulch from Walmart or similar will probably not be that expensive to do a small yard, and you can do it over time. If you can get beds well defined, that will go a long way to making things look better. Then, over time, you can add plants to the mulched beds. If you learn how to propagate plants (which is not difficult) you can get many, most, or all plants for free. Most people think that it takes a long time to get anywhere by propagating plants, but my experience is that it doesn't take long at all if the plants are moderately cared for, which is mainly watering and fertilizing.

    Some basic maintenance tools I'd obtain are a 10" folding pruning saw (Corona or Fiskars), a good set of loppers (I prefer anvil cut type), hand pruners, and a basic round point shovel. If you have a Tractor Supply Company near you, it's a good place to buy this equipment. Try to get good quality tools as cheap ones often don't last through one or two uses.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Don't let these lawn care people scare you into a bunch of garbage you don't need. The first thing I would do to your lawn is go rent an aerator and aerate your lawn. Then right after I would seed your lawn with a commercial blend. You can buy it at walmart. Then spread it with fertilizer.
    Water your lawn frequently and only walk on it when you have to. The grass probably wont get strong until next spring. When the grass gets strong, then just spray it with Ortho weed b gone crabgrass control. Your lawn should be thick and beautiful by next fall. You should do this now since its fall. Prime time to do this. You have a small yard so it shouldn't cost more than a few hundred bucks. Probably would take me like half a day. Then every spring just spread weed n feed and the ortho to feed your lawn and keep the weeds at bay.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Where do you live? There are lots of places where grass is not a good choice so a bit more info would be good. Please try and find something that does not require loads of chemicals to make it grow there are some nice ground covers . If all you have is $300 you will need to rent a machine to dig up the soile enough to actually plant anything and then your hard work that is the only way to stay in that budget.Go to your garden center ans talk to them about the best choices.It is very hard to grow grass under big trees

  • 7 years ago

    There is a limit how well any lawn will do in much shade. As the OP is in the South (Georgia, from another post), turf grasses best for that area are limited to warm season species and the most shade tolerant of those are centipede or zoysia. And even they do best with at least 4 hours of sun.

    And you will need some standard lawn seeding prep beforehand. Mature trees tend to have sucked up available soil nutrients as well as moisture and have a very rooty nature close to the surface. Often it is just very difficult to get new grass to establish under these conditions. I would keep the options for mulching or a shade tolerant groundcover open :-)

  • 7 years ago

    Sometimes landlords are willing to contribute $ if renters do the labor.