Natural Lawns Enhance Home Values; High Return on Investment

According to a Gallup poll, 62 percent of U.S. homeowners see lawns and landscaping as a good investment. Attractive landscaping can provide a 100–200 percent return on investment – much higher than the return provided by many other home improvement projects. For example, a homeowner can generally expect to recover just 40–70 percent of the cost of building a deck or patio. A well-maintained lawn is recognized by potential buyers as such a desirable feature that it can increase a home’s value by as much as 15 percent.

“Lawns are appealing to buyers not only because they are aesthetically pleasing but because they extend the living area of a home, provide an ideal setting for outdoor recreation, entertainment and relaxation,” said Bryan Ostlund, executive director of Grass Seed USA, a coalition of American grass seed farmers. “Through the use of sod, grass can also be a quick to establish, natural and self-repairing landscape option perfect for increasing curb appeal when selling a home, or establishing a lawn at a new residence.”

For homeowners who want to ensure that their lawns deliver full aesthetic, recreational and economic value, Grass Seed USA experts offer the following tips for growing a healthy, attractive lawn.

Watering

Mowing

Fertilization

Weed control