Makeover Step 11 – Irrigation and Lawn

You’re newly transformed yard should be ready for the finishing touches.  There should be only one feature left on your feature list….the lawn (if you have one).

Before you put the lawn in, you’ll have to decide if you’ll be installing an automatic irrigation system. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks of irrigation systems to help you decide:

Benefits:

  • Plants and lawn are watered regularly
  • No need to hand water

Drawbacks:

  • Expensive to install
  • Water use can get excessive and expensive
  • Some towns and cities limit use of irrigation systems in times of draught

Ultimately, an irrigation system is a choice only you can make.  As with additional water spigots, we advise hiring a professional to install your irrigation system.

Putting in the lawn

Putting in the lawn is relatively simple.  You could hire professionals to lay topsoil and seed or even to install sod.

The cheapest way to install a lawn is to seed it yourself.  To seed a lawn, you’ll need to add topsoil and then spread seed.  Newly seeded lawns require lots of watering and take a few weeks before they can be used.

Laying sod will get you faster results, but it’s much more expensive.  It’s also involves more heavy labor.

However you decide to install your lawn, be sure to consult your local nursery for advice on what types of grass are best suited for your area.

Congratulations!

This should be the last step in your yard makeover!  It’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labors.  Remember, if you’ve planted gardens as part of your makeover, they will be constantly changing and it’s OK to add new things or remove plants as time goes on.  Most of all, remember to enjoy your creation.

If you’ve just stumbled upon this page without going through our makeover process from the beginning, be sure to check out our entire Step-by-Step guide starting with Makeover Step 1 – Setting Goals