15 Ways to Make Your Lawn the Envy of the Block

If you want some seriously beautiful grass, you should water your lawn in the morning, between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m., twice a week, until the grass is soaked six inches deep, says Matt Maurer, owner of PureLawn Lawn Services.

You'll never forget to water your grass when you set up an automatic timer ($25, amazon.com). This device lets you program a specific start time, watering duration and frequency.

If you don't have a built-in system, use a pulsating model ($14.99, amazon.com) that moves in a circle instead of an oscillating one that sprays in a fan-shaped motion. The former shoots water horizontally and isn't as vulnerable to wind when it comes to distribution.

While everyone else in your neighborhood is out sweating in the heat, you'll be cool inside if you own this robotic mower ($919, amazon.com). It uses a shock sensor system to mow around obstacles. Genius.

If your lawn still isn't that rich green color you can show off proudly, you should get your soil tested to make sure it's sufficient in iron and magnesium, the nutrients responsible for the color.

Patchy grass is no match for this spreader ($20, amazon.com). All you have to do is fill it with seeds, then turn the orange dial to the setting of your choice and the battery-run device will work as you walk. Find more gardening gadgets here.

It's tempting to set the mower blades low so you won't have to cut the lawn again so soon, but slicing off more than an inch of grass at a time can cause what remains to turn brown. 

Even if you only use your mower one season out of the year, it's critical to make sure you aren't cutting grass with dull blades. Otherwise, you could end up with brown patches in your yard. 

If your yard isn't as big as you would like, adding horizontal layers helps create the illusion of depth. One easy way to do this is planting shrubs in front of a slightly higher fence.

If you want your lawn to be greener and healthier, it's as easy as walking in your backyard thanks to these shoe attachments ($21, amazon.com). They feature spikes on the bottom that will pierce your grass and allow water and fertilizer to seep deeper and work better.

Avoid harsh chemicals, that can make your greens look sad, by using natural methods to ward off insects, such as lining garden beds with cedar mulch and planting lavender.

If you want your backyard to be a magical place full of butterflies, plant milkweed, which attracts Monarch butterflies. Coneflowers, sunflowers and even blossoming weeds also attract these insects, since they have long blooming cycles.

It's inevitable: You have to own a hideous hose if you want your lawn to be lush and green — but that doesn't mean it has to become a total eyesore. This hammered copper pot ($112, amazon.com) lets you hide this item out of sight when not in use.