Quiz: What's Your Yard Care Style?

8 Tell-All Questions

Looking outside your window might give you the lay of the land on your landscaping habits. But if you're looking for a bit more insight into your yard care personality — and how to make some improvements — start by taking our quiz. It's designed to be fun, but you'll get some helpful tips, too!

1.What yard care equipment do you own?
a. The bare essentials: Lawn mower, rake, hose and sprinkler.
b. Basic beautifiers: Lawn mower, rake, string trimmer, spreader, garden tools, hose and sprinkler.
c. An ever-growing assortment of landscaping gear: Lawn mower, rake, string trimmer, edger, spreader, garden tools, shovels, hoe, hose, sprinkler, wheelbarrow, compost bin, rain barrel, rain gauge, soil probe, pressure washer…and whatever else catches my eye this year.

2. How often do you mow your lawn?
a. Every couple weeks -- I cut it as short as possible so I don't have to mow often.
b. Once a week.
c. It depends on how fast the grass is growing. I keep my lawn at the height recommended for my grass species.

3. How often do you water your lawn?
a. When it starts to turn brown.
b. A couple times a week.
c. I make sure my lawn gets about an inch of moisture a week

4. How often do you fertilize your lawn?
a. I leave my lawn clippings after mowing, but that's it.
b. Every spring.
c. I follow the holiday plan: Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day and Thanksgiving, or the recommended fertilization plan for my region.

5. How do you take care of weeds?
a. I mow over them. Voilà —they're gone!
b. I spray them with herbicide when I see them.
c. I apply herbicide each spring and fall. If any weeds still sprout, I dig them out as part of my weekly lawn care maintenance routine.

6. How do you use your yard?
a. As the potty and play spot for my dog.
b. It's where I keep my gas grill.
c. My yard is an outdoor living space. It's my place to relax, enjoy the scenery and entertain.

7. What best describes your feelings about yard care?
a. I'd rather be golfing, shopping, fishing…anything else
b. It's a chore, but I enjoy getting exercise outdoors and seeing the results of my work.
c. It's a passion. I love creating beautiful surroundings and constantly enhancing my landscape with new elements.

8. You're neighbors are most likely to stop by to…
a. Complain about your lawn.
b. Give yard care pointers.
c. Ask for lawn maintenance tips.

You're done! Now, look back over your answers and see what you checked — mostly A, B or C?

Mostly A: Lower Than Low Maintenance

Your yard care style falls a bit short of even the basics. But your low maintenance approach may be a result of not knowing exactly what to do. Build your yard care knowledge, and you'll see how easily you can improve your skills. Even if you don't want to spend a lot of time doing yard work, with the right information soon you'll have a yard you can be proud of, and that is worth celebrating.

Recommended reading: Mow Your Way to a Better Lawn and How to Water Your Lawn Correctly.
Recommended viewing: The Yard Doctor's Best Healthy Lawn Tips

Mostly B: Basic But Could Be Better

You like a nice looking lawn, but without a lot of fuss. The good news is, you're off to a good start — and going from standard to spectacular will be easy with a little more know-how (and not much more time). First, get the lowdown on how to mow, water, fertilize and control weeds for the most impact with minimal effort.

Recommended reading: Time Saving Lawn Care Tips
Recommended watching: Weed Control Make Easy

Ready to go take your landscape to the next level? Give this a read, too: Easy Yard Improvements

Mostly C: Landscaping Lover

For you, yard care is a passion and not a chore. You're not only diligent about regular, proper maintenance; you also are constantly on the lookout for landscape enhancements and new ways to enjoy your outdoors. Congratulations — you've got the how-to's down and may even be the envy of your neighborhood. Looking for more ideas and inspiration? Check out our Yard Improvement videos.