Get Your Landscape Party-Ready in 5 Days

Preparing for a party should be fun. But we all know it can be a source of anxiety. And now that summer is here, outdoor entertaining is at its peak. If you're uneasy about exposing your outdoors to your guests, don't worry. Just follow these easy tips for a healthy, beautiful party yard - ready to show it off in just five days.

Mowing should be at the top of your list before an outdoor party. But don't put it off until the day before guests arrive. Try mowing every other day starting on Monday.

For best results, mow in opposite directions and patterns. (Think of a clock: Start at the 12 o'clock position and mow to the 6 o'clock position. The next time you mow, begin at the 9 o'clock position and mow to the to 3 o'clock position.) Also, raise the cutting height slightly on your mower. This, along with mowing more often, will increase your grass's density, giving you a fuller and greener lawn.

Watering correctly can be an art: Too much or too little can create a bit of a mess. On average, your lawn will thrive on one inch of water per week.

Watering in the early morning will give your lawn the most even watering by preventing water loss from evaporation and wind. For the biggest benefit, water your lawn for about 20-30 minutes three times that week. 

Fertilizing - Does your lawn look a little pale? This might be the time for fast-release fertilizer.

After a fresh mow and before watering, apply a urea or ammonium nitrate fertilizer, using approximately two pounds of actual urea product per 1000 square feet or three pounds of ammonium nitrate per 1000 square feet. Remember not to overdo it with these products: Stay at the prescribed rate or burn spots are possible.

Weeding with herbicides is difficult during the summer months, usually producing the best results in the fall or spring. To really make a difference in a week, your best bet is to pick the weeds yourself.

Remember to dig all the way under the root and remove the entire plant, rather than just pulling the weed from the top.

Bare Spots are common after a long winter, if you have animals, or even after weeding. To be sure you're covering all your bare spots, walk through your lawn and mark the places where your lawn is lacking.

Once you know how many spots you have, you can purchase your seed. (Remember to use only a high-quality seed to see the best results.) Before spreading the seed, loosen the soil. Then sprinkle the seed, dropping about 10-20 seeds per square inch. Next, mix a starter fertilizer on each area so that seeds and fertilizer are in the top one inch of soil. Pat down the mixture down to secure the seed and add a clean straw or paper mulch to the spot. Then water the areas daily. If the spots are medium sized (soccer ball), consider borrowing plugs of similar size sod from the side of your house (or other inconspicuous places) and transplanting them. Make sure to go at least 3 inches deep to capture roots. For areas the size of small tables, pieces of garden store bought sod may be your best option. If you have large (table-size) bare spots, you may want to consider purchasing sod for those areas.  

Add Mulch to your garden beds for an instant curb appeal. Spread two to three inches of bark or wood chip mulch in flowerbeds and around tree trunks, and you'll achieve a neat, freshly landscaped look.

Bugs can really ruin a beautiful outdoor party. But you can take measure to prevent them from pestering your guests. Use a mosquito repellent that attaches to your hose. Then spray your yard 12 hours before your party. Perk: This should keep mosquitoes away for at least two weeks!

Add Color. You can really spruce up your backyard by adding some color with flowers, art, or even place settings. Try hanging baskets with flowers to match your party's color scheme. Add candles to accent different seating areas. Highlight tables with colorful tablecloths and matching dinnerware.

By following these steps your yard will be party ready in only 5 days. Now you only have to pray for good weather.