A lush, beautiful lawn is possible practically anywhere you live. You just need to select the right type of grass.

As with any plant, the amount of water, sunlight and soil type play a big part in the success of your lawn.

What works for your neighbor might not work for you. How often you use your lawn and what it is used for is another consideration.

Picking the right grass does more than optimizing the chances of your yard looking good. It also helps you do what you want to do outside at home — while minimizing the amount of time, effort and money spent maintaining your lawn.

And, who doesn’t want that?

Turfgrass Types and Tips

There are two turfgrass types that are categorized by climate: cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses.

• • Cool-season grasses grow best in temperatures that fall between 60° and 70° and include grasses like fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and rye.
  • Warm-season grasses grow best in hot temperatures that reach 80-95° and include grasses like zoysia, St. Augustine, bahiagrass, centipede and Bermuda.
• To determine the best grass to plant where you live, make sure you understand the growing zone that you live in.
• If you experience cool

Spring is the perfect time to tackle household chores ranging from AC maintenance and gutter cleaning to organizing and pressure washing. And, of course, there’s spring cleaning!

The 4 Seasons of Home Ownership is a curated collection of how-to videos, articles and tips to keep your home running smoothly throughout the year. Each season’s list includes 10 “must do” items, as well as some additional projects to take on as time and budget allow or if you want to do a little something extra.

Read the 4 Seasons of Home Ownership: Spring episode article to see how we helped a family tackle some springtime chores. Check out Sprucing Up Your Home’s Exterior for Spring for more info.

Or, read on for our top 10 spring chores list — and be sure to click each link for more information!

Spring Checklist

Top 10 Must Do

1. Have a professional service your A/C and heating systems

2. ‘Spring clean’ all rain gutters and downspouts; make repairs, if necessary

3. Clean and repair window screens. Clean tracks and lubricate.

4. Check for loose or damaged roof shingles or flashing. Repair, if needed.

5. Sharpen spring gardening tools and inspect your wheelbarrow.

The last thing homeowners need is anything else that adds to their stress. And because of extreme weather events in many regions, having to worry about the roof is especially unwelcome these days.

As homeowners begin to prioritize their spring home improvement projects, the experts at the Metal Roofing Alliance say the best method for ensuring peace of mind and long-term satisfaction starts with asking installers the right questions, well in advance of when a replacement project starts.

“Replacing a roof is a major expense and it has a big impact on how a home looks and performs,” said Renee Ramey, MRA executive director. “Because there are so many variables, it can be stressful and anxiety-producing, causing homeowners to feel uneasy about whether they are making the right choices.

“But it doesn’t have to be that way: asking good questions goes a long way towards making a worry- and hassle-free decision.”

According to MRA, the first step is finding a reputable, qualified pro who will conduct a thorough and honest evaluation of your