DIY Do it Yourself or Not®

Bring new life to a tired lawn with a facelift designed to cure its ills and transform the look of your property. Your lawn needs attention if the grass is ridden with patchy clumps of weeds, unsightly bare spots or areas of hard compacted soil. This lawn renovation isn't an instant makeover; your grass requires regular attention, but in one growing season you'll be amazed at what a little tender loving care and feeding can do. This kind of care is best suited for a homeowner who's around regularly to feed, water and nurture the new growth, rather than a landscaper who would have to make return visits.

If you want to hire out the job and can find a landscaper to take it on, he'll charge $386 to weed, level, aerate, fertilize and seed a 100-square-foot patch of lawn. You can do the job for $200, the cost of lawn seed and soil amendments. That includes $90 for a day's rental of a power aerator if it's necessary.

The scope of the job depends on the condition of the soil and extent of the damage. Typically it involves short, incremental tasks that include removing the weeds and raking and leveling the soil before fertilizing and seeding. If there are thick clumps of thatch or compacted soil, rent a power aerator to loosen the soil and create drainage. Then add amendments such as organic matter, fertilizer, lime or sulfur to the soil and seed the area. The follow-up work is important: protect and watch for new growth, and water and nurture the seedlings until they are strong and thriving.