What to Look for in a Lawn When Purchasing a New Home
It’s okay to admit that you didn’t look at every square inch of a property during an inspection or open home. It’s easy to miss those finer details when you’re sharing an open home event with several other people.
However, even the most seasoned purchasers might admit that they never paid much attention to the lawn before placing an offer. Even though any structures on a property for sale can take up most of your attention, it can be worth noting the following points regarding the lawns and landscape.
The Boundary Line
Where does your lawn end and your neighbour’s begin? That is sometimes the million-dollar question. When you decide to make an offer and start checking LIM reports and council files, take note of the boundary information.
Not only can you learn where you’re able to stop weeding the gardens, but you might also save yourself a considerable headache at a later date, should you decide to upgrade or install fencing.
Drainage
Drainage requirements in NZ can be complicated, but most builders are aware of the importance of making sure heavy rain doesn’t flow inside someone’s brand new living room.
However, with property alterations over time, drainage direction can change, and you may not gain insight into how well a lawn drains and where it drains on your first – or even second – visit.
Before signing on the dotted line, drive through the neighbourhood during heavy rainfall to see what the average yard looks like. You might even catch a glimpse of your dream home and see exactly what happens during less-than-ideal weather conditions.
Fortunately, lawn drainage issues don’t have to be a deal-breaker. There are many different ways to combat landscape flooding, such as a French drain to control excess water, a rain garden, or a swale.
Signs of Pests
Lawn pests like grass grubs can be frustrating, especially when you desire a bowling green-like lawn, but you’ve got a patchy, inconsistent mess instead. Just as you can’t control when lawn pests will take up residence on your property, neither can most other property owners.
Take a wander around the yard during an inspection or open home and see if you notice any yellow and dying grass patches. While dogs can cause such patches, grass grubs can also be the culprits.
Grass grubs and other lawn pests are generally not a severe issue. You may just need to pay a visit to your local garden centre for grass grub killer products to give them their marching orders once and for all.
Grass Variety
Grass is grass. Or, is it? We are fairly fortunate here in Aotearoa New Zealand, to have a variety of different grass types at our disposal. Some thrive in some parts of the country better than others, and some are more desirable than others. What does your dream home have?
In Auckland, you’re more likely to come across tall fescue than most other grass types. Tall fescue is a hard-wearing, dark green grass that’s coarse and bunches together. It also doesn’t easily flatten and is robust for those family games of backyard cricket.
However, fine fescue might also be a grass type you come across, along with couch grass, Kikuyu grass, ryegrass, and mixed blend. Each grass variety has its pros and cons, and if you don’t like what you have, you can always grow your own lawn from scratch.
The Soil Type
We have over a dozen different soil types in New Zealand, including brown soil, pumice soil, ancient soil, and even artificial Anthropic soil. When you inspect a property you intend to buy, you likely won’t know which type you’re looking at.
However, some soils are undoubtedly more fertile than others. Some homeowners won’t object to you taking soil tests if you’re an avid gardener, but you can also pay attention to what’s currently growing to get an idea of soil fertility.
Once you move in, you can perform more thorough soil tests, learn about the best soil for planting, and make any improvements as you see fit.
Lawn Slope
Many homeowners have sloped sections and have no trouble with landscaping and mowing. However, considering the slope can be worthwhile if you’ve never had to mow lawns on a hill before.
Mowing on a slope can require a far different set of skills than cutting on flat land, and extra safety precautions can sometimes be necessary. A sloped lawn is not a deal-breaker, but if you don’t have mowing confidence, you may see the value in hiring a lawn care company to assist.
Learn Your Lawn
When you’re in the process of buying a new home, or you already have, there’s no harm in learning your lawn. Test the soil, check the drainage, and look for signs of pests. The more you know, the easier you may find it to achieve that bowling green lawn you always wanted.