As any homeowner knows, lawn care is a necessary but time-consuming part of keeping up a house. In McDaniel, MD, where the average home price is $349,000, it's important to have a manicured lawn to help your property value. But how do you go about taking care of your lawn without spending all your free time on it?

Here are a few tips:

• Mow regularly. This seems like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many people let their grass get too long. Not only does long grass look bad, it's also more difficult to mow and can damage your lawnmower. In McDaniel, the average lawn size is .33 acres, so it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to mow once a week.
• Fertilize. Fertilizing your lawn gives it the nutrients it needs to stay green and healthy. You can do it yourself or hire a lawn care company to do it for you. Either way, it's important to fertilize at the right time of year – typically early spring and fall – and to use the right amount of fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can actually damage your lawn.
• Water. Water is essential for a healthy lawn, but you don't want to overdo it. Watering every day is actually bad for your grass, as it can encourage shallow root growth. Instead, water deeply and less often, making sure the roots get a good soaking. In McDaniel, the average rainfall is 42 inches per year, so you shouldn't need to water your lawn more than once or twice a week.

By following these simple tips, you can have a beautiful lawn that will be the envy of your neighbors.