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As much as you might try to keep a healthy, nutrient-rich lawn, you still may notice signs of St. Augustine decline (SAD)—a viral disease that discolors your grass blades. St. Augustine decline looks like:

• Discoloration in the leaves (chlorosis)—leaves appear yellow and splotchy

• Decline in growth

• Leaves turn black within 3 years

• Grass appears less vibrant

• Grass begins to thin

• Root rot

• Grass takes longer to recover

A scattering of leaves won’t pose a problem through the winter, but a thicker layer of leaves may not decompose before the first frost and can instead weigh down your grass and harbor mold or fungi. A thick layer of leaves also cuts off light and air that grass needs to grow. That’s why we suggest removing thick leaf layers within several days if possible. If your lawn goes dormant over the winter and snow has already caught up with you, then remove the leaves in early spring before your grass-growing season starts so your lawn can thrive.

Moss attaches to the ground but doesn’t have roots, so it can take four to six weeks for establishment to begin. It takes between 12 and 18 months for full coverage, and maximum thickness takes about two years. Keep your moss moist and debris-free to ensure it establishes itself well.

The best way to landscape your front yard on a budget is to invest in hiring a professional for hardscaping—things like upgrading walkways, redoing driveways, and installing partitions around garden beds. You can often do the softscaping yourself—think laying down mulch, caring for your lawn, removing weeds, and planting flowers and shrubs. It’s also almost always worthwhile to pay a professional for routine yard maintenance, as this dramatically improves curb appeal and delivers above 100% ROI in most cases.