Maintaining a beautiful yard takes a lot of work. This is why it’s no surprise that one in four Americans are not confident in their ability to take care of their lawns.

As America’s largest irrigated crop, grass is like the sensitive child of the family who needs lots of affirmation and help to grow and thrive. Give it too much sun, too much shade, or even too much water, and all of a sudden you have a problem.

As for how to sell a house with a bad yard, top real estate agents agree: tackle basic yard care before you list. Any money spent will be well worth it. Standard lawn service offers a 217% cost recovery, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Not all lawn issues are one and the same, however. It’s no wonder that homeowners with a lawn call in a pro for help (sometimes you need an expert opinion). Nevertheless you can address many common lawn problems on your own with a little know-how and some adjustments to your yard care routine.

Start with these 10 tips we learned from our deep research of the best lawn blogs out there and our conversations with a few pros about best practices for watering, mowing, and overall yard presentation.