(NAPSA)—Is your yard ugly? Do you mow more weeds than lawn? Does the word “jungle” describe your landscaping? Are you tired of looking at that tree stump andoldtire you use as a planter? If this sounds like your yard, there’s hope. The Yard Doctoris in, and he’s makinghousecalls in 2008 as part of America’s Ugliest Yard Contest sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Corporation. Homeowners living with ugly yards are invited to share their problemsvia video or photos. The two ugliest yards—determined by your neighbors across America— will receive a housecall from Yard Doctor Trey Rogers, whowill prescribe treatment and deliver new yard care equipment and a check for $1,000 to jump-start some landscapingefforts. All the contest details can be found at www.myuglyyard.com. “Even the ugliest yards can be helped,” says Rogers, a world renowned expert who has grown playing fields for the Olympic Games as well as helped everyday people create great yards. To enter the Ugly Yard contest, provide a two-to-three-minute video tour of your yard and commentary on your yard care issues. As an alternative, you can send a photo montage (four-photo limit) and describe your problemsin 300 wordsor less. You can even nominate a neighbor or family member’s ugly yard for some TLC. The top four ugly lawns will be featured on www.myuglyyard.com, where people across America will determine whose yards are the Ec ay CM) If your yard is in bad shape, take heart. A contest to find the ugli- est yard could win you expert help and a sizable check. ugliest and most deserving of an emergency housecall. Meanwhile, here are some basic tips from the Yard Doctor on how to prevent ugly from happening in thefirst place. Focus on the front yard becauseit’s what people see first. Pick up items—toys, tools, sticks/debris. Move worn-out lawn ornaments to the backyard. * Mow correctly. Don’t scalp your lawn by cutting it too short, thinking you'll have to mow less often. You could end up killing your lawn. Cut only one-third the grass height each time you mow. Mulch is your friend. Keep a bag or two of bark or wood chip mulch on hand to spread on flower beds and cover muddy areas for an instantly better appearance. For more tips on yard care, visit yardsmarts.com.
