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As a seller, you want your front yard to make a good first impression. House hunters might see a dozen homes in one weekend—you want yours to stand out. Lawn striping might just give your curb appeal an edge.
Lawn striping is a mowing technique that creates a pattern of alternating light and dark green stripes on your lawn, similar to what you see on professional sports fields and on golf courses.
Gene Caballero, cofounder of GreenPal, a lawn care booking platform, has striped thousands of residential properties during his landscaping career. He explains that striping is a smart lawn upgrade because it’s inexpensive, doesn’t require any chemicals, and delivers a high visual impact.
“It’s a great way to boost appeal and make a home more attractive,” Caballero says.
(James Gagliardi of Modern Media)
What is lawn striping—and how does it work?
To be clear: Striping is done with a lawn mower, but it’s not actually cutting the grass.
Luka Milicevic, a contractor, builder, and real estate agent based in Nashville, TN, explains the grass patterns are the result of grass blades being bent in different directions.
“Light stripes appear when the grass is bent away from you, and dark stripes appear when the grass is bent toward you. It’s all about how sunlight reflects off the blades,” he says.
Milicevic adds that it’s gotten more popular over the last few years—particularly in the Midwest and the northeast, where cool-season grasses (which are ideal for striping) are common.
He says it’s especially popular for homeowners who are looking to spruce up their home in time to sell. And while a well-manicured lawn isn’t necessarily going to add value to a home, it “is the first thing potential buyers will see, so it will drastically improve their overall perspective of the home.”
Can the average mower do this—or do you need special equipment?
Striping can be done with a typical mower, but it does require a striping kit, which usually costs anywhere from $100-$300, Caballero says. Alternatively, he says homeowners could use a weighted roller behind the mower.
He adds that he’s seen some homeowners drag a weighted PVC pipe or even a broom across the grass. “You dont need any fancy gear,” Caballero insists.
Does striping only work on certain grass types?
Caballero explains that, when it comes to striping, some grasses are easier than others to work with.
He adds that cool-season grasses, like like fescue, ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass, which thrive in cold winter climates, are the easiest to stripe.
“They’re more flexible and reflective,” he explains.
Meanwhile, Caballero says that warm-season grasses, like Bermuda and Zoysia, which thrive in high temperatures and are commonly found in southern states, are “stiffer and don’t tend to bend as easily—thus making stripes harder to achieve.”
Milicevic notes that grass height also affects results. He says that taller grass bends more easily, creating more dramatic stripes. He recommends mowing the whole lawn evenly at 2.5–3.5 inches before striping.
Health of the grass also matters. Caballero says: “Healthier grass always bends more uniformly and holds striping patterns better.”
How much effort does it take to maintain the look?
Milicevic says maintaining lawn striping is easy to do—but can take some time.
For one thing, he says it’s important to water the grass often (as healthy grass responds better to striping) and mow the grass regularly.
“Don’t cut more than a third of the grass blade at a time to keep it healthy and flexible enough to bend for striping,” Milicevic says, noting that keeping the blades sharp on your mower will help, as “dull blades tear grass, leading to a ragged look that won’t stripe well.”
He also advises varying patterns weekly, to avoid grass wear and ruts from wheels, and to keep mower blades sharp for a clean cut.
Should you hire a professional or DIY?
Some people do their own lawn striping while others hire out. So, what’s right for you?
If you have a large, uniquely shaped yard or you’re looking for a complex design, Caballero advises homeowners hire a pro. He also notes that if you already get your lawn mowed, the landscaper can probably add striping on for cheap.
But Caballero says that many homeowners can DIY, especially if they have the proper mower (like a riding mower or a zero-turn) and a striping kit.
To do your own lawn striping, Milicevic says to mow your lawn normally first.
“Start with a clean, evenly cut lawn. Make sure your mower blades are sharp for a crisp cut,” he says.
Next, he says you’ll need a striping kit or roller attachment that bends the grass as you mow.
“Some higher-end residential mowers come with striping kits; otherwise, you can use a weighted rubber flap or a water-filled roller,” he says.
Before you start striping, Milicevic suggests planning your pattern.
“The easiest pattern to start with is straight lines,” he says. “Pick a focal point and mow in straight passes, overlapping slightly. Alternate directions on each pass.”
But he notes that once you’re comfortable with straight lines, you can create checkerboards, diamonds, or waves by alternating the direction of mowing and roller passes.
Is lawn striping worth it?
So, is lawn striping a good idea? Zach Fertig, the co-owner of Property Leads, a company that connects real estate investors with properties, says it’s a great way to upgrade a home’s curb appeal, especially if you’re looking to sell soon.
He notes that your home’s exterior appearance “can absolutely impact how quickly a property gets attention,” adding that “when a property looks clean and well-kept from the outside, buyers will assume that it’s also been cared for on the inside.”
Plus, lawn striping has the added benefit of looking great in pictures, which is key for sparking buyers’ interest when they’re scrolling online, Fertig adds.
“Investors looking to wholesale or flip often tell us that a small investment in visual appeal like this can help increase interest and even better offers,” he says.