Should You Paint Your Lawn to Entice Buyers?

By Chris Petry

A couple years ago, I was asked to take photos of a property in the midst of a drought. Now, as you may well know, when grass is deprived of water it begins to dry out and brown. Not exactly the best scenario for listing photos. The seller of the property, however, had a solution. “We’ll just get it painted!” My first thought was, “are these people really going to go to the hardware store, grab some spray paint and try to touch up their wilted lawn?” Little did I know, there were a number of products and companies becoming available that specialized in that very service.
 
Lawncare is a big business and it gets bigger by the year. According to this study from Tractor Supply, baby boomers spend an average of $475 a month on lawncare. Gen X spends in the neighborhood of $626, while millennials spend a whopping $701! So, it goes without saying that people care deeply about the appearance of their lawns.


 
Technological and scientific developments in the early part of the 20th century, including the availability of commercial pesticides and gas-powered lawnmowers spurred public interest in lawncare and lawncare solutions. This was the very beginning of the concept of “curb appeal.” People suddenly put a lot more stock in the exterior appearance of their homes and landscaping. Of course, it wouldn’t be long until scientific innovation gave people the ability to “cheat.” Enter: grass paint. According to a 1964 Newsweek article, cited here, grass paint was already being sold in 35 US states by 1964. I suppose it makes sense we cracked the whole lawn paint thing before we got a man on the moon in 69.’
 
Still, the lawn paint industry has really taken off in recent years. Why? Well, there are probably a few reasons for this. First, climate change. Which is to say, the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing hotter than average summers. That means the grass is being depleted of moisture quicker, affecting its color and overall health. So, a homeowner decides to put their home on the market in the midst of a dry season.


 
A few options for addressing brown grass:
 

• Put up the ol’ “Pardon the appearance of the grass” signs and convince prospective buyers that you really do take care of your lawn and that the current climate is to blame
• Touch up photographs in Photoshop or Lightroom.
• Paint the grass

 
Only one of those options is 100% an accurate representation of your lawn but your hands are tied. People don’t want to have to imagine what can be, they want to see what is. A little cosmetic touchup might be what the doctor ordered.


 
Another reason why lawn paint has increased in prevalence in recent years? Social media. Like everything else in society these days, social media has had an undeniable impact on perceptions and norms. The availability of new, exciting lawncare tools in the early part of the previous century may have fueled friendly competition between neighbors but social media widened the playing field. People were now observing the homes and yards of strangers in other counties, states, even countries. The competition and drive for likes and shares increased people’s awareness of trends. Which then, of course, piqued their interest in solutions for their own lawns. Everyone wants to put their best foot forward. Depending on where they are geographically and what weather patterns they’re contending with at the time, that might require a little trickery. Lawn paint can be one of the many tools for putting your lawn over the top.
 


How does lawn paint work, how is it applied and how long does it last? Well, lawn paint is generally a water-based topical solution that is applied to the grass by homeowners or a designated professional with the use of a pump sprayer. It’s non-toxic and can last for many weeks, buying you plenty of time to take photos before putting your home on the market! The entire point of lawn paint, or turf paint, is to temporarily mask your lawn’s imperfections. In a pinch, it’s a fine solution to an otherwise hard-to-address problem.
 
Positives:
 

• Safe around kids and pets. It’s non-toxic and biodegradable.
• Green. Both in the context of its color and its environmental impact.
• Long lasting. You can get several weeks to even months out of a single application.

 
Additional considerations:
 

• It won’t fix dead grass. It’s a purely cosmetic solution. If the grass is past the point of no return, no amount of spraying is going to resuscitate it.
• It’s not a grass starter or fix-all. Your grass will still require regular maintenance and areas that are completely dead, broken or bald will need more intensive revitalization solutions.
• It usually takes 1-3 days to properly dry. Monitor the weather and keep everyone off until it has properly set.

 
In conclusion, should you apply a grass paint to your lawn? Well, it depends on what you’re trying to do. Trying to temporarily conceal inconsistencies as a result of weather and drought? Sure. Trying to stimulate growth or turn barren earth into a picturesque water color painting? Not your best option.