Do Your Neighbours Paint Their Lawns Green? Increasingly, Yes

GILBERT, Ariz.—Mike Landers enjoys taking his dog, Luci, for walks along the lush communal grass in the Islands, the master-planned neighbourhood where he lives. This year, the grass looks particularly verdant. It’s been painted.

“Could you tell? It looks like green grass,” said Mr. Landers, who is 69, and came from Minnesota, adding that Luci doesn’t seem to mind.

Creating a green lawn has long been considered artistry, and perhaps now more than ever: More people are turning to paint.

In just moments, wilting, yellowing grass suddenly looks like it belongs on the fairways of St. Andrews. Painted lawns are becoming more popular as inflation-strained households try to save money, drought complicates water usage and severe storms have brought ice and freezing rain to swaths of the South, turning lawns a blah brown. This niche business sector has grown, well, like weeds, with lots of landscapers, professional training and an array of shades to choose from.

Not everyone is a fan of painted grass. “I don’t like it. It’s wintertime, it should be brown,” said Don Ossian, 65, another resident of the Islands community, who is originally from Iowa. He said his dog, Jedidiah, got green paint on his paws.

Mr. Ossian’s dog’s walk could have been poorly timed. Tim Gavelek, who sells the turf colorant to the landscaping company that works at the Islands, said paint dries within a few hours and is safe for pets.

While Mr. Gavelek’s lawn-care company, Fertizona, has been selling green lawn paint for a decade, he said he is getting far more calls this year from landscaping companies, homeowner associations and residents curious about painting, in an effort to cut down on expenses and save water.

In Arizona there have been no limits on outdoor water usage in residential areas, unlike California. But cities such as Gilbert and Phoenix have warned restrictions could come if drought worsens. Scottsdale is trying to get residents to switch out lawns with water-saving landscaping by offering rebates.

Nick Perez, the representative at landscaping company BrightView who negotiated the contract with the Islands, said the neighbourhood was looking to save, but wanted to keep up lawn appearances. “They want lush,” he said.

At the Islands, BrightView sprayed 17 acres with an emerald colour made to look like golf courses. The move is estimated to save the community $70,000 in water costs that would have kept the grass naturally green, according to Mr. Perez. The Islands declined to comment.

Painting can cut down on water usage because grass doesn’t need to be alive. Dormant grass, that dry yellow stuff that shows up once the lawn stops being watered or is unhappy with temperature, can hang onto paint.

Brian Howland, 53, who paints yards in the Phoenix area part-time with his son, said you can get a dormant lawn to look realistic with paint, for an average cost of $250 to $350. The only problem is, it doesn’t feel as good as it looks.

People say “ ‘Wow the yard looks amazing’ and you take a step and it goes ‘crunch,’ ” he said.

Mr. Howland switched paints after testing out a brand that left some lawns blue after the yellow pigment burned off in the sun.

In Houston, Ruben Alonso, 43, and his son Ru, 21, started a mowing business, Alawnso Services, after Mr. Alonso was laid off during the pandemic. Then a client asked to have his lawn painted, and Mr. Alonso branched into that, doing 100 lawn-painting jobs in the winter of 2022 and now keeping up a busy pace. He says he has trained at least 20 other people to start similar businesses.

His teenage daughter, Jenavi, posted a TikTok of an early job featuring Mr. Alonso painting the grass as the background voice debates if people will be able to spot a fake. The video took off once he began interacting with his audience and views now total 3.7 million. He thinks people get satisfaction watching something go from “ugly to pretty,” though he said a way for a video to go viral is to post a mistake, such as paint splashing onto a sidewalk.

“People love commenting that you got paint on a piece of wood, on the wall,” he said. Even though the father-son duo are much more experienced now, Mr. Alonso said he’ll still occasionally lean in and post a video of a mishap, thinking, “Let me just throw them a bone.”

Geoponics Corp. makes popular pigments including “Fairway,” a dark green that it says has a “see it from the moon” effect and “Perennial Rye,” inspired by golf courses of Augusta, Ga. Brad Driggers, a sales manager, travels the country helping paint users understand the correct mixing ratios. He said landscaping companies or golf course turf managers may use tractors with long attachments to spray big areas, while a person at home could use a gallon jug with a small attachment.

“We have a very good product but the application is half the battle…if it’s not applied right then it’s not gonna look right,” he said. “We don’t want anybody to know it’s painted.”

Ozzie Sattler, 70, a retired radio broadcaster in Phoenix, gets his lawn professionally painted in summer, sometimes shocking his neighbors. “Because one day it’ll be yellow and the next day it’s green,” he said.

The world of sports has long engaged in lawn painting for aesthetics. When you turn on TV to watch a golf tournament or football game, you’re often looking at painted grass. TPC Scottsdale, the course that held the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February, was painted to enhance and protect the blades for what has been nicknamed “the Greenest Show on Grass,” said Brandon Reese, director of agronomy at TPC. (Professional ice rinks are also painted white.)

Some homeowners paint their lawns green to satisfy neighbourhood critics. Who needs a green thumb if you’ve got green paint?

Jenn Poist, 46, a YouTube content creator who posts under the name Raptor Adventures says neighbours in Spring Hill, Fla., were bugging her about what they deemed a lawn unworthy of the neighbourhood.

Ms. Poist didn’t want to add chemicals or fertilisers to her lawn over fear of harming wild animals. She bought a nontoxic green spray paint.

“That’s a good alternative because it will get them off our back,” she said.

David Steele, 73, a retiree from Phoenix, started painting his lawn with the intention of turning it into a local business, but he quickly realised pigment couldn’t save a bad yard and scaled back his ambitions.

Mr. Steele said a lawn needs to be prepared before it can be painted for best results. Some clients started asking him to remove weeds and mow their lawns first. He said he didn’t want to end up as a landscaper. Now, he paints only for friends and family who have well-maintained yards to start with.

“I’m very particular. The canvas has to be nice or you just don’t get the results that someone else may expect,” Mr. Steele said.

Still, he’s not perfect and keeps a rag in his pocket and Windex nearby in case any paint gets onto the sidewalk. A little dab and it’s all cleared up.

—Louise Radnofsky and Natalie Andrews contributed to this article.

Curb appeal—the attractiveness of one’s property—is everything when deciding to sell, rent, or simply add value to your home. That’s why Australians spend approximately $1 billion per year on property renovations.

“I am seeing smart investors and homebuyers now actively looking to upgrade, capitalising on opportunities in the market,” said Nunzio Bagnato, consultant at Homebuyers Centre Victoria. “It’s no longer just about looking for a specific price point; buyers are willing to pay extra for quality.”

From strategic renovations to expert upgrades, there are many ways in which you can add value to your property, no matter your budget. Whether you’re a seasoned investor looking to maximise returns, or a savvy homeowner wanting to spruce up your living space, look to these 10 ideas for maximising your home’s aesthetic and appeal…and in the process, add value to your property.

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1). A fresh paint job goes a long way

A fresh coat of paint applied to tired walls, whether on the exterior or interior, can do wonders for your home says interior designer and stylist, Jono Fleming.

“Give your space a makeover with paint to create a fresh and elevated look. This is an accessible tool to introduce colour into your home, which serves to transform the mood and feeling of a space,” he says.

“Colour is an incredibly powerful design tool, however itʼs incredibly important that the end result feels grounded and draws people into the space. I recently refreshed a bedroom in my family’s farmhouse using Fantan and Canyon Cloud from the 2024 Dulux Colour Forecast Muse palette, which has converted the space into a vibrant retreat filled with warmth and new life.”

Besides the obvious — paint acts as a protective barrier against the elements such as rain, UV rays, and moisture — a fresh paint job can immediately add value to your home. If you have some minor imperfections, such as cracks or dents, spend some time on prep before you paint for a better finish and a more durable result. For exteriors, lighter colours are a surefire winner.

“There’s a lot of interest generated from colours; a neutral palette appeals to a broader range of buyers,” says Mr Bagnato.

2). Landscape the garden

A well-kept, manicured garden can add thousands of dollars to the value of your home. If we learned nothing from the pandemic, it’s the value of a private, well-designed outdoor area. Spending time on landscaping your front garden will not only enhance street appeal, but can also increase the functionality providing areas for relaxation, entertaining, and recreational purposes across the site.

A well-designed garden including green space, paved areas, room for entertaining and water features, can also increase your property value by up to 20 percent, according to a study conducted by the University of Western Australia. For smaller areas such as apartments or townhomes, consider seeking help from a gardening specialist who can advise on the best pots, plants and flowers depending on the orientation and soil type of your garden.

3). Your home’s facade says a lot

The very first thing that people will see when looking to purchase their next property is the facade. Even when people are searching online, it’s often the very first image shown on a listing, and one that can make or break a property in a matter of seconds. A visually appealing frontage can set your home apart from neighbours, and can really set the tone for what visitors, future buyers, or investors can expect when they walk through the door.

Patrick Cooney, director of sales at Melbourne-based Milieu Property, agrees that the facade of a home leaves people wanting more.

“The vast majority of people only ever get to see and experience the exterior of a building,” he says. “This is an advertisement for those who walk and drive past. Having amazing architecture and landscaping leaves people wanting to know more.”

4). Who doesn’t love new flooring?

It’s always immediately apparent when a vendor has spent the time and money upgrading their home’s flooring. Besides changing the look and feel of your interiors, investing in high-quality flooring materials, such as sustainable wooden floorboards for common areas such as your living and dining space, and carpet for bedrooms, can immediately increase the perceived value of your home.

One factor to keep in mind is that upgrading your flooring is not only a costly exercise but a disruptive one at that, so careful planning is encouraged.

5). Add that new kitchen

Should homeowners ever consider the need to renovate their homes, the kitchen is often top of the list. However small or large, adding a new kitchen to your home can do a lot for adding value to your home. Why? Recent studies conducted by OnePoll suggest that individuals spend over 1000 hours a year in their kitchen. Whether it’s preparing meals, eating meals, or working from the kitchen bench top, having a kitchen that is accessible, practical but also aesthetically pleasing is every home owner’s dream. Costs vary widely but be aware that there’s not a lot of economy of scale involved. Designing and installing a small kitchen often doesn’t cost significantly less than a larger one.

6). Consider art and furnishings

Another great way to elevate the look and feel of your home—and add value in the process—is through the addition of decorative pieces and furnishings.

“Art, display books and uniquely shaped vessels add interest and are an easy way to introduce colour, achieving a cohesive palette,” Mr Fleming says.

Avoid generic prints and go for something bolder, like vintage advertising posters to add personality to the room. Original art, sourced either directly from the artist, through galleries or at auction is a great way to add a luxe feel to a room. Beyond solid walls, Mr Fleming says window coverings can also benefit from the right dressing.

“Curtains, in particular, are often overlooked as an interior design tool, but theyʼre such an easy way to add colour to your space without it feeling too permanent and can completely change the ambiance or mood within a space.”

7). Upgrade your bathroom

After the kitchen, bathrooms are high on the priority list for buyers. If you’re planning on selling soon, you can make a considerable difference by taking small steps; replacing older sinks and toilets, upgraded hardware and new lighting can instantly transform your bathroom. If you’re planning to stay, or you’re keen to create that ‘wow’ factor for would-be buyers, opting for additions like a double vanity, walk-in shower, bathtub, or simply choosing premium materials such as marble or other natural stone, can all make a significant difference to the value of your home.

If you have more than one bathroom to renovate, consider mixing up materials and fittings while staying with the same colour palette for a cohesive look.

8). Be inventive, add storage

Storage—or the lack thereof—is something all homeowners have to deal with. For many first homebuyers or renters, storage is likely one of those additions worth its weight in gold. So, as a homeowner, adding thoughtful and meaningful storage solutions can go a long way in adding appeal to prospective buyers.

“Smart storage solutions can change one’s home from a nice home to a great home. The majority of people have a plethora of ‘stuff’ and finding a place for these are key,” said Mr Cooney.

“Whether its dropping off your keys and a dog lead in your welcome station by the front door, to having an appliance nook for your coffee machine and toaster, or ensuing you have the basics like adequate bathroom storage that accommodate a hair dryer, these are all incredibly important considerations.”

9). Is your home ‘smart’?

Integrating ‘smart’ technology is something we’re likely to see more homeowners do. While the outlay and time spent in setting up a smart home can deter some, considering things like integrated security systems, sensor blinds, keyless entry systems, smart lighting controlled via your phone, and indoor/outdoor entertainment systems can appeal to tech-savvy buyers (and ultimately increase your property’s value).

“Smart tech for the home can be pushed as far as people are wanting. At Milieu, we generally now include smart locks, smart parcel lockers, energy monitoring and number plate recognition access to basements to our new developments,” said Mr Cooney.

“In our last three projects, we have specified VZug appliances which can also be controlled from the touch of your phone.”

10). Sustainability is key

As we all look to add sustainable measures to our homes for a better, brighter, and greener future, energy efficiency in and around our homes will only become increasingly sought-after among home buyers. This can be done by installing solar panels or energy-efficient windows and doors, installing skylights, opting for appliances that save on power, and increasing ways that save on utility bills, like swapping gas for electric induction stovetops.

“Buyers are highly focused on sustainability and future-proofing their homes,” said Mr. Cooney. “Highly sustainable buildings, with EV provisions are key. People place a premium for sustainability and especially EV charging – the mindset has change from, ‘I may get an electric vehicle’ to ‘when I get an electric vehicle’.”

Adding an EV charging station, should you own a hybrid or electric vehicle, is a great initiative to consider for your home. Not only can an EV charging station power your vehicle, but its power can also be offset to power parts of your home.

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Do Your Neighbours Paint Their Lawns Green? Increasingly, Yes

The niche business of painting drab grass is growing like weeds, as people try to save money and water