You can increase the value of your home without paying big bucks to a landscaper — or losing a weekend to a do-it-yourself job. The following simple tricks will beautify your yard now and boost your home’s curb appeal — and value — for years to come.

We all know we should water regularly through dry spells, but there’s another secret to greening up the lawn. Mow it to a height of at least three inches. This enables the grass to retain more moisture by keeping the soil shaded and cooler, which allows the roots to grow deeper, so they can find their own water.

In fall, feed the lawn with a fall fertilizer blend (about $40 for a half-acre lot), which will improve the turf’s water-seeking abilities next year. Also, thanks to trees getting larger (or being pruned), your sun exposure may have changed. Sprinkle a sun-and-shade seed mix ($5) over problem areas.