But for all of summer's simple pleasures, there comes with it a certain amount of maintenance. A lush green lawn surrounded by well-placed design accents makes the difference between an outdoor living space your family flocks to, and one that's avoided.

It used to be that a beautiful yard was costly and time-consuming. But as low-maintenance, do-it-yourself options increase, more homeowners are realizing that an inviting yard is as obtainable as it is pleasurable. By implementing a few well-thought, cost-effective components, your yard will become more functional and more pleasing to the eyes.

Bring it to Life with Color

Your entire yard will come alive with bright, bold splashes of color achieved through ornamental plants. With thousands of varieties of annuals and perennials, you will quickly find there is a style, size, color and fragrance for every homeowner.

Before you start, assess the size and shape of your backyard. Pay special attention to the location and type of trees, and other areas of the yard needing special sun or shade considerations. And don't limit flowerbeds to the sides of your house. Feel free to line driveways and patios, and add decorative borders around trees.

Once you assess the specifics of your yard, do your own research or ask your local garden center for advice on what plants grow well, given soil conditions and other weather-related factors.

When it comes to flowering plants, annuals offer longer periods of color, however they only last for one season. Homeowners seeking low-maintenance options should look into native perennials. Flowers and shrubs native to your area require less attention and still yield great results.

Mulch is another good way to minimize garden maintenance. By spreading two inches of mulch around the base of plants, your plants will need less water. Mulch also prevents unsightly weeds from popping up.

Enhance the Welcome Mat

One way to enhance your home's appearance is to improve the condition of your lawn. A healthy, lush lawn acts as a giant welcome mat. Needless to say, a lawn full of dead spots or brown patches fails to be inviting.

In the past, only two lawn establishment options -- either seed or sod -- were available to homeowners. Just recently, a new lawn application system that's as simple as it is fool-proof was made available to consumers.

Produced by a Georgia Pacific Company, BlueYellow All-in-One Lawn System combines seed, fertilizer and mulch into one easy application. The ingenuity lies within its biodegradable mat that holds seed and fertilizer in place during germination. The matting discourages weed growth, enables uniform grow-in and provides nutrients.

Contained on a 3-foot by 80-foot roll, BlueYellow lawn matting unrolls easily during installation and adheres directly to the soil after water is applied. Unlike sod, BlueYellow matting can be easily trimmed to fit around flowerbeds and decorative borders. Because it's easy to work with for projects of any size, it can also be used to patch brown spots and other unsightly areas.

Regardless if your lawn needs a complete overhaul or just a few touch-ups, every yard will benefit from fertilizer consisting of nitrogen, phosphate and potash. By applying fertilizer several times a season, your lawn will be greener, thicker and healthier.

Regular watering is another factor to a beautiful lawn. The good news is that a lush lawn no longer depends on an in-ground irrigation system. An easy, relatively inexpensive device for automatic irrigation is a battery-operated timer that attaches directly to a hose bibb between the faucet and hose. From a soaker hose to a mist system, these timers are versatile and ensure lawns remain properly hydrated, even while you're away.

Relax and Enjoy!

Enjoy every minute of outdoor living this summer! A few vibrant splashes of color combined with a new grassy welcome mat will give your yard the facelift it needs. With so many low-maintenance options, you'll be able to sit back, relax and soak up the beauty of your beautiful, lush yard.

BlueYellow All-in-One Lawn System is sold at select Lowe's throughout the country. For more information about the BlueYellow lawn system, or where to find it in your area, visit www.blueyellowhome.com.