I live in NW Indiana where the ground is a sandy clay mix. I also have grub worms to get rid of. So I guess I have multiple questions. When should I treate the lawn for grubs, and when/what should I begin landscaping my front/back yard to sell?I am in zone 5. My house is a ranch slab with attached one car garage. I would call it a good (yet very small) starter home. The back yard is long, goes back in distance, but not to wide. it also has a sunkin dirt ring where an above ground pool used to be. I was thinking of creating a bonfire pit in the "pool" area, hoping to make an atractive center piece. I am working on a budget and just want to create curb appeal for when I sell in a year or so.

What planting zone are you in? Yes, treat those grubs. Is your house tall or ranch? I have many suggestions. Please get back with some details. Thanks.. Also is your front and back on a slope or flat? I do have inexpensive ideas..I looked up your plant zone. It is 5. These plants are o.k. for clay soil but you have to add some good dirt in planting holes.HollyhocksButterfly BushHostasPhloxThese are fast growers.Go to your local home garden center and pick these up. What they have there is for your planting zone. Just tell them what you need and keep the cost low. Ask them the same questions that you would have answered mine. Like sloped, clay soil, etc..If you can (for the "pool" area) get about 5 or 6 large boulders place them where ever in the that area. (stagger) Get a load of top soil delivered or you can buy bags. Easier for a load to be delivered. $120.00. Make sure you ask them if it has been screened. So far you have topsoil and 5 or 6 large rocks. After you have placed them in the area. Make sure you have enough soil piled high so your plants won't be sitting in water. Make sure you have it high so some of the water drains off. Get some edging plastic edging works well. It is widely available, lightweight, easy to install and cheap. Take your hose or a can of spray paint and make the outline were you want to put the edging. Make some curves adds appeal.Then dig or use a edger and go down about 1/2 inch above the lawn. So you have your edging in. Top soil in with 10-10-10 fertilizer raked in and boulders were you want to place now go buy some perannials and annuals. Make sure you get at least 3 of each. It would be nice to get a tree to put in the center for a tall focal point. Remember tall ones in the center than med. then ground covering palnts around the edging.Dianthus is fast and a spreading plant. Cone flowers, diasys all good perannials that spread.In the front of home buy some shrubs plant every 1 foot? it tells on the label. Boxwood are cheap and fast growers. Then in between shrubs plant ground covering flowering plants will fill in till shrubs take off.Take a picture of the front and back of your home also and bring it to a nursery they can also tell you some ideas. Remember to tell them this is for selling purposes in a year or so. Don't want to spend a fortune but want it to have curb appeal. Nurseries are better in this case than home depot or lowes. You can also get the nurseries suggestions and buy a few from them and then go to Lowes etc. and purchase the rest. 1st place boulders, 2nd place edging, 3rd put in top soil, 4th palnt plants 5th water and 6th put some mulch around plants. I like the red tinted mulch.I hope I was helpful..