I have a front lawn and a back lawn. They get seeded once a year, aeriated once every other year, watered only when first established, and mowed every other week by - alas - a gas mower. We tried doing the mowing ourselves, with the push mower, but it just wasn't getting done and thus making us unhappy. So we help some nice people earn an honest living by paying them to do it.

I would not have a lawn that needed frequent watering or chemical fertilizers. To me that's a sign that there shouldn't be a lawn there. One of these days I'll redo the front yard, and then it will be local & low maintenance.