Care & Maintentance of Lawn Grass

Clean Up

• Grass needs sunlight, and anything that gets in the way of the sun's rays can cause the grass on your lawn to suffer unnecessarily. While natural shade from trees is fine, debris that constantly blocks light from your lawn can cause your grass to die. Make sure you keep fallen leaves, limbs and other debris raked off the surface of your lawn to allow plenty of sunshine to reach the grass.

Watering Habits

• If you live in an area where rainfall is somewhat regular then you don't have to worry much about watering your lawn. For many other people, Mother Nature doesn't always provide the necessary amount of moisture to keep your grass growing. If this is the case where you live, then you should water your lawn regularly. But it's important to know what "regularly" should mean. Grass only needs about 1/2 inch of water per week. Water your lawn in the early morning hours prior to the heat of the day and water it deeply. Get the 1/2 inch of water on the grass and then leave it alone until the following week. Light watering or watering on the wrong schedule can actually do more harm than no watering at all.

Mowing

• Although you might not like mowing, setting your blade down low to cut the grass shorter so you don't have to do it as often is a mistake. Grass remains healthy only if it has some blade surface area to sustain itself. Cutting off too much can encourage disease in your lawn and will be an overall detriment to its health. Never cut more than one-third of the blade length when mowing your lawn.

Weeds and Pests

• Weeds and pests are a constant concern for people who have to care for and maintain their lawns. But despite the urge, you should steer clear of pesticides and herbicides if possible. If you have weeds, it is healthier for your lawn, your family and the environment to pull them by hand. Overseeding may also be an option to thicken your grass and discourage weed growth. If you do decide to use herbicides, treat the problem in spots and avoid spreading it all over the lawn. For pest problems, opt for nontoxic solutions such as milky spores to get rid of Japanese beetles or other organic pest control options rather than using harsh chemicals.