Lawn Care Check List

Water

• Lawns require adequate hydration to stay healthy, vibrant and green, but watering the right way is vital for grass to fully benefit. The American Lawns website recommends giving turf grasses 3/4 to 1 inch of water per week, focusing on the root zone to provide proper and thorough hydration. Footprints remaining in grass after it's been tread upon and a deep darkening in color signify that the lawn requires watering. Douse lawns early in the morning to avoid the water evaporating in the midday sun, though in particularly hot climates, watering in the mid-evening is best.

Fertilize

• Lawn have an appetite for certain nutrients and need fertilizer for optimal growth and health. Grass fertilizer should contain three major components: phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium. Grass gets its rich, green color with ample help from nitrogen, which makes it "grow sturdy, dense and thick to create a healthy environment," according to the Plant-Care website. Healthy grass is also better able to withstand an attack by pests. Potassium strengthens the roots and blades of grass, which helps lawns cope with the rigors of everyday use in addition to drought, cold and disease. Working below the surface, phosphorus makes for strong roots. For an easy, natural fertilizer, the University of Missouri Extension recommends leaving grass cuttings on the lawn. Trimmings produced by mowing grass can meet 25 percent of a lawn's requirements for fertilizer, naturally releasing nutrients into the ground as they decompose.

Mow

• Though pushing a lawnmower around on a hot day can be hard work, it does much more than just make grass look neat and tidy. Lawn Care says regular mowing insures healthy turf, and recommends keeping grass at 2 inches high during the spring and autumn, and 2 1/2 to 3 inches in the summer. During the hot months, longer blades of grass provide more shade to protect the roots and keep them from dehydrating by conserving water in the soil. When trimming the lawn, cut no more than 1/3 of its length at a time, otherwise you may damage the blades and leave an excessive amount of cuttings behind. Cutting too much off the top also overexposes the roots and immature grass buds to the sun. All About Lawns recommends mowing lawns in rows to keep things neat and tidy while avoiding accidentally skipping patches.