Landscaping Guide: How to Take Tender Care of Your Grass

Keep your lawn free of debris. A cluttered lawn will block the sunlight from your grass and cause harm. Clean your lawn during regular inspections. Rake and remove any fallen leaves, limbs or other potential hazards.

Keep your lawn level. An uneven lawn can cause your mower to scalp the ground and damage the grass. Repair holes by filling them with topsoil, then apply a layer of grass seed. Use a shovel to cut an "X" shape into any bumps in your lawn, then lift the sod and remove soil from beneath.

Maintain a grass height of 2 to 3 inches. Avoid cutting more than one-third of an inch at each mowing. Sharpen your mower blades twice per year to avoid tearing the grass. Leave the grass clippings on your lawn and allow them to decompose. This will provide nutrients to the soil.

Keep your lawn properly hydrated. Purchase a rain gauge, and monitor its level throughout the week. The optimal amount of water for healthy grass is 1 to 1.5 inches per week. Supplement additional water with a sprinkler if your lawn hasn't received enough rain. Measure your application carefully and never over-water.

Fertilize your grass. Apply a fertilizer to your lawn four times each year. These applications should occur during spring, summer, early fall and just after the year's initial frost. Read the directions thoroughly and follow the fertilizer's application reccomendations.

Aerate your lawn once per year in the spring or fall. Aeration is the process of poking holes in the soil, which allows grass to absorb additional water and nutrients. For large lawns, rent or purchase a tow or rolling aerator. Hand aerators or aeration shoes are adequate for smaller areas.