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Step 1
Fertilize your lawn. Just twice a year is plenty; you can fertilize once in spring and once in the middle of summer if you use a fertilizer formulated especially for lawns. These blends are higher in nitrogen, which promotes growth and that deep green color you're looking for.
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Step 2
Use a fertilizer spreader to ensure even distribution of the fertilizer across the lawn. Gauge the spreader at a low setting, and go over the area several times, ensuring each pass of the spreader overlaps the last.
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Step 3
Keep your lawn mower in top shape. The most expensive tool for your lawn, it's often overlooked. A well-maintained lawn mower reaps a crisp, fresh, evenly-cut lawn. Check the spark plug for erosion, make sure blades are sharp and change the oil regularly.
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Step 4
Soak your lawn a few times a week throughout the summer. Very early morning, just before sunrise, is best. This allows the lawn to dry before nightfall, when it's more susceptible to fungus. It's also usually a non-peak time for most towns' water supplies. Deep soaking encourages deeper root growth than light watering and protects your lawn from heat and drought.
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Step 5
Repair brown spots caused by pets. Many pet owners face this challenge. Like fertilizer, pet urine has a high nitrogen content, which can burn the grass. Watering the lawn well within 8 hours of excretion dilutes the nitrogen. If you don't catch the spots in time, you'll need to purchase a grass-repair kit or make your own mixture of sand, grass seed and slow-release fertilizer.
