How to Have a Healthy and Beautiful Lawn

Everyone want to have the yard that's the envy of the neighborhood, right? With a few trick of the trade, that distinction is well within reach.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hose
• Fertilizer
• Lawn Mower
• Weed Eater
• Rake

1. Water your lawn only if there hasn't been any significant rain for three to four weeks. When you do water your lawn, give it a one-inch soak. A healthy lawn actually only requires about an inch of water per week.

2. Take it easy with herbicides and insecticides. Not only are they less than desirable for the environment and its wildlife, routine use weakens the grass. They can also kill valuable earthworms. Safe them for times when they're absolutely necessary to solve a problem you know exists.

3. Apply fertilizer twice a year. September and November are the best months to fertilize.

4. Invest in a good lawn mower and mow when your grass is dry and 3 to 3-1/2 inches tall.

5. Use your rake year round to rake up debris, leaves, and small limbs.

6. Change the direction in which you mow each time you mow your lawn. If your lawn mower's wheels keep going in the same, tired old direction time and time again, make no mistake about it - ruts will develop. Rut are anything but pretty.

7. Like everything in life, when you take pride in your lawn, it'll show.

Tips & Warnings

• Did you know that using a Mulching Mower will cut down on the amount of time you spend on yard work? What's more, a mulching mower will actually make your lawn greener!
• Keep your lawn mower blades sharp. Sharp blades produce cleaner cuts, which promote better grass health.
• Frequent "shallow watering" makes the roots come to the surface, looking for the desired water. However, this makes them vulnerable to drought and fungus. You want the roots to lie deeper, so be certain the water soaks down to them.
• Don't fertilize in the spring.
• Don't cut your grass shorter than 2 to 2-1/2 inches.
• Don't mow your lawn when it's wet.

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide