Lawn Care Dos and Don'ts

By Nancy Fulton
Photo: © Dreamstime


Summer is here and many of us will be spending the warmer months at home this year. That means our yards have to be a recreational oasis where we're comfortable inviting friends and family. Nothing is more important to a yard than a great lawn. It gives kids a place to play, provides a comfortable place to sit or lie down, and makes a home look beautiful. Read these Dos and Don'ts to keep your lawn beautiful this year.

Do Mow Your Grass - When your grass goes to seed, it dies. To prevent it from going to seed, you have to mow it before the seeds appear at the top of each blade of grass. In most cases, you must mow your lawn at least once a month to keep it green.

Do Water Deeply At Night - Since water you put on your grass during a hot afternoon quickly evaporates, it's best to water your lawn at night or early in the morning. Don't water every day, but do water once or twice a week. Make sure the water goes deep into the soil, not just on top of the grass.

Do Feed Your Lawn - Nutrients get sucked out of the soil and into the grass year after year. To keep your grass healthy, you need to put nutrients back in. In Northern climates, you should fertilize your grass in fall and early spring. In Southern climates, you need to fertilize throughout the summer because your grass grows faster and needs more nutrition. Follow the instructions on each bag of fertilizer you use, and make sure you use a "spreader" to ensure the fertilizer is evenly distributed.

Do Weed Your Lawn - Some fertilizers have weed killers in them that will help keep your lawn weed free. But you will still need to pull stubborn weeds out of the ground by hand from time to time. Make sure you always grasp the weeds by the root, and that you pull slowly. You do not want to end up just taking out part of the weed.

Do Keep Pets Off Your Lawn - If you want a healthy lawn it is important to confine your dogs and cats so they don't use the lawn for potty breaks. This keeps the people who use your lawn healthy too.

Don't Over Fertilize - More is not better when it comes to fertilizer. If your grass starts to look brown, or burnt, despite regular watering, stop fertilizing. Make sure that you water enough to eliminate any excess fertilizer, which might remain on the grass blades.

Don't Leave Stuff Lying On Your Lawn - The toy pool, the slip and slide, and stray junk can kill your lawn if left lying on the grass for too long. Your lawn needs sunlight and fresh air to thrive. It doesn't do well if compressed for long periods of time, and it can't survive being exposed to chemicals from metal or plastic that is leeching into the ground. So keep your lawn tidy if you want to keep it healthy.

Don't Let Trees Grow Too Tall - Too much shade will kill your lawn. You may decide that during the summer, a leafy tree is great, but during the fall and winter cut it back so your lawn gets the sun it needs.