How Can I Improve The Looks Of My Lawn?

Watering Tips:

Quantity: Your lawn should receive roughly 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week during the hottest, driest months. Deep watering to a soil depth of at least 6 inches is recommended. Light watering that merely dampen the grass are of little benefit and can actually harm your lawn. How much water is 1 to 1.5 inches? Simple. Place an empty coffee can or bucket on your lawn to determine how long it takes for 1 to 1.5 inches to accumulate.

Best Time: Very early morning watering is ideal. Midday watering when the weather is hot and dry can waste water due to excessive evaporation. Evening watering tends to promote disease problems. Keep in mind, the key to effective watering is to give your lawn enough moisture to reach the deep roots of the grass plants.

One More Tip: During the summer months, it's a god idea to water your lawn the day before you mow and then try to mow during the coolest part of the day. This minimizes the "browning" effect of summer mowing and decreases the time it takes the turf to heal. Mow your lawn as it needs it. Never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at a time.

Mowing Tips:

Timing: Determining when to mow should be based on the growth rate of the grass, not on the calendar. To keep your lawn looking at its best, remove only about 1/3 of the leaf blade each time you mow. Another good practice is to change direction with each mowing. This keeps the turf growing in an erect, upright position rather than leaning in the direction it was mowed. It also helps reduce "turf wear" and the possibility of scalping.

Keep Your Blade Sharp: Making sure your rotary mower blade is sharp is the single most important requirement for proper mowing. A dull blade rips and shreds the grass instead of cutting it. Mowing with a  dull edge makes the grass susceptible to several problems such as brown leaf tips, diseases, and insects. It sounds like a lot, but a good guide line is to sharpen your mower blade every month.

How High: During the hottest months a higher cut is recommended. It's also a good idea to water your lawn the day before you mow and then try to mow during the coolest part of the day. This minimizes the browning effect of summer mowing and decreases the time it takes the turf to heal.