Lawn Care Tips For Your Garden: 80 Tips and Tricks

A fine garden is not without a healthy lawn. No matter how ideal-looking your outdoor space is or how perfect the soil and grass in your backyard are, a lack of knowledge about lawn care maintenance may cause a dilemma over time.

Your lawn is often stepped on, still, it is under the care of your hands nonetheless. Taking care of it is surely imperative, so our team has carefully selected 80 simple and best steps to achieve a lush, thick turf all year round.

Take on your lawn one task at a time, and follow through these effective and helpful lawn care tips. Dull, weed infested lawn no more!

80 Lawn Care Tips and Tricks

1. Identify the Weeds and Get Rid of Them

Weeds can bring a serious threat to any British garden, especially when homeowners fail to manage, and eventually overlook their backyard. They can grow as seed heads or flowers, with a wide range of types that are common in lawns.

To identify the weeds lurking in your lawn, it’d be your great advantage if you’re familiar with the three major types of weeds, and these are:

• Annual – lasts for only a year or merely during the growing season, but they produce a lot of seeds for the following year, and years afterwards.
• Lawn – the type of weeds that grows so vigorously that they are able to ‘suffocate’ the grass. Plantains, dandelions, and daisies fall under this category.
• Perennial or woody weeds – they have larger or deeper roots and they keep on coming back year after year. These weeds can re-grow from even the smallest left-over segment, so digging them up can often worsen the problem.

The easiest way to remove them is to pull them out, roots included, either by your hand or using a tool.

2. Scarify to Remove Thatch

Consisting of dead leaves, grass and root stems, thatch is a layer of organic matter that can build up between the green stuff and the soil. When overlooked, thatch can lead to a blockage, preventing the needed nutrients and moisture from penetrating the soil down to the roots.

Scarification is the best solution for this lawn issue. Get a rake or an electric scarifier and removing the mulch for the lawn.

3. Rake up Leaves as They Fall

If your lawn isn’t paid enough attention, a build up of autumn leaves can smother new growth. Hence raking up the leaves as they fall is a great way to encourage healthy growth.

Moreover, raking can help in removing dead leaves and grass as well as loosening matted grass clumps caused by snow mould.

4. Keep an Eye on Moss

Just like weeds and thatch, mosses can bring a threat to lawns. Moss are non flowering plants that thrive in areas with low quality turf, shade and excess moisture.

Don’t let the level of moss increase and make sure to keep an eye on them. Otherwise, they will hinder the ability of grass to grow. Here are the common initial conditions that let moss to develop when undiscovered or untreated:

• Clay within the soil
• Poor drainage
• Drought
• Thatch
• Shade

The problem must be identified and reduced right away to prevent the moss from spreading and causing lawn issues by monitoring and maintaining your lawn with feeding and scarifying.

5. Improve Drainage

When your lawn has poor drainage, they can experience waterlogged issues for hours, or worse even days. As a result, this can add complications to the overall health of your lawn.

The next keypoints are the common causes for water build up. Make sure not to skip them as they can be the best ways to improve your lawn drainage.

6. Have Permeable Soil

Soil compaction, including clay in the soil, layers of roots and thick areas of thatch can prevent water absorption. To reduce the surface build up, aeration can solve the problem; it can improve the flow of water and air.

You can also change your soil with organic materials to improve the drainage levels.

7. Think About Your Garden Topography

A shallow, level slope can drive water away from your garden to your house. This is why it’s important to consider the shape of your garden and at the same time, to try to prevent any water logging from happening in your garden.

If not, any dips can allow water to pool in one spot, which can eventually damage your grass down to the roots.

8. Aerate Your Lawn Against Drought or Water Logging

As we’ve mentioned earlier, aeration allows better penetration of air and water from soil to the grass’s root zone. Create small holes in soil using a garden fork or tools/machines that are specifically designed for aeration.

This process is crucial for encouraging growth by letting the right nutrients in, and mending the areas that are affected by drought or water logging.

Moreover, aeration can be done once every few years for most gardens while small patches can be treated individually if necessary.

9. Over-Seeding for Rejuvenation

Over-seeding is the process of covering the entire space of your lawn with large quantities of seed mixed with fertiliser. Not only this rejuvenates tired and worn out lawns but also fills in damaged and thinning areas as well as improving the colour and lessening the high risk of weed and moss invasions, giving your outdoor space a healthy looking turf.

10. Mow Your Grass Regularly

During the winter months, it is strongly recommended not to cut the grass as attempting to use a mover over a wet lawn and muddy soil or else it will damage the grasses’ roots and cause the blades to cut evenly, resulting in a misshaped garden.

11. Edging Your Lawn

When it comes to moving your lawn, keep in mind to remove only one third of the grass length. The number of times you need to mow will depend on the time of year and the current weather conditions.

For instance, mowing is necessary during the summer as the grass will begin to grow quicker. When the weather is colder, especially during frost, mowing won’t be much needed.

12. Feeding Your Grass

When shopping for grass feeds and fertiliser for your lawn, the type will depend on the existing soil you have and the weather in your area. Most gardening shops provide instructions for application so make sure to follow the guidelines well.

Experts advise to do this step twice yearly, e.g. during springtime with a nitrogen-rich lawn feed and in the autumn with a fertiliser rich in phosphate and potassium.

13. Providing Your Grass With Plenty of Water

In addition to feeding, just like any plants and greens, watering is essential to lawns. If your lawn starts changing colour and loosening its spring, which causes the grass to stay flat when walked on—this is a sign of lack of water.

The amount of water, including the frequency, also depends on the type of soil your garden has and the weather conditions in your location. You’ll also want to make sure not to over water.

To get better results when watering, it’s best to do it in the early morning when the temperature is cooler.

14. Top Dressing

Another way to take care of your lawn is through the process of creating top dressing. This practice is used to build up and improve the quality of your soil while providing additional drought resistance and drainage.

When creating your top dressing, ensure to check the type of your garden soil first to get the right materials and consistency. If you want to keep your lawn looking lush and healthy, then add this tip on your list.

15. Fill Bare Lawn Patches

Letting bare patches soil sit in your garden is a major turn off. If you find sowing grass seed over the raked soil a bit tedious for you, we suggest making fillers instead from unused turf as an alternative.

To replace the bare patch, cut out a square or rectangle and start digging up the soil whatever depth of soil your new turf strip is with the help of a hand trowel. Once done, lay the turf gently over the patch.

To ensure there are no gaps and that your new turf is no higher or lower than the existing lawn, don’t forget to firm it down.

16. Relieve Compacted Grass

When your soil is compacted, this inhibits the growth of the grass which also can lead to bare patches in the summertime while mud baths during the winter. To prevent this from happening, aeration and relieving the compaction can be your best shot.

Relieving the compaction means pushing a garden fork for about 10cm deep into the soil and gently rocking back and forth on the fork handle. When the prongs start to open up the soil, this will let the roots to breathe and at the same time, encourage the grass for further growth.

For heavy ground like clay soils, we recommend brushing sharp sand into the soil to prevent compaction as well as improve drainage.

17. Choose the Perfect Lawn Mower

One of the keys of having a much easier and convenient way of taking care of the lawn is to have and use the perfect lawn mower. When shopping for the right model for your yard, consider the size of your property.

When you have acres of grass to cut, opting for a walk-behind mower will make the mowing task feel daunting, and it won’t be as effective as a riding mower.

In addition, you also have to be familiar with the type of grass you have. The thicker the grass, the higher the horsepower you’ll need for your lawn mower.

18. Grasscycling

Grasscycling happens when you let grass clippings lie on your lawn after mowing. If you’re thinking whether or not this method is a good thing, in fact, not only it can save you time (bagging clippings won’t be necessary) but also it helps you save money as you don’t have to use waste bags anymore.

Furthermore, this can provide up to 25 per cent of fertiliser, suiting your lawn’s needs. Our gardening experts suggest using a mulching blade as a cheap alternative for cutting grass into smaller pieces. The smaller the grass pieces are, the quicker they decompose.

19. Compost Clippings

Keep in mind that grasscycling works best with frequently mowed grass—and when only one-third of the grass blade length has been removed. Longer grass, on the other hand, needs to be raked or collected in a bag.

You can only grasscycle turf if you’re willing to cut it then rake out the clippings, mow and chop them finely.

20. Avoid Mowing in the Same Direction or Pattern

Another thing you need to avoid when you mow is to avoid mowing in the same direction or pattern. Otherwise, you’re letting your soil to be compacted while creating ruts which both can lead to reducing the number of your healthy grass, then followed by weeds that will thrive in compacted soil.

21. Keep Your Mower Blades Sharp

To get the best results when mowing, make sure to keep your mower blade sharp. With a sharp blade, it can cut grass clean compared to a dull blade that tears glass while creating a jagged, uneven edge. 

Cutting your lawn with a dull blade also develops a whitish or brown hue due to the poor tips while the tears create openings for pests to enter grass blades. Tip: Sharpen your blade at least a few times during the mowing season.

22. Test the Soil

Knowing your soil’s pH level is important. Hence testing your soil yearly will give you knowledge about its pH level.

A healthy lawn has a pH level of 5 to 7. If your soil is too alkaline, greater than 7, you can add sulfate to make it more acidic. And if it’s too acidic, add lime to reduce the acidity and bring it back into balance.

23. Seed at the Right Time

Did you know that lawn needs occasional reseeding? Whether you need to thicken an existing lawn or fill in some bare patches, it’s important to seed at the right time.

According to experts, seeding tends to be more successful in early spring, though growth may be slow if the weather is cold. Fall season is also a great time to seed, while autumn seeding can give young turfgrass a chance to establish before winter, giving them a head start when spring starts kicking in.

24. Add Compost

Feed your lawn with essential nutrients by adding a layer of compost. This natural substitute adds up extra organic matter back into the soil, making the grass healthier.

Do this task at the end of fall so it can have the entire winter season to break down and integrate into the soil. When the spring arrives, you can expect a healthy and beautiful lawn.

25. Pay Attention the Weather

One of the excellent ways to maintain your home is by having a weekly routine for household chores. But when it comes to your lawn, you can’t always be so rigid.

It’s important to pay attention to the weather so you can adjust your mowing, especially your mowing schedule accordingly. For instance, if it recently rained, watering your lawn wouldn’t be necessary. The same goes for mowing your lawn when the grass is wet.

If your area is experiencing drought, we suggest mowing your lawn less frequently since the grass grows more slowly.

26. Get Rid of Grubs

Just in case you’re not familiar with grubs, they are the larvae of various beetles, and they often invade garden landscapes. They can occupy your lawns too, and this is something you need to keep an eye out for.

When you notice some brown patches, that could be them lurking. To avoid an infestation, apply milky spore every year.

27. Mow for Height and Health

Following best practices for lawn mowing is one of the keys to maintaining a healthy lawn. When mowing, make sure to base on the grass growth and not on the day of the week.

Mowing heights vary on the grass type and the season. Some grasses like Bermuda grass are best to keep short, whereas others need more height.

Note: Hot spells warrant higher mowing heights all around.

28. Know the Best Grasses for Your Region

Experts believe that when grasses are suited to their growing region, they can create exceptional lawns. Just like any garden flowers or shrubs, turf grasses also vary in their climate preferences and tolerances for drought, shade and other conditions.

Kentucky bluegrass, on the other hand, and other cool-season grasses peak in growth during cool temperatures. They mostly flourish in northern zones too. While Bermuda grass, as a warm-season grass, excel in the warmer climates.

Keep in mind that region-appropriate lawn grasses don’t demand too  much water and other resources, including maintenance.

29. Boost Your Lawn

Lawn booster is an excellent way to ensure your lawn is on the fast track of their thicker growth. Not only this will help your lawn grow quicker but also thicker and greener than ordinary grass.

Your seeds will also germinate faster while your lawn’s overall texture and color will surely improve without putting any fertiliser. Our experts also recommend investing in some soil-enhancing gypsum and combining it with your chosen lawn booster product to improve the soil health and condition. This way, your seed will root better and flourish from the start.

30. Don’t Fertilise Shady Area More

If you wish to grow in shady areas, fertiliser is crucial. However, most homeowners or gardeners tend to overcompensate and throw more fertiliser. As a result, they end up killing the grass faster.

To encourage growth in shady areas of your garden, you’ll want to make sure to water and fertilise the area less.

31. Feed Your Lawn Well

Plants, flowers and vegetables need proper nutrition to grow—the same goes for lawn grasses. In order to keep your lawn lush, vibrant and rich in green colour, nitrogen is vital.

The number of pounds of nitrogen needed for your lawn annually will depend on your soil test results. It’s usually per 1,000 square feet, according to its organic matter and other considerations.

According to Pennington, the numbers on fertiliser labels show the percentage of actual nitrogen and other nutrients products contain. This will help you to match the product to suit your needs.

But be careful not to feed way too much or too often as it could cause more harm than good. You can set up a feeding schedule that meets the needs of your lawn’s fertiliser and stick to the routine.

32. Treat Pests

When the summer season starts kicking in, insects may come out in full force. Although not all pests will target your lawn, keep an eye to some bugs like Japanese beetles, European chafers and June bugs.

Otherwise, they could invade your lawn, munch your grass which will eventually cause wilting and bare patches. What’s worse, the Japanese beetles could lay their eggs on the grass, which will soon hatch into grubs and start feasting on your grass.

What you can do is to apply a preventative grub control product and use it according to directions.

33. Water Deeply and Infrequently in Mid-Summer

Dry, hot weather can drain your soil moisture, and moisture stress can lead to wilted grass blades, reduced shoot and root growth, and greater risk of pests and weeds infestations. To avoid this from happening, water your lawn thoroughly once or twice a week in the summertime.

Consider if your region isn’t facing drought conditions that call for water restrictions. If you’re unsure about it, you can push a screwdriver into your soil—and if you meet a lot of resistance, your soil requires more water. The water should reach 4 to 6 inches deep when watering. But if it slides in too easily, water it less.

Tip: If possible, water your lawn in the early morning. This will keep the sun from drying out the moisture before your lawn is able to soak it up.

34. Overseed the Grass if Need in the Late-Summer

In the late summer, continuous to-notch watering and mowing practices will do good for your lawn. But if you want to get a jumpstart in fall, overseeding will do the trick.

If your lawn is struggling from bare patches, overseeing can restore it back to its former glory. And by sowing additional seed over the existing grass, this trick will thicken your turf.

35. Loosen the Soil During Fall Time

According to Frith, regular aeration (once every couple of years) can prevent soil from becoming compacted and covered with thatch. As we’ve mentioned earlier, thatch is a thick layer of roots, stems, and debris that blocks water, oxygen, and nutrients from reaching the soil.

For a healthy lawn, it’s something you need to look out for and avoid as much as possible. To loosen the soil, experts suggest punching holes through the thatch and pulling up plugs of soil. Those holes in the turf will let the fertiliser reach the roots.

36. Set a Timer When Watering

We all know how watering plays an important role in lawn maintenance, but it’s also something you need to remember to do. If you’re somehow forgetful about watering your lawn, including remembering to turn off the sprinkler if you use one, then we suggest setting a timer.

Sprinkler timers are very handy when it comes to this situation. They can be easily attached to your hose and you can schedule its turn on and off time. 

Alternatively, you can use your alarm or timer on your phone. Not only having a timer will save you from your worries about forgetting to water your lawn, but this also rescues you from overwatering as well.

37. Clean up After Your Pooch

If you have a lovely dog who loves to play around in the backyard, keep in mind that they also can cause dead spots on the lawn. If you spot any dying grass due to your pooch’s urination, make sure to flush the area with water to dilute the urine in soil.

To save you from doing this task every day, the best solution you can go for is to create a mulched or pebbled area and train your dog to use it for bathroom breaks. It may take some time to teach your dog to do this but it will be worth it.

Don’t forget to pick up the waste and dispose of it properly and right away.

38. Stay on Schedule

Staying on a schedule will help you keep your lawn healthy looking and well-maintained. When you’re on top of your lawn maintenance timetable, you can expect best results.

Overseeding too late can cause the seedlings to be too tender to survive. Fertilising too early means the grass will send up tender blades and eventually get hammered by the cold. Meanwhile, if you fertilise too late, the grass roots won’t be able to absorb all those nutrients you’re feeding them.

If you’re thinking about aerating in the spring because you can’t get it done during fall, don’t bother. Spring aeration makes it easier for weed seeds to get established. And if sticking to the schedule during the fall is a bit complicated for you, a lawn care service can save the day.

39. Don’t Fertilise in Summer

Overfertilising can lead to the need to mow more often while fertilising at the wrong time can permanently damage your lawn. Feeding your lawn in hot weather can do two detrimental things: it can encourage new growth of weeds, and it can burn your grass.

Hence, fertilising your lawn in the summer is not recommended. A summer lawn care maintenance should focus more on water and mowing.

40. Fertilize Warm-Season Grasses

As the name suggests, warm-season turf grows strong in the summertime, and with that, they demand more nutrients. If you’re not familiar with your region’s fertilising schedule, you can check with your local Cooperative Extension System office.

Don’t fertilise your cool-season lawn during the summer. Make sure to wait until fall or early spring.

41. Install Sod

While sod can be installed at almost any time of the year, laying sod in the early or mid-fall is the best time to do so. Grass continues to grow when the temperatures are cooler, hence in early or mid-fall.

Fall is the perfect time to start off a new cool-season lawn or patch your existing turf with sod. Moderate temperatures and abundant moisture get sod off to a quick start.

High-quality sod offers thick, dense, and weed-free solutions—a convenient way to get an instant remedy to bare spots. If conditions turn dry, experts recommend watering the new sod daily.

42. Drain Irrigation Lines

Keep an eye to your lawn’s irrigation system and drain it completely before the cold, freezing weather arrives. Use drain valves or compressed air to clear out the system.

For best results, shutting off the water to the system and drain each zone separately will do the trick. You can also drain the main supply line from the house.

Note: Don’t exceed 50 psi of air pressure if you’re using an air compressor to drain the irrigation lines.

43. Mow When Grass Is Dry

Preferably, mow when grass is dry. While mowing a wet lawn doesn’t do harm, it doesn’t yield the best results as well. Not to mention that wet grass can fill and clog a mower deck.

Mowing wet grass also has the tendency to fall over and clump together as you mow, creating an uneven cut. You’ll also want to make sure to watch out for clumps of wet grass that fall off the mower.

To avoid killing your grass, remove the clump from the lawn after mowing.

44. Avoid Mowing in Soggy Soil

Refrain from mowing in a soggy soil as well—otherwise it will create wheel ruts and eventually tear up your grass. Ensuring that your mower blade is sharp can also help in avoiding ripping the grass out of soil.

In addition, if you have to mow the lawn even when it’s damp, treat the underside of your mower with oil or silicone spray to prevent the grass from sticking.

45. Mow In Shade

Pruning a plant can cause stress to the plant itself, the same goes for grass. Mowing during the heat of the day creates tremendous stress on grass plants wherein they lose more water and recover more slower over when mowing in the cold weather.

An effective alternative for this one is to wait until shade is on the lawn before mowing. Grass in the shade loses less water when cut and they tend to rebound quicker.

46. Mowing In Slope

When mowing slopes or hillsides, make sure the grass is not wet. Otherwise, it will create slippery footing that can lead to serious injuries.

To mow a slope safely, outdoor experts suggest pushing the mower across, not up and down, slope. For short or small slopes, you can use a string trimmer to cut the grass for convenience.

As for the steep slopes, consider replacing grass with a low maintenance ground cover.

47. Winterise

If you live in a region with cold winters, it’s best to cut the lawn one last time before snow hits. During the colder months, the growth of your grass will likely be much slower than before, but that’s normal.

Lower your mower deck at least 1-inch range to cut the grass shorter. By doing this, the shorter height will prevent snow mould from forming.

Lawn with your bag attachment in place as well, so that the bag can catch any debris on the lawn, e.g. leaves, sticks or even any lurking weed seeds. Once done, don’t forget to raise the mower deck to its normal height to avoid scalping the lawn accidentally in the springtime.

48. Winterise Your Lawn Mower

It’s not too late to winterise your lawn mower if you failed to do it in the fall. Keeping your lawn mower functioning properly paired with sharp mower blades will ensure that your lawn is evenly cut.

When your grass is cut justly, this can also help in preventing disease and improving the overall look of your yard.

49. Clean Your Tools for a Fresh Start Next Spring

Don’t forget to thank and treat your tools well after they’ve served you all season. Before you put them away or hang them up, clean your tools neatly to prevent rust.

If you’re done mowing for the year, make sure to include your winter mower maintenance on your to-do list before storing it. By doing this, all of your gardening tools, including your mower, will have a fresh start for next spring.

50. Yard Cleanup

When winter arrives, one of the big parts of winter lawn care involves keeping your lawn and overall yard clean. Start your task by raking the leaves from your lawn and remove any debris, tools, even toys.

Leaving a pile of leaves and letting it sit around all winter will only do harm, killing the grass underneath as well as hindering new growth. If you can do some spring cleaning, then you can do it in winter, too!

51. Get Rid of Salt

Rock salt and other ice melt products can damage your lawn as salts can pull the water away from the grass roots. The same goes for plants and trees.

Flush out your soil to get rid of salt. When shovelling, try to avoid piling salt-filled snow onto your lawn. Opt for deicers made with calcium chloride rather than the sodium chloride based ice melts as they’re less harmful.

52. Off Limit Your Lawn

During summer, setting foot on a nice and green lawn can be a pain for many people. But when winter comes, they tend to cut across the lawn than use the sidewalk, neglecting the consequence the lawn may face in the long run.

This is why it’s crucial to limit your lawn and cut down on people walking on your grass even in wintertime. Otherwise, your lawn will have a hard time recovering if you cut a path across it when spring comes.

What you can do is to keep your sidewalks or pathways clear so people can have access to it instead of walking on your grass. Try to keep your visitors from parking on your lawn as well.

53. Avoid Parking on Your Lawn

Parking on the grass is something that several homeowners who have no garage space do.  But if you want a healthy lawn in the summer, avoid doing this one as it’s never a good idea.

It leads to soil compaction, which eventually can cause a host of other concerns, including dead grass. During times of excessive heat in the summer or drought, limiting foot traffic on grass is a wise move to avoid damaging turf crowns.

54. Fertilise Before the First Breeze

This may sound unusual to you, but some expert found out that fertilising your lawn for the winter can actually be beneficial. Using the ideal fertiliser for this, cover your lawn in the weeks of late fall or early winter. 

Do this before the first frost sets in. This can help in replacing any lost nutrients that may occur during the first freeze.

Once the ground freezes, the fertiliser will feed your soil, including the roots hidden underneath through winter. And when spring comes along, you can expect a lush and healthy lawn underneath that piled up snow.

55. Keep an Eye for Winter Weeds

We’ve talked about controlling weeds earlier, but did you know that winter has its own grass weeds? Applying an herbicide during this season won’t be effective as lawn enters a dormant state in the late fall or early winter when temperatures are consistently below 60℉.

But the good thing is that you can still go out and handle weeds. Here are the common winter weeds to look out for:

• Deadnettle,
• Chickweed,
• Annual bluegrass (Poa annua), and
• Prickly lettuce

You’ll have more chance of killing them before germination. During winter, the growth of your lawn won’t be as lush and thick as it is during the previous seasons, which allows weeds to penetrate easier.

What you can do is to keep a bit of extra length on your lawn and make sure the ground isn’t compacted, especially during and after periods of heavy rain.

56. Avoid Scalping Your Lawn

Scalping can harm your grass especially when the temperatures are high, causing the moisture inside to evaporate. But doing it in a cold weather, even if scalping the grass little, it should be able to recover.

But keep in mind that scalping your lawn makes it very hard for the grass to stay healthy, let alone to survive. As grass relies on blades when it comes to absorbing energy from the sun, with those blades scalped off, the turf has no way to obtain and undergo the process of photosynthesis as well as store energy for future growth.

Consequently, your lawn will likely wither and die, or it won’t be able to grow lusher and stronger the way you hoped for. If you don’t want this to happen, you know what to do!

57. Watch Out for the Critters

If you keep your lawn untrimmed during the cold months, mice and other little creatures will seek warm refuge and your lawn could be their main target. Not only can they ruin your lawn in no time with burrowing and their feces lying around, but the acidity in their urine can also cause some serious damage to your grass.

Lower the blade on your mower little by little so you can gradually cut your grass shorter. Do this during the last few weeks of fall. Make sure to do it bit by bit so you won’t end up distressing your grass, which can result in dying even before the winter hits.

If the grass is shorter, you don’t have to worry about the critters. A nice, buzzled lawn means your grass will thrive in the springtime.

58. Bunch Grasses

Cool-season grasses like fescues and ryegrass are considered as bunch grasses. A lawn of fescue is a host of individual grass plants that form into bunches as they grow, and these bunch grasses are often sown from seed.

Bunch grasses don’t hold together in the form of sod by nature. Unless you use a biodegradable net at planning time.

59. Maintain Your Machine

Over time, your mower machine will demand maintenance, be it sharpening the blades or changing the oil. A little bit of mow-how and maintenance can extend the lifespan of your mower and at the same time, it can save you from having to purchase a new one for every few years.

If you want to maintain the healthy looking of your lawn, think of maintaining your machines and other lawn equipment as well.

60. Go Artificial

Today’s synthetic grass alternatives come in a wide range of types, some of which have thatch and multifaceted blades that resemble the original. In addition to their realistic look, they also are durable and stain and fade resistant.

What’s more, they require no mowing or watering at all. If you’re someone who doesn’t have time to look after your lawn, you might want to consider this option. Of course, you can always go back to growing real grass, but this is surely worth a stab.

61. Call a Pro

If you can’t keep up with your lawn maintenance anymore, you can always ask for a professional lawn service help. With a proper analysis, treatment, and timing, professionals can help you achieve your dream green, healthy lawn throughout the year.

Lawn care professionals are experts in all aspects of lawn care tips and maintenance, and use technologically advanced products for your lawn.

62. Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides in Spring

To prevent crabgrass and other weeds from taking root in your lawn, maybe it’s time for you to apply a pre-emergent herbicide in your lawn. Investing in a soil thermometer is a smart move as it can be really handy when it comes to this task.

When your soil temperature reaches 58 degrees, it’s time to apply the herbicide. Keep in mind that 58 is the temperature at which crabgrass starts to germinate.

63. Monitor Weather Conditions During Winter

When it comes to monitoring weather conditions, winter is no exception. Turf can be tough and can tolerate an extreme winter, but certain conditions can be harmful in the long term.

Chipping away a bit of little-exposed ice in a low spot might be worthwhile, especially if you know a winter storm or deep freeze is approaching.

64. Grass Seed Planting

Grass grows more rapidly in the month of September than in the hotter months. If you’re planning to establish a new lawn or wish to revive a poor lawn, mid-August to September is the perfect time for grass seed planting.

The key to a long-term, high-quality lawn is soil preparation—and this includes making sure that the ground is tilled about six inches deep. In addition, using organic substances such as peat or compost is also important.

Take advantage of this time to test your soil as well. If your soil test result shows a pH problem, use sulfur or lime while tilling. Use a smooth rake after tiling then apply your starter fertiliser.

After a good, till and a layer of fertiliser, you can start dressing your grade grass seed. They will germinate better and be more resistant to common lawn diseases. Once seeded, ensure that your lawns have enough moisture so keep it maintained and watered to encourage seedling growth.

65. Disease Control

Identifying the actual problem of your lawn is one of the ways to improve it. Be mindful that poor turf quality is not only responsible and the cause for lawn diseases. Some other possible causes of thinning or dead grass include:

• Mower problems
• Improper fertilisations
• Chemical injury
• Localised dry spots
• Dog or insect injury
• Poor soil drainage
• Excessive thatch
• Competition from other plants

Measures that promote plant health, such as sanitation, irrigation management, selection of disease-resistant varieties are a few of the cultural practices that have been proven to control most lawn diseases.

66. Buy Fresh Gas For Your Mower

Did you know that when a gas has been left to sit over the winter can accumulate moisture, which eventually can harm small engines? This is especially true for fuel that contains ethanol.

Experts recommend using regular grades of gasoline. You can ask your local town or city for disposal sites that take old fuel if you need to dump your old gasoline from your mower.

67. Treating Broadleaf Weeds When Dry

Some of the common broadleaf weeds you need to keep an eye out for are dandelions, clover and creeping Charlie, as they can invade your garden lawn quickly and spread relentlessly.

You can use a granular weed-and-feed product or spray an organic liquid broadleaf weed killer to keep them in check. The ideal time for treating actively growing seed is on a dewy morning (applying granular products) or on a warm, sunny day with an organic herbicide.

Broadleaf killers are highly effective when conditions are optimal. Consider the perfect timing when applying them for best results.

68. Garden, Trees, and Shrubs

There’s much more to a yard than just grass or your lawn. Having said this, gardens, trees, and shrubs shouldn’t be neglected; they need attention too.

If you intend planting your own ornamental plants, you’ll want to make sure you’re selecting the best ones that are suited for your area. Consider how much sunlight and water the plant will require as well, that way, you’d know where to place them.

Make sure you’re up for the challenge if the plants you wish to grow demand handwork like pruning and maintenance. In addition to that, don’t forget that your trees need protection and care too; they require fertilisation and pest treatments just like your grass.

Even worse, not treating your trees, shrubs, and other plants, means you run the risk of problems spreading from them to the rest of your yard. No matter how healthy looking your lawn is, if its surrounding is not well maintained, then your effort in maintaining your lawn will be wasted.

69. Seeding

Did you move into a new house with a garden that hasn’t been maintained for so long? Perhaps the previous owners drive your grass into the ground? 

Or maybe you’re on a new lot and you’re thinking about adding grass to the property for the first time. No matter what the circumstances, if you’re starting from scratch, then planting new grass seed is your best and most affordable way to achieve a healthy-looking garden.

Seeing is an excellent way to grow lush and plentiful grass. If you’re considering this method, experts recommend that you research ideal seeding tips for your region. Find out the best time of the year to seed your grass type in your location, so you can give your lawn the best chance of successful growth.

70. Having the Right Equipment Other Than Mower Machines

Wearing proper clothing and safety gear while mowing your lawn is important. Safety goggles or glasses are a must, too. If you plan to work for endless hours with lawn tasks and vegetation, having a good pair of logger boots can be your greatest advantage.

Lawnmowers are loud pieces of machinery, so if you can’t stand the noise, ear protection is recommended. You don’t want to work with fertiliser or compost with bare hands, do you? Hence, gloves and other types of skin protection are essential. Wearing gardening gloves can also protect your skin from chemicals.

You better now skip out on safety gear if you want to continue with your lawn care for your garden throughout the year. Remember, your safety matters too!

71. Complete the Basic Tool to Grow a Healthy Lawn

Having the proper tools and equipment to maintain a lawn can also make your gruelling yard work from a labour-intensive gardening chore to an activity you may eventually actually enjoy.

For beginners, it’s better to start with the basics, then expand as more certain tools are needed. Here are the basic tools you need to add to your shopping cart to achieve growing a healthy looking lawn.

• Garden hose – this tool can water every inch of your yard, so make sure to find the best one to suit your needs.
• Sprinkler – watering is important when it comes to taking care of your lawn and your overall garden. If you’re looking for a companion that’s best for the job, sprinkler can be the right choice for you.
• Wheelbarrow or Garden cart – transport soil, fertiliser and other tools easily with a wheelbarrow or a garden cart. This is a perfect tool you can use to haul everything needed for your lawn and garden.
• Trowel – thanks to the pointed blade of this hand tool, it breaks up soil and digs small holes swiftly.
• Garden shears – this heavy-duty version of scissors makes the perfect tool to snip the heads off bothersome weeds or trim along garden beds.
• Lawn rake – a garden wouldn’t be complete without this tool. This tool is used for cleaning up fall leaves, removing grass clippings and tidying up the yard.

72. Find the Best Leaf Blowers for Clearing Leaves and Debris

Depending on the number of trees you have in your yard and where you live, fallen leaves could be a big problem every fall season.

This is where leaf blowers come into the picture, providing an excellent solution for tidying up debris-showered yards, including sidewalks, decks, and other parts of your outdoor space. What’s more, this innovative tool also comes in handy all year long—you can use it to sweep away grass clippings or even remove snow off your sidewalks.

You can now leave behind the sore arms and hips that using a rake creates and consider investing in a high-quality leaf blower to make your lawn maintenance more convenient than ever!

73. Know Your Lawn Care Calendar

Another thing you need to consider when it comes to keeping your lawn healthy and beautiful is to know your lawn care calendar. It’s crucial to follow through with the appropriate maintenance with proper scheduling.

According to Do My Own, following a schedule with each step laid out at the right time of the year will help to redress potential turf problems, treat and prevent weeds, pests, and more. If you want to keep your lawn looking its best, apart from working on it all year round, you might as well consider following this Lawn Care Calendar, courtesy of Garden Lines UK.

74. Take Advantage of the Grass Upkeep Maintenance Offer

If you don’t have the time to upkeep with your lawn maintenance anymore, grab the premium lawn maintenance services package if your local lawn service company is currently offering!

Most of these types of services package include lawn treatment, lawn edging, grass and small leaf blowing, weed eating and more. Of course, you can ask your lawn service provider if there’s a specific problem you want to resolve, e.g. you want your turf to look more serene and scenic.

75. Know The General Lawn Maintenance Rules

Whether you’re a beginner or a professional gardener, it’s important that you know about the general lawn maintenance rules. Let us break the essential rules down for you, courtesy of Lawn Maintenance Tips.

• Keep all trash off the lawn or grass zone, lasting through the year.
• When weeding, pull the weeds by hand consistently.
• Treat and over-seed your grass on a customary program.
• Adopt a logical strategy while applying compost.
• When cutting your grass, never more than ⅓ the tallness on the double.
• Don’t forget to water your lawn after your yard is introduced, especially when it’s super hot outside.
• During the cold, winter months, let your grass recover when it begins developing once more.

76. Don’t Overlook Your Lawn While on Vacation

Even if you’re taking several days or weeks off, it’s important to prepare your garden for time off so you can return to a healthy looking lawn after your vacation. As much as excited you get for some summer getaway, keep in mind that your lawn can’t shut down.

If you’ll be gone for a week, just simply mow your lawn at the regular height the day before you go. Lawn grows more slowly in the heat of summer, so make sure to water it deeply before you leave.

Now if you’ll be gone for two weeks, set your mower down a notch and mow your lawn the day before you go. When you get back home, raise your lawn mower 2 notches before you cut your lawn. But if you’ll be off for more than two weeks, you may want to consider hiring a mowing service or a neighbourhood kid to cut your grass while you’re away. 

Normally, the lawn may go dormant in hot, dry weather while you’re not home, but there’s nothing to worry about as long as you water it deeply once you get back.

77. Improve Your Curb Appeal

We all know how first impressions are important. Just like when you’re trying to leave a good impression on someone by wearing the right set of clothes, lawn and landscape elements can also complement and frame your house to create a unique look—and this is called the curb appeal.

If your garden needs a little improvement, there are numerous ways to enhance the overall of your garden without breaking the bank. Apart from lawn maintenance, take note of these other simple tasks and you’ll see a big difference in just a single afternoon.

• Improve your lawn. Give the nutrition your lawn needs to help it grow thick and green.
• Weed flower beds and replace spent plants. Consider adding flowers and other eye-catching plants to the empty space of your garden, especially in landscaping beds and along the foundation of your home.
• Add new mulch to garden beds and around trees. Find the right product, e.g. Color Enhanced Mulch from Scotts, that can add depth and texture to your plants.
• Tidy up the edges. To create neat edges along walkways, planting beds, and your driveway, get your string trimmer and start tidying up the edges.
• Spruce up planters. Wipe down the surfaces and replace any plants that are past their time.

78. Get Rid of the Yellow Grass in Your Lawn

If you see a strip of yellow grass in your lawn, that means you’ve probably applied your fertiliser wrongly. Grass that doesn’t receive enough fertiliser, or no fertiliser at all, can lead to some yellow spots in contrast to all of the lush, new, green grass growth next to it.

When you walk back and forth with your spreader, you’ll want to make sure to slightly overlap each pass to achieve full coverage. Also, consider tuning up your application technique to make sure all of your lawn is green and growing.

79. Plant a Clover Lawn

When it comes to lawns, lush green grass tends to get all the attention. So if you don’t have enough time for a touch up or you just simply want some a little lower maintenance, planting a clover lawn can do the magic.

Overseeding your lawn with clover will keep your lawn green and at the same time, this less work task will also help in tolerating short-term drought, requires less fertiliser and establishes quickly.

80. Spring Open Your Lawn

Spring is the season that hallmarks the beginning of something new. During this promising season, nothing’s better than turning your lawn and garden into the perfect yard oasis for summer party, relaxing, playing and admiring.

To spring open your lawn, harness your energy and enthusiasm with these three simple tips:

• Plan your projects. Evaluate what you need to help your lawn, garden, and patio look its best before purchasing, from products to tools. For instance, great spring lawn care sets the stage for healthy growth. What you can do is to feed them with the right lawn food, based on your region and type grass.
• Lawn care shopping. Before hitting the stores for all your lawn maintenance needs, create your to-buy list so you won’t forget anything.

Lawn Care Tips: CONCLUSION

There are tons of helpful guides and friendly tips you can find online for lawn care maintenance, but that does not mean you have to follow them all. Some hacks may work for your lawn, while others may not.

There is no harm in trying, though! Just do not overdo it. We hope these lawn care tips will guide you through creating the ideal routine for your lawn maintenance!