Lawn Care

Introduction
Generally lawn care requires the most work in fall, spring and summer. Fall is actually the beginning of the lawn maintenance process. The majority of the labor associated with building and maintaining a healthy lawn starts in late September, early October. Using a variety of lawn care tools and products, you can have a lush green lawn for you and your family to enjoy. 

Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging 


Things You'll Need
De-thatching tool
Lawn mower or tractor with bagger
Aerator
Grass seed
Spreader
Fertilizer
Rake
Water 

Fall
Step One 
De-thatch to remove dead grass and debris from your lawn. This provides better access to water and sunlight after the heat of summer. Cut your grass at or near the lowest setting before de-thatching. Be careful not to "scalp" the lawn, exposing soil, when you de-thatch. 

Step Two
Aerate your lawn. Aerating, or poking holes in your lawn, helps loosen the soil, and allows water to reach the roots more quickly. 

Step Three
Over-seed your lawn. Over-seeding is the process of spreading new grass seed over desired areas of the lawn with a spreader. Over-seed when lawns are uneven because of grass type or thickness. 

Step Four
Fertilize your lawn with a late fall fertilizer to care for it. Use a starter fertilizer or another fertilizer that is safe for seed if you are over-seeding. 

Tips & Warnings

There are three de-thatching techniques: 1) by hand, using a de-thatching rake, 2) using a lawnmower de-thatching blade (remove cutting blade, replace with de-thatching blade) and 3) using a de-thatching machine (typically a rental). See your local hardware or home improvement stores for the appropriate purchase or rental. All of these methods will require removing the loosened thatch from the lawn by vacuuming the thatch with your bagging lawn mower then raking the remainder. 

De-thatch every year if you mulch (don't bag) your grass. De-thatch every other year if you bag your grass. If you mulch, bag your grass for 2 to 3 weeks before de-thatching to minimize the volume of thatch.
There are spike aerators and plug aerators. Plug Aerators are more effective because they remove small "plugs" of dirt, promoting water absorption.
If over-seeding, aerating also helps the seed find soil. 

Spring
Step One
Clean up winter debris, leaves and twigs from the lawn. 

Step Two
Fertilize with the appropriate first application fertilizer between the first blooms of the forsythia and before the first blooms of the lilac. 

Step Three
Mow the grass regularly, as much as twice a week, especially if you mulch. 

Tips & Warnings
If you over-seeded in the fall, consider a safe for seed fertilizer or a starter fertilizer for you first application. Since the typical first step fertilizer is designed to prevent crabgrass from germination, it also may prevent seed laid in the fall that has not yet germinated, to germinate as well.
If you fertilize after the lilacs bloom, then crabgrass has likely taken root. 

Summer
Step One
Cut the grass a bit higher in summer to retain moisture. 

Step Two
Spread a fertilizer that has high potassium content in the summer application in order to help the grass retain water. Compare products to determine which has the highest potassium content. 

Step Three
Apply fertilizer about every 6 weeks after the first application in the spring. 

Step Four
Water and more water. Of course make sure the lawn gets adequate moisture throughout this process in fall, spring and summer. About 20 minutes of watering every other day, depending on rainfall, should be adequate. Experts recommend about 1 inch of water per week. 

Step Five
Take a break--it's winter! 

Tips & Warnings
Visit the Scott's website (listed in the Resources section below) to get additional information about caring for your lawn. On this site you can find specific information about what kind of fertilizer to apply at different times of the year and other valuable tips.
Consider using sprinkler timers to avoid the drudgery of moving sprinklers from location to location. These timers can be found at most home improvement centers.