Hoping to be the envy of the neighborhood this summer?  By taking a few simple steps, you can keep your yard healthy and your neighbors green. 

First, make sure the blades of your mower are sharp.  Using a dull blade on your grass shreds the ends and makes them turn a dreaded shade of brown. That’s because frayed ends lose more moisture than ones that are clean cut.  And remember, it’s likely your blades will need to be sharpened more than once a mowing season, especially if you have a large yard and/or are a frequent mower. 

Now that your blade is sharp, how often should you mow your grass?  The answer is “it depends.” Climate, soil and the type of grass you have all influence the answer.  That being said, the common rule of thumb is to cut off only 1/3 of your grass.  If you cut your grass too short, it can’t provide the shade necessary for your grass to grow and develop deep, healthy roots.  And a short lawn also opens the door to weeds.  Optimally, the experts say grass should be cut when it’s between 3” and 3 1/2” tall. 

Also, you do not want to fertilize your lawn during the hot summer. Fertilizer should be applied in the spring well before the dry weather and high heat hits.  And if your lawn is thirsty, be sure to water it in the morning.  Waiting until later in the day or evening results in wasting your water to evaporation.