Get a Great Looking Lawn

1. Find out what nutrients your lawn needs.  The easiest way to find out is to take soil samples from 2 to 3 sections of your lawn.  The samples can be taken to a local university where they can analyze it and let you know the results.
   
2. Aerate your lawn.  Aerating is very important because the roots require oxygen to grow, to absorb nutrients, and to absorb water.  An easy way to do this is to buy liquid aeration products that can be attached to your hose.
   
3. Mow and rake your lawn regularly.  How often you mow your lawn depends on the type of grass you have, and you should never more than one third of your leaf blade.  Raking removes the leaves and dead grass that can block sunlight and eventually damage your grass.
   
4. Most grasses require a one-inch watering and deep watering once a week.  If your lawn has been newly seeded, then it should be watered every day.
   
5. To keep you law looking great, you must always be looking for insects, weeds, and colored patches in your grass that can be damaging to your lawn.  If you notice insect damage, use an all-purpose lawn insecticide.  Weeds should be pulled immediately to prevent them from spreading.
   
6. Periodically, your grass will require a feeding.  You should choose a fertilizer that is slow reacting, so your lawn will absorb nutrients over time and not all at once.  Fertilizer will help your lawn to grow and continue to form roots.  It also reduces the stress caused by water and heat.
   
7. If your lawn has bare spots or patches from pets or heavy traffic, you  may  need to apply some grass seed to fill in the patches.  Sprinkle some grass seeds in the area that need a little extra help.