Always Mow High
Never mow your lawn too short. This can damage your grass, but can also allow weeds to set in. You want the grass to be tall enough where it covers any weed seeds from sprouting and reaching the sun. You want to mow frequently, but never mow off more than one third of the grass blade, if in doubt it is better to err on the safe side and mow higher than you think you need. It is generally recommended to mow the lawn every week and not cut off more than half an inch on each mowing. On the plus side you will have a lighter bag of grass to carry after you are done.
Keep Your Mower Blade Sharp
It is very important to keep the blade sharp. If you mow the lawn with a dull blade it will rip the blades of grass instead of cutting them, resulting in tears which will be an unsightly yellow color, and also may allow disease to set in, further damaging the grass. As a rule of thumb it is best to sharpen the blade once every ten hours of use. Also check the grass blades after each mowing. If they are frayed and shredded and look ripped instead of cut, it is time to sharpen your mower blade.
Prevent Weeds from Sprouting
Easy way to control weeds is to ensure they do not reach germination. For this you can use a pre-emergent herbicide. This product is great for the much feared crabgrass, as well as other kind of weeds. The product will prevent the weeds from sprouting on the lawn. This should be done very early in the spring, to preempt any weed germination from occurring. When using this product, as well as other lawn products it is important to follow proper handling instructions and wear appropriate clothing and protective equipment.
Remove All Broadleaf Weeds After They Sprouted
Broad leafs are the immediately obvious weeds when you look at your lawn: dandelions, clovers and other weeds. It is easy to pull these up by hand as soon as they pop up, when their root systems are not developed yet, but if needed you can use granular weed control products as well. It is a good idea to apply these products in the morning with dew present, as the granules need moisture to stick to the weed leaves.
Make Sure to Water in the Morning
The best time to water the lawn is in the morning. The sun will dry the grass during the early afternoon and the water will not stagnate. Excessive moisture on the blades can lead to some diseases developing, which is an unfortunate side-effect of night time watering. Also, make sure to water thoroughly. It is always best to water for a prolonged time, rather than in less quantity but more frequently. You need to soak the soil, so the water reaches the roots of the grass. Just watering the lawn is not the right way.
Train Your Dog to Go Just in One Area
If your dog does his business throughout the yard, after a while the grass will start showing signs of yellowing. This is a result of nitrogen in the dog urine. Train your dog to either only go when you take him for a walk, or use just one part of the lawn, such as a gravel covered area or mulch. Use usual dog training techniques when doing this, the same way you house-trained him.
