Lawn Tips Soil... Consider having your soil sampled and analyzed. Make sure your soil has the correct pH level and key nutrients for healthy growth. Grass Seed... Only use name-brand, improved variety mixtures or blends that grow well in your climate, meet your quality expectations and can accommodate your lawn activities (like heavy use by children at play). Mowing... Mow at the highest recommended height and mow often, never removing more than one-third of the leaf surface. Keep lawn mower blades sharp and grasscycle. Grasscycling, or leaving clippings on the lawn when you mow, allows nutrients to return to the soil. Make sure you don't leave clippings on the pavement where they can wash off into a water source and contribute to urban water pollution. Watering... Rule of thumb: water deeply but not too often. In general, watering should moisten the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. This requires an application of a half inch of water on coarse, sandy soil, and 1 inch on heavy- or fine-textured soil. Too much water can cause water quality and grass problems, increasing the chance of fungus, or runoff and leaching of nutrients. And it's a waste of our precious water resources. Fertilization and Pest Control... Apply the right amount and kind of fertilizer and pest control products at the right time, and only when needed. Follow all label instructions and precautions.

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