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Maximize the look of a low maintenance

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lawn with a few simple actions.

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Spending hours managing your lawn

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isn't everyone's favorite pastime.

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A low maintenance lawn could be just right for you.

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Here are the tips, tools, and materials you will need.

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The most important steps for success

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are mowing, overseeding, and weeding.

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You'll learn the basics and get a few lawn maintenance

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tips that'll save you time and money.

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Mowing frequency is important.

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Spring and fall are prime mowing times.

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Mulch mow your lawn by making multiple passes.

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The goal of mulch mowing is to chop up grass

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into smaller and smaller pieces that'll break down quickly.

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As these clippings become smaller,

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they'll break down and nourish the roots

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becoming free fertilizer.

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Expert tip.

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When mowing in summer, increase the height of mower blades

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to encourage root growth.

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Overseeding.

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Add grass seeds to your entire lawn in spring

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or fall using a seed spreader, and fill large bare spots

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by hand with a lawn patch product.

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In spring, dethatching or raking to remove dead grass and weeds

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before overseeding will give you the best results.

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The goal of dethatching is to remove dead grasses

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and stems from the lawn area.

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After overseeding, cover the entire area

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with a 1/4 inch deep compost.

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This keeps seeds where you want them.

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And make sure you keep the seeds moist for a week

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either through the rain or light frequent watering.

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A few more helpful tips.

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The best time for fall overseeding

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is around Labor Day weekend, because the soil

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is warm and encourages seed germination.

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Be sure to water and avoid walking

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on the newly reseeded area until the grass establishes.

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What if you have a bunch of weeds in your lawn?

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Weeding an overseeding work well together.

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Pull weeds in early spring and then overseed.

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The key idea with weeds is making

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sure they don't go to seed.

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Mow the seed stocks or weeds before they flower

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to keep them from spreading.

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Avoid weed and feed products that combine

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weed killer and fertilizer.

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Weed and feed products often include more ingredients

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than your lawn needs at any one point in time.

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The best time to apply fertilizer

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is not always the best time to apply herbicide.

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Another useful tip.

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Hand pull weeds in lawns as needed.

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Low maintenance lawns are often not irrigated.

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You can let your lawn go dormant,

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brown, during the summer by not watering

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and save time and money.

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Your lawn will bounce back when the fall rains come.

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You can help it recover by overseeding around Labor Day.

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And if you only do two things for your low maintenance lawn,

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just remember, keep the weeds from going

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to seed by mowing and overseed in the spring or fall.

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