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Here's how we're going to maximize

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the look of your medium-maintenance lawn.

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If you want a nice lawn but don't

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want to commit too many hours to lawn care,

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a medium-maintenance lawn could be just your style.

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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, weeding, fertilizing,

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and watering.

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You'll learn the basics, and we'll throw in a few lawn

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maintenance tips that'll save you time and money.

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Mowing technique is important.

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Spring and fall are prime mowing times.

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Mulch mow your lawn all season 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 break down quickly.

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As these clippings become smaller,

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they will break down and nourish the roots

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becoming free fertilizer.

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Expert tips, set the blade at about 2 or more inches.

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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 seed to your entire lawn in spring

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or fall using the seed spreader and fill in large bare spots

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by hand or using a lawn patch product.

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In spring, dethatching before overseeding

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will give you the best result. The goal of dethatching

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is to remove dead grasses and stems from the lawn area.

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After overseeding, cover the entire area

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with 1/4 inch deep compost.

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It keeps the seeds where you want them, and make sure

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you keep the seeds moist for a week

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either through the rain or light frequent watering.

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Tips, 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 and 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 stalks before they flower

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to keep them from spreading, or you can remove weeds

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with a tool or spot spray.

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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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Also, spreading herbicide over the entire lawn

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is often not necessary.

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A few more tips, hand pull weeds in lawns as needed.

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Fertilize your lawn separately from weeding.

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If you choose to use a weed killer,

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use the spot spraying method to kill individual weeds.

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Make sure to follow the label instructions to find out how

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long to wait before reseeding.

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By separating these two products,

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you can apply them at the right time and in the right quantity.

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With lawn chemicals, aim to use only

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what you need to protect water quality.

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Fertilizing.

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Remember to feed your lawn.

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To finish off the lawn maintenance cycle,

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apply a slow-release fertilizer in late fall.

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Sweep up any granules that fall on the pavement.

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A late season fertilizer application

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is the most effective because it jump-starts your grass

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for next season.

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A few more useful tips.

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An additional application of fertilizer in spring

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can be added around Memorial Day to increase your lawn's health.

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Mulch mowing adds about the equivalent of one fertilizer

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application through the course of a year.

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And now to a key ingredient, H2O.

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For medium-care lawns, determine if you

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will water through the summer.

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You can let your lawn go brown during the dry months,

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and it will recover when the rain returns.

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You can help it recover by overseeding and fertilizing

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around Labor Day.

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Another tip, if you choose to water,

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keep in mind that watering during the morning or evening

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helps conserve water.

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But remember if you only do three maintenance activities

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for a medium-maintenance lawn.

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Overseed one or two times per year.

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Fertilize in the fall.

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Keep weeds from setting seed.

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English (United States)

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