What you need to know to keep your lawn looking green and healthy

There's nothing like a lush expanse of beautiful green lawn around your home, but how can you make sure it stays that way? Here are a few tips on how you can give your lawn the care it needs to stay gorgeous and green, with minimal fuss.

• Cutting lawns isn't a one-size-fits-all option. In fact, different grasses can actually thrive at different heights, so make sure you don't cut them down too short.
• A good rule of thumb is to only trim one third of the grass blade height.

• If the weather is cold, or your area is experiencing a drought, it's probably not necessary to mow your lawn at all.
• If you've had lots of rain though, you'll probably want to mow weekly— that way the mower won't struggle with grass that's too high.
• Make sure you also change the direction of the mower each time you mow. Mowing causes grass to lie over slightly and develop mowing patterns, so changing directions every time you mow will limit this.

• Raking can be a pain, but it's a job that's essential for lawn care.
• Raking will remove stray leaves from the lawn and will also control thatch (a yucky build-up stems, shoots, and roots).
• There's also a disease called "snow mold," where matted patches of grass blades stick together, preventing new grass from growing properly. A quick rake will help snow mold.

• There are a variety of fertilizers that you can use on your lawn, ranging from organic varieties (like using compost), to tougher chemical fertilizers.
• Try a light feed in spring, and a heavier feed in late fall. If you put down too much fertilizer in spring, it can lead to problems like weed.

• Weeds are the bane of any lawn owner's existence. They look bad, reduce the quality of your lawn, and can spread like wildfire.
• To keep weeds under control, dig out any young weeds as soon as you notice them.
• You can also prevent weeds from forming in the first place by keeping your lawn in good condition; removing seed heads from any weeds you see; and being careful when you bring soil or other equipment out onto the lawn, to prevent cross-contamination.
• If you're really struggling with some weeds, a light layer of mulch will prevent weed germination in the soil, or you can also try a herbicide to kill weeds.