National Lawn Care Month celebrates the importance of healthy lawns to families, communities and the environment. A healthy lawn not only looks great, but it safeguards our neighborhoods by cleaning the air, cooling our communities, and protecting our water sources.

So, whether you are trying to get the most beautiful lawn on the block for pure enjoyment or for more altruistic reasons – or both – here are six tips to care for your lawn this spring.

1. Save water by giving your lawn a deep watering every few days, not daily. Frequent, light watering — as opposed to a deep soak that penetrates the soil — can cause water to evaporate and leads to shallow root growth.

2. Keep grass at a longer, finished cut height. Never remove more than one-third of a grass blade while mowing. That typically means a finished height of 2 to 3 inches. Mow in the morning, and not right after it rains.

3. Keeping some grass clippings on the lawn after mowing allows nitrogen and nutrients to be returned to the soil for a healthier lawn. It also protects against fungal disease. If the grass is long, you may have to double-cut it to properly mulch clippings. Never leave excess clippings on top of the lawn.

4. Healthy grass starts with the soil. A simple soil test can determine its pH balance, which can help indicate nutrients your lawn may need. Make sure your fertilizer provides the proper nutrients and is appropriate for the season and your lawn type.

5. One of the top landscape trends of 2017, cultivars, or cultivated grass varieties, are selectively bred to withstand the elements while still delivering an aesthetically beautiful and healthy lawn. Clean Scapes can help you determine if these grass varieties are best for installing or overseeding a lawn.

6. Don’t worry if your grass isn’t always green. A brown lawn does not mean it is dead. It could be dormant due to factors like extreme heat or drought- especially in Texas!

Like all living things, grass needs care and attention to ensure its good health. A healthy lawn does not mean one that’s simply been mowed and given water. Healthy landscapes need to be managed with a high degree of know-know, the support of science, and often, a dose of chemistry – so that families, communities, and our environment can derive the full benefits they provide.

For more lawn and landscape tips like these, please visit loveyourlandscape.org or call us at 512.448.1094.