The Yard Doctor’s 10-Step Lawn Care Plan

To give your lawn its best shot at thriving, keep this script on hand. Simply follow the Yard Doctor’s 10-Step Lawn Care Plan to ward off weeds, disease and bare spots, and maintain thick, healthy, green grass all season.

1. Never cut more than one-third of the grass blade during any one mowing. By following this rule, the remaining two-thirds of the plant will develop deep roots and spread out, eventually creating a dense, healthy turf. Using this technique, of course, means shorter intervals between mowings in the spring and other high growth times, but a healthy lawn is the best medicine for preventing weeds and disease.
2. Mow right. And left. And on an angle. Try not to follow the same path each time you mow. Think of a clock. Start at the 12 o'clock position and mow to the 6 o'clock position. The next time you mow, begin at the 9 o'clock position and mow to the to 3 o'clock position. The third time, mow from 1 o'clock to 7 o'clock, etc. Changing the mowing pattern every time you mow will keep the turf and soil from compacting and prevent wheel patterns in your lawn.
3. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. You'll give your lawn valuable nutrients by leaving a light layer of clippings behind.  Or use a mulching blade on your mower which chops the clippings even finer. You can do the same thing with tree leaves in the fall. And, don't worry: Grass clippings don't promote thatch.
4. Control weeds while they're young. The best time to treat troublesome weeds is early in their life cycle. That means applying a pre-emergence herbicide to kill crabgrass in early spring before you even see it sprout, and dandelions in fall when they are storing energy for the following year.
5. Look for a high-quality engine when buying a lawn mower. There's nothing more annoying when you're ready to cut your lawn than a mower that doesn't start. Briggs & Stratton engines deliver power and performance and are easy to start.
6. Give your mower a tune up. Tune up your lawn mower every year.  It reduces your mower’s emissions and helps it start and run better. You can use a convenient Tune-up Kit which has everything you need:  the right amount of oil, an air filter, spark plug and fuel stabilizer. Have your mower’s blade sharpened once a year, too.
7. Water early in the day.
 Watering between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. helps ensure that the sun won't rob moisture from your lawn. It also gives your lawn the best chance to dry in the morning. Wet grass at night can lead to disease. Most lawns need about one to two inches of water a week to stay healthy.
8. Buy high-quality grass seed. You get what you pay for. The cheaper the seed, the more likely there are weed seeds in the bag that will be introduced to your lawn. Always look for the label with the seed-to-weed ratio (the percentage of the bag that is grass seed vs. weed seed). It should contain less than 0.1 percent of weed seeds. If you can't find a seed label on the product, don't buy it.
9. Avoid a fertilizer overdose. Even good medicine causes harm when used improperly, so carefully follow directions on the fertilizer bag.  Don’t pour on more thinking it will help your lawn.  You’ll likely do damage. Always follow  the recommended rates for fertilizer as well as seed, herbicide, insecticide, etc. One pound of water-soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is the maximum amount established lawns should receive at one time.
10. Protect the environment while saving your lawn.
 Lawn mower emissions contribute less than two percent of the total emissions output per year, but homeowners can take several steps to further reduce emissions. Change the engine oil and air filter after every 25 hours of operation. Use a non-spill gas container like Briggs & Stratton's Smart Fill Fuel Can, and avoid tipping the mower during maintenance when the fuel tank is full.