Tom's Tips for Making Your Yard the Jewel of the Neighborhood

Yardwork is one of the household jobs I truly don't mind. A well-manicured yard takes a lot of work, but it's beautiful to behold.

The internet contains many websites with advice for taking care of your lawn. I visited http://landscaping.about.com and found some great ideas. I've summarized them and added a few of my own:

1. Deep rake to remove thatch (I have a special rake for this. It’s a workout, but it gets rid of dead undergrowth to help your lawn breathe. You’ll need to remove the piles of thatch with a regular rake).

2. Aerate compacted areas. The presence of moss is a sure sign you need to do this (I rented an aerator a couple years ago. A half-day cost about $50. These machines are heavy, so have a friend lined up to help you unload/load it. It can also be a real workout wrestling with an aerator, so expect to be tired when you’re finished. It’ll take a couple of weeks for the plugs of dirt to blend back into your yard). Also take special note of step # 7.

3. Moss also signals acidity. Grass likes neutral pH. Apply lime as needed. If your yard looks okay, don’t apply lime. Too much is as bad as too little. A soil test can help you determine exactly what needs to be done. A call to your local extention service will get the ball rolling.

4. Overseed severe bare spots in your lawn and apply slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (note: overseeding should ideally be done in the fall, not spring).

5. Fertilize the entire lawn lightly in the spring, more heavily in the fall. Remember, if you mulch your grass clippings into the yard, you’re giving it organic fertilizer. Mulching also means no grass clippings to dispose of, which means less work and less mess.

6. Apply a preemergent herbicide to control crabgrass (if you plan to aerate your yard, do it –before- applying a preemergent)

7. Use landscape fabric and garden mulch to reduce weed growth. By using these methods, even if weeds emerge, they’ll be easier to pull up.

8. Tune up your lawnmower, -OR- (see # 9)

9. Buy a new mower if the old one is hopeless (I’ve decided my next push mower will be as basic as possible. The bells and whistles on the newer mowers I’ve tried seem to be the first things that break, and they drive up the cost of the machine, plus they make the mower heavier).

10. Decide your lawn mowing strategy. Yes, there is a strategy, a right way to mow a yard. The experts say factors such as the time of day you mow, mowing height, even the –direction- you mow, are important to the health of your lawn.

11. Wear appropriate safety equipment: protective glasses, hearing protection and gloves are good ideas. To protect your skin from sun damage, wear sunscreen and a hat.

12. Listen to your wife! Guys just want to dive into the job and get it done. Women know whether it’s looking good or not, so listen to them. This is the voice of experience talking to you!