Black Friday Black Friday
Sign Up
Shop by Room
Fill Your Home with Laughter. Shop here for all your holiday needs. Follow Us.
Fill Your Home with Laughter. Build a Super Elf-tacular Christmas Tree! Follow Us.
HOW-TO LIBRARY Thousands of Helpful How-Tos. Countless Ideas.
 
House with green lawn.
The lawn is a great American institution.

Lawn Care Basics
 
 

Few things in a home landscape generate as much pride as the lawn. For some, few things in the home landscape generate as much fear and loathing. Having a plush, green yard can be a challenge, but true lawn aficionados relish the task. Lowe's is happy to provide this information as a service to you.

Big or small, high maintenance or low, elaborate or simple, the lawn is an American institution. Preparation and maintenance are keys to success. Minimize your turfgrass anxiety by taking note of these lawn care basics..
Espanol
E-mail
Printable Version
Add to my Projects
 
Article Content
Preparation
Maintenance
Preparation
  • Before undertaking any lawn chores, clean the lawn. Rake up leaves and debris.


  • Level high or low spots in the lawn by doing the following:

    Good idea: Topsoil provides a great medium for weeds to germinate. Keep an eye out for them and pull them immediately.
    • Fill holes with topsoil and add grass seed.


    • Remove bumps by cutting an X in the raised area with a garden spade. Peel the sod back, remove as much soil as necessary from underneath and lay the sod back in place.


  • Do a soil test. Follow the directions carefully and add the amendments recommended by the test results.


  • Check for soil compaction and aerate if necessary. Soil that's too compacted prevents water and oxygen from reaching plant roots. Compacted soil also causes runoff and erosion.


  • Check for excessive thatch and remove it if it is too thick. A thatch layer that's too thick (over 1/2") promotes a shallow root system that can't survive dry weather.


  • Whether you are repairing a bare spot, seeding a new lawn or reseeding an existing one, grow the right kind of grass for your growing zone. Follow the fertilizing and irrigation schedule that applies to your turfgrass variety.
Back to Top
Maintenance
  • When you water, water deeply in the early morning. Deep watering reaches the roots, where healthy grass comes from.


  • Mow grass to the proper height with a mower with a sharp blade. Never cut off more than one third of the blade when mowing. Grass needs the surface area of the blade to sustain itself. Removal of too much of the blade creates a good environment for disease.


  • Prune trees and shrubs properly to allow sun and air circulation. More sunshine and air promotes growth and discourages disease.


  • Inspect your lawn regularly for disease, insects and weeds. Learn to recognize and treat problems quickly and appropriately.


  • Take care of your lawn care equipment, both before and after the growing season.


  • Choose and apply fertilizer and pesticides wisely. Knowing the correct product to apply at the proper time is the sskey to your perfect lawn.
Back to Top
Related Articles
Fertilizing Your Lawn
Grass Chart
Repairing Bare Spots
Interactive Design Tools
Design Tools
How-To Library
Interactive Design Tools
Project Calculators
Installation Services
Lowe's Installation Guaranteed
If you are not satisfied with the service we provide, we will make it right. Guaranteed.
Learn More
Tell Us Your Thoughts
Click the button below to sign up for valuable offers and free, COOL informative newsletters for all do-it-yourselfers.
Sign Up for Offers

Was this information helpful? Please let us know your do-it-yourself experiences. We'd love to hear from you!

These How-To's are provided as a service from Lowe's, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse of How-To information for the World Wide Web. The information in Lowe's "How-To" clinics is intended to simplify jobs around the house. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes and local regulations change; therefore, Lowe's assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures. Please read our terms of use.