7 Tips to Get a Healthy, Green Lawn

 A lush lawn comes down to three things: mowing correctly, watering wisely, and maintaining your soil. Follow the 7 steps below to build a stronger, greener lawn — naturally. 

Three factors determine the health of your lawn: weather, soil, and lawn care habits. While you can't control the weather or always change your soil overnight, your day-to-day lawn care routine makes the biggest difference. The 7 tips below focus on what you can do right now.

The 7 Tips

1. Mow Frequently

Mowing more often — not shorter — is the key. Grass height and root depth are directly linked: 3-inch grass has 3-inch roots. Deeper roots mean a stronger lawn that resists disease, drought, and weeds naturally.

• Mow regularly to keep grass at a consistent height
• Taller, well-managed grass is your best natural weed control

2. Water Appropriately

Most lawns need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, especially in dry summer months. How you water matters more than how often.

• Water deeply but infrequently — once a week is fine
• Always water in the morning to reduce disease risk
• Pro tip: Place an empty tuna can on your lawn while watering to measure how much water you've applied

3. Mulch Your Clippings

Stop bagging your grass clippings. Leaving them on the lawn returns valuable nitrogen to the soil and feeds the microorganisms that keep your lawn healthy.

• Mulched clippings naturally fertilize your lawn
• Saves you time — no bagging, no hauling

4. Follow the One-Third Rule

Never cut more than one-third of the grass blade in a single mow. Removing too much at once shocks the plant, weakens it, and makes it more vulnerable to disease.

• If grass has gotten long, mow it down gradually over multiple sessions rather than all at once

5. Keep Your Mower Blade Sharp

A dull blade tears rather than cuts, leaving jagged edges that brown quickly and invite disease. A clean cut means a healthier plant.

• Sharpen your mower blade at least once per season
• Check the blade mid-season if you have a large lawn or mow frequently

6. Aerate Your Lawn

Core aeration loosens compacted soil, making it easier for roots to grow deeper. It also brings beneficial microorganisms to the surface, which break down thatch and improve soil health over time.

• Aerate once a year, ideally in the fall for cool-season grasses or spring for warm-season grasses

7. Vary Your Mowing Pattern

Mowing the same path every time causes the mower wheels to repeatedly compress the same strips of grass, leading to bald spots and weakened turf.

• Alternate direction each time you mow — try horizontal one week, diagonal the next