Adjust Your Expectations
Lawn chemicals do work, and it's difficult to get that flawless 'golf course look' without them. So if you plan to eliminate or drastically reduce chemical use, you may have to accept imperfections. Expect a dandelion or two and areas that will be a little less green at some times of the year. That said, you could still expect your lawn to look good?probably as good or better than most of your neighbors' lawns.
Mow Regularly
Mowing is a chore that's easy to put off?the grass will still be there in a couple days. But delay is bad for your grass. The taller it gets, the more you'll cut off when you finally mow. And the more you cut off, the more you'll 'shock' the grass. That weakens each individual plant and leads to other problems later on. It also opens up the turf canopy and allows weeds to bully their way in.
Rule of thumb: Never remove more than one-third of the leaf blade each time you mow. And keep your lawn mower blade sharp. A clean cut reduces the chance of common lawn diseases making their way into the leaf tissue. Your lawn will look much better too.
