"Samantha" wrote in message
oups.com...
To get the best performance, I would suggest not using commercial
fertilizers, but an organic program with only emergency resort to any
chemicals such as fertilizers or herbicides. It sounds like you're
trying to maintain a fairly large lawn with golf-course quality
grass-only appearance, which is not very feasible - or good for the
soil underneath. Allowing some clover to intergrow, weeding pernicious
weeds by hand, and making sure to 1) let the grass grow at least four
inches, while never cutting it less than three, and 2) making sure your
mower's blade is always super-sharp are the two best ways to maintain
healthy turf.

Using this system, plus an occasional cheat of a 1/4" of compost (from
my community's recycling program, not dirt-cheap but cheaper than
fertilizer!), I was the absolute despair of my next-door neighbor, who
was retired and spent most of his time working on his lawn.... mine was
always greener, despite the fact I spent much less time fussing with it.


The best advice here is #1, never cutting the grass less than three inches.
Now, most folks look down at the grass after they've cut it, and three
inches are not going to look good. But: if you get in your car and drive
around the block, you will see the best looking yard on the block as you
drive back home. In other words, it's the distant look that will be
gorgeous with a three inch cut. However, all too often amateurs want to
look down and see the grass shaved to the ground and give in. The roots are
now in the sun and the slightest drought turns it brown instead of green.
So, resist the temptation and follow the thread above.

John