By Town Crier Staff Report

Whether your yard was just recently sodded, or existed for years before you moved in, low-maintenance routines can reduce the efforts required to keep a lawn healthy and increase the lawn’s overall quality.

Here are some guidelines:

Water as early in the morning as possible, when temperatures and winds are at their lowest.

Apply water only when the soil is dry and in sufficient quantities for a deep soaking.

Mow frequently enough so that only the top third of the grass blade is removed, and leave the clippings on the lawn.

Adjust watering to match the lawn’s seasonal needs.

Fertilize cool-season grasses in early spring and late fall, applying a weed-and-feed fertilizer in the fall. Fertilize warm-season grasses lightly throughout the summer months.

Apply pesticides only where they are needed. Weeds can be hand-pulled or spot sprayed. Whole-lawn spraying is not necessary.

In the autumn, mulch fallen leaves directly onto the lawn as you mow, unless they are more than an inch thick.

In the spring, drop the mowing height to the lowest setting above scalping and gradually raise the mower to the grass’s maximum mowing height by mid-summer.

During the peak of summer, don’t hesitate to allow the grass to be slightly tan or brown, as it will naturally go dormant during this period.

Approximately every other year, or every third year, core-aerate the lawn to reduce compaction and improve the soil’s ability to absorb water and nutrients.

These recommendations come from the Turf Resource Center, a not-for-profit organization headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rolling Meadows.