A lush, green, healthy lawn adds to the beauty and enjoyment of your home. But the price of a healthy lawn is eternal vigilance. A lawn's main enemies are weeds, pests, disease, and weather. The major lawn maintenance tasks are watering, mowing, weeding, and fertilizing. Attention to these tasks will minimize damage from the lawn's enemies.

The best way to achieve proper watering is through the use of an automatic sprinkler system. It is best to water early in the morning or in the evening. During the heat of the day, water tends to evaporate before it can get to the roots. Mowing regularly and at the proper height keeps the grass breathing properly, and prevents it from going to seed. Fertilizing with the proper mix of nutrients for your type of grass and climate is critical. Fertilizer with weed control will minimize the need for tedious hand weeding. Make sure to use the proper fertilizer at the right times of the year--a different chemical makeup is required during the growing season and for winterization. Other annual tasks to promote healthy lawn growth are aerating (punching holes in the soil to allow water to penetrate) and thatching (removing dead grass with a stiff rake).

Observation is also important, so look for signs of disease. Lawn diseases such as fungus will show up as discoloration, dead spots, or other abnormalities. Consult with your local garden center for the proper treatment, depending on the type of lawn and the particular disease.

If you are not up to the work required to maintain a healthy lawn, by all means consider a professional lawn service. Get references from friends, neighbors, and co-workers to make sure you hire a reliable service, then sit back and enjoy your lush, green lawn.