With the heat around the corner, the lawn will surely need some small maintenance, especially more water. Summer is the time of year that most people are doing outdoor activities, so one will want their lawn looking at its best. Even the smallest things can add up to make a drastic difference in a lawn's appearance.

1. Be Sure to Water
Countless people, believe it or not, have the notion that grass can grow with no to very little water. In fact, many just throw grass seed on dirt and expect to grow without any watering. This notion, however, is quite foolish, as every grass needs water to grow, especially in the summer heat. A good watering at least once a day should be plenty, but make sure to not water when the sun is strong, preferably early morning or late evening. Invest in a sprinkler system of some type, as watering grass takes a lot of time.

2. Exterminate Bugs
Nobody enjoys the site of a cockroach or some other critter lying around, so make sure to eliminate them. Aside from the creepy appearance, certain bugs can be detrimental to some plants, including grass. There are literally hundreds of different bug sprays out there, each with different uses. Find an appropriate spray for the situation and spray around the perimeter of not only the lawn, but the entire house and property as well. The most effective method would be to hire an exterminator, as they know all the tricks and strategies to exterminating many different bugs. The main thing with extermination is persistence: Do not be discouraged if the critters aren't disappearing right away.

3. Mow Grass High
There are numerous good reasons why mowing grass high is superior. When one cuts grass really short, they're limiting the amount of foliage, therefore photosynthesis. This causes the grass to grow painfully slow, and possibly die. Another thing that cutting grass short does is that it tends to pull some of the grass from the roots, which is a big no go. On top of that, having higher grass retains water content far better, reducing the amount of watering needed. As a general rule of thumb, two inches is the perfect happy medium for most grasses.

4. Forget the Lawn Mower Bag
The lawn mower bag is really nothing but a hassle, unless someone has ridiculously tall grass that must be disposed of. Nine out of 10 times though, one simply doesn't need a bag because all it does is starve the grass of very beneficial mulch. If cut somewhat frequently, this extra grass mulch will be hardly noticeable. After about a couple of weeks of frequent watering, any hardly-noticeable mulch that was left over will disappear completely to decomposition. Most of the time, grass will flourish with just this one fertilizer form alone, so eliminate the bag entirely.

5. Fertilize
It's virtually impossible to over fertilize with grass mulch alone, so adding extra fertilizer won't hurt, but help. Grass loves fertilizers that are rich in nitrogen, so keep an eye out for the nitrogen content when choosing a fertilizer. Some of the best fertilizers are the slow-release beads, which are thrown throughout the lawn, slowly releasing nutrients overtime. Another great thing about these beads is that they're very hard to over fertilizer with. Alternatively, one can use a fertilizer product which attaches to a water house, mixing the nutrients with water. Keep in mind that these types of fertilizers can easily over fertilize lawns, but show quick results.

By following these maintenance tips, you will be able to keep your lawn happy and healthy during the hot months!

Top 5 Tips for a Healthier Looking Lawn
Everyone dreams of owning a lush green lawn, but the work involved can seem daunting. The good news is that it doesn’t need to be that way. These five tips will help you have a yard you can be proud of.

Occasionally Soak Your Lawn
Grass needs water to grow, but too much can cause your grass to drown and encourage fungus to grow. Focus on giving it a few good soaks throughout the week rather than a daily sprinkling. This will ensure your lawn receives enough water to penetrate the soil and encourage healthy root growth. Generally speaking, one inch of water two or three times a week will be sufficient.

Don’t Cut Too Low
It can be tempting to mow your lawn very short, but your grass needs some of that extra height to protect its roots and to hide the sun from potential weeds. A good rule of thumb is to cut off about one third of the grass blade. Also make sure the blade on your mower is kept sharp. This will prevent tearing which can cause yellowing and disease.

Fertilize Regularly
For most lawns, a slow-release fertilizer will do well. It works by releasing the nutrients over time and can be applied less often throughout the year. You can choose to apply it with either a broadcast or a drop spreader, but it’s easier to spread the fertilizer evenly using a broadcast spreader. Your first application should take place around the middle of April when the weather starts getting warm. Continue fertilizing every six to eight weeks through fall.

Aerate the Soil
Grass roots need room to grow, and aerating helps with that. It works by pulling plugs of dirt throughout your lawn, and can easily be done by renting a gas-powered aerator. The small holes this creates allow water and nutrients to reach the roots more easily. Aerating is particularly important if your yard receives a lot of foot traffic since grass has difficulty growing in compacted dirt. Both spring and fall are good times to aerate.

Stop Weeds Immediately
With weeds, prevention is the best cure. The best thing you can do is keep your lawn green and healthy. The thick grass will crowd weeds out while blocking the sun from reaching any unwanted seeds. A coating of pre-emergent herbicide in the spring provides an additional layer of protection against crabgrass and other grassy invaders.

If weeds do show up, try to catch them early while they’re easy to remove. The most straightforward removal method is simply pulling them out. Make sure you get as much of the root as possible so they can’t grow back in. If you have a more wide-spread invasion, you might prefer to use herbicide. Try to identify which type of weed you’re dealing with so you can buy a specialized herbicide and keep your grass safe.