Few things hurt the overall looks of a lawn than bald spots. These areas, where no grass grows, destroy the uniform appeal of the green. Fortunately, it's not too hard of a job to diagnose and correct this issue.

Bare spots are the result of a few lawn care problems. The first step towards fixing this issue is to identify what's going wrong correctly.

Break Out Your Rake

The first line of defense is to get a fine-tooth rake. Once you have one, you can begin the repetitive work of raking. That way, you'll pick up all the small pieces of debris in the bare spots. Grass can't grow when something else covers the area.

Thorough raking has many benefits for a healthy lawn. Removing excess grass, twigs, and assorted debris helps with root aeration. Not only that, but the sunshine can also penetrate the remaining grass easier. If you want the healthiest possible lawn, you'll become a big fan of raking it often.

Replant the Bare Area

Once the raking is over, it's time to replant the seed. All it takes to accomplish that swiftly is to put a half-inch of compost or topsoil in place, and then place seed.

Generally, people will match the seed with the current lawn to ensure uniform appeal. As long as the color matches, most people won't notice the difference between the original and the replacement parts.

Deal With Your Pets

Most of the time, pets cause bare spots in the lawn. Whether they're taking care of their business, or only playing around and digging up areas for fun, they're the main culprit for grass destruction.

If your lawn has lots of trouble spots and your pets are the culprit, you'll need to deal with the issue decisively. If you don't, they'll tear things up after your fix them.

Sod Is a Viable Alternative

Sod is a simple way to patch things and gives you an instant idea of how it looks. You can purchase a roll of grass sod and then add it to the areas that need the work.

The beautiful thing about sod is that it's easy to use. Drop it in and make arrangements to bring it to the correct height. Since the grass is already growing, the entire process can happen fast. For any homeowner who is in a hurry to get their lawn looking fabulous, this method is a winner.

Having a perfect lawn is accomplished when people have the right tools and education. Fortunately, learning about lawn care is straightforward, and the tools of the trade are affordable. If you have the patience and spare time to complete the work, there's no doubt you can have a lawn that's your neighbor's envy.

Even the worst lawn with tons of bare spots will improve rapidly with a regimen of regular effort. The sooner you start, the faster you'll be enjoying the rewards of a lush, green lawn.

Like other machinery, lawnmowers need routine maintenance in order to operate efficiently, safely and effectively. Most lawnmowers only need occasional maintenance with a tune-up in the springtime before you mow for the first time, a midsummer tune-up, and a winterization tune-up in the late autumn. If you are thinking of buying a new lawnmower and are concerned about how much maintenance a riding versus push mower requires, here are some guidelines to keep in mind.

Oil Changes

Push mowers have a smaller oil tank capacity. They can hold up to 18 ounces, depending on the make and model. They need an oil change after about 50 hours of mowing time. Their smaller engines require a different type of oil compared to the larger engine of a riding mower. Be sure to review your owner's manual in order to select the correct type of oil. Riding mowers have oil tanks with a capacity of up to 64 ounces. Their oil should be changed after 100 hours of mowing time. If you do not reach 50 hours of mowing time with your push mower or 100 hours with your riding mower, change the oil once per year.

Clean the Lawnmower

After about 20 hours of mowing time, it is a good idea to clean the mower. This cleaning frequency is for both push and riding mowers. An ideal time to do the cleaning is when the gas tank is empty. Make sure the mower is cold. Clean it before a mowing session in order to avoid burns to your skin. Wear gloves when cleaning the mower. Remove debris from around the blades. Use a garden hose to rinse of caked dirt and debris. Scrub dirty areas with a soft-bristled brush and biodegradable detergent. Rinse the soap, and allow the mower to dry before using it.

Sharpen the Blades

Keeping the blades sharp ensures a cleaner cut. A ragged cut invites disease to your lawn. You should sharpen the blades after about 20 hours of mowing time. If your grass is particularly thick or you ride your mower over brushy areas, you may need to sharpen the blades more frequently. To prevent rusting of the mower's blades, use a long-handled brush to shake off the debris before you store the mower at the end of a mowing session.

Air Filter Maintenance

The air filter removes particles before they reach the combustion engine of the lawnmower. If you have an electric push mower, you do not have to perform this type of maintenance. For gas push mowers and all riding mowers, you should clean or replace the air filter after 50 hours of mowing time. This maintenance is more complicated, and you should refer to your owner's manual on how to disconnect the spark plugs. Some air filters need to be treated with oil before they are replaced. The owner's manual will explain if this is necessary.