Cheryl V. Jackson

Special to USA TODAY

The benefits of lush lawns are bountiful—going well beyond boosting a home’s aesthetics and resell value.

Grass is good for the environment. It is a natural coolant, protects water, cleans the air and minimizes noise, according to the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

And research indicates even passive exposure to grass can reduce stress and lower blood pressure.

That should have us all wanting gorgeous greenery.

But growing a great lawn isn’t easy, says William Moss, a Chicago-based horticultural educator, author, garden coach and media personality who runs Get Out & Grow with William Moss. Get Out & Grow educates and encourages interaction with nature, providing services such as assisting the implementation of garden-based home-school lessons, coaching homeowners to grow their ideal landscapes and hosting garden tours.

Known as the garden boss—Moss has gardened in 40 states, frequently working with local botanical gardens and wildflower societies. In his work, Moss comes across common turf mistakes and has and recommendations to correct them.

USING THE WRONG WATERING TECHNIQUE

People tend to water frequently for short periods. They shouldn’t.

Rather than watering shallowly daily for 15 minutes, it’s best to water for a long time every two to three days, Moss says. The average lawn needs an hour-long watering session.

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“Giving them that long drink every two to three days, when you really soak and let it get down deep in that six-inch layer, will have the roots grow down there and the whole turf will be much more drought-tolerant,” says Moss, who teaches at the Chicago Botanic Garden living museum and conservation science center.

Also, try to water in the morning to give water a better chance to get to the roots instead of evaporating in the midday sun.

SETTING THE LAWNMOWER HEIGHT TOO LOW

When mowing your grass, it’s important to take note of the height, especially in summer.

You want a thick, tall turf to shade out any weeds; so Moss advises raising the mower to three inches.

“The thicker your grass up top, the thicker roots down below.,” he says. “In the summertime—in particular when you need that drought tolerance and you need things to shade out the weeds so you don't get too many of them in the turf—you want to be sure to raise the mower to three inches.”

In the fall, you can lower it back down to 2 to 2.5 inches.

BEING SLOW TO REPAIR BARE/THIN PATCHES

Whether they come from vehicle tire ruts, grilling accidents, or animal waste, bare spots and thin patches should be tended to as soon as possible.

“You don't want to leave any bare or damaged spots because that invites weeds and other things to get into the turf. And even if that turf does grow over after the weeds are there, you'll still have the weed problem. It'll still be producing seeds and running loose underground. You just don't want to deal with it,” he says. “You want to get in there and fix those to get the turf growing strong again.”

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Thin patches in grass should be overseeded and fertilized. You’ll have the best results in the spring and fall when grass is actively growing. Overseeding isn't as effective in high temperatures.

People choosing to fertilize in the summer should know that it comes with extra work, as they’ll have to increase watering.

“If you know you aren't going to be out there giving it extra water, then don't fertilize in the summer because you're just making more work for yourself,” he says. “Make a decision: Do you want more work and greener grass or less work and more drinking wine?”

“I choose the latter.”

For more on what to tips in lawn care, check out the video here.

Follow Cheryl V. Jackson on Twitter @cherylvjackson