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Lawn maintenance is actually not that difficult to understand or to do. There are four basic principles of lawn maintenance and those are feeding, mowing, watering, and aerating.

Feeding the lawn, or using lawn fertilizer, is the first principle of lawn maintenance and will help to keep your lawn in top shape. You need to cater to your lawn's specific needs and provide the right kind of fertilizer in the right amount at the right time. There are a variety of lawn fertilizers on the market. Some are quick release that are inexpensive and work fast, but do not last long. There are also slow release fertilizers that are more expensive and last longer. The time of year you choose to fertilize will also affect your choice of what to use.

Lawn maintenance fertilizers are either synthetic or organic in origin. The organic fertilizers are made from manure, fish emulsion, or other natural ingredients. They provide plenty of nitrogen, which is the all-important nutrient for green grass. Organic fertilizer will not burn your grass and they provide long lasting nutrients.

The second principle of lawn maintenance is mowing. There are push mowers, electric mowers, gas powered, and riding lawn mowers. For large lawns you should get a riding lawn mower. They can cut a lot of grass in one swipe and have the highest horsepower. They can be tight to maneuver, they are not safe on a steep incline and are expensive. For small lawns I recommend reel mowers or electric mowers. There is not need to get a big gas mower for a small lawn.

Watering the lawn in the third principle of lawn maintenance. Watering the lawn depends on timing and quantity. If you water too little the lawn will dehydrate, too much and it will drown. Lawns in general love a deep steady soak once a week. That could be from a rain shower or a sprinkler. Lawns need 1 inch of water a week to keep them looking lush and to help them withstand drought and heavy rains.

The type of soil you have also determines when to water the lawn. Clay soil holds more water than loamy or sandy, so they dry out slowly. Sandy soil doesn't hold water and dries out very fast. Lawns on sandy soil will have to water twice as much as those on clay. Keep this in mind when planning your lawn maintenance.

The fourth principle of lawn maintenance is aerating the lawn. The soil needs room to be able to absorb the nutrients and water. You should aerate your lawn twice a year. You can rent an aerating machine or put on some aerating sandals or golf shoes and walk the lawn yourself.