How to keep your lawn green

Every year it's the same story: The lawn starts out looking great. Then the bugs and fungus hit, and by the Fourth of July, that once-lush-and-lovely lawn looks like a war zone. But it doesn't have to be that way. This season, arm yourself with information to win the battle.

Mowing height

Follow the one-third rule: Never remove more than a third of the total grass-blade height with any one mowing. When the grass is growing fast, you might need to cut it two or three times a week. Be sure to mow with a sharp blade. Sharpen it at least once a year.

Dog spotting
If your lawn is covered with deadened spots, you may be able to blame it on Fido. Sprinkle the lawn frequently with water to dilute the salt content of the urine. If your lawn is littered with dark green spots, chances are you have especially poor soil, and the nitrogen in the urine is acting as a fertilizer. Train your dog to find another rest stop.

Weed wars
Sparse, underfertilized lawns commonly are infested with weeds. Avoid weed-and-feed products. They don't work that well, and they unnecessarily put herbicide on every inch of the lawn. Instead, mix up a tank of herbicide containing Trimec, then spot-spray the weeds.

Weak grass
One of the biggest issues most people face is they simply don't know how much or how often to fertilize. To make it easier, pick out some holidays and use them to prompt you. For cool-season lawns, Easter, Memorial Day, and Halloween are good choices. Labor Day and the Fourth of July work well for warm-season lawns.