Lawns are one of the most complicated areas of home ownership. During half the year, they require nearly constant care if you want to keep them looking nice. It can be a little frustrating to seek your work overtaken by weeds but there are many things that you can do to keep your lawn looking nice all year round.

First, you will want to start in the winter months when your lawn is dormant. This is a great time to get it prepared for spring. Do any necessary aeration for the soil and use a fertilizer that is intended for use during this time of year. Even though your lawn isn’t actively growing yet, it can still use food as it prepares to grow. Once spring rolls around and the grass starts growing, you’ll want to get into a good mowing rotation. If you mow too often, you’ll kill your grass, but mowing too little isn’t good either. Try to stick with once a week or every two weeks, depending on how quickly your lawn grows.

Throughout the summer months, you’ll want to periodically add fertilizer and weed killer. If you have children or pets however, make sure that you follow the instructions carefully to ensure that no one gets sick. It is best to use environmentally safe products in this instance. Keeping it well watered is always recommended, unless you live in an area that prohibits regular watering due to water shortages. If you do live in an area that is prone to drought, consider converting your lawn into a rock garden or use more ornamental grasses that don’t require a lot of care.

Once you have mowed your lawn for the last time, you’ll need to feed it once more before fall sets in. Raking is of course a necessity in some areas, but your yard work should pretty much be done until the next year.