Top 10 Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Lawn                

1. Don't let your lawn starve. The difference between a "so-so" lawn and a truly beautiful lawn is regular nutrition throughout the growing season. Healthy, thick, green lawns that are free of problems receive four or five feedings with fertilizer a year.



2. Don't let problems sneak up. Weeds, grubs and tiny insects you can't even see can get better of your lawn before you know it. The secret is applying the right protection at the right time. A comprehensive annual lawn care program is included on all Scotts® Turf Builder® products.



3. Mow your grass tall. Set your mower on one of the higher settings. Your grass will respond by growing deeper roots to match the increased top growth.



4. Deep watering will grow deep roots. Lawns need one inch of water a week to maintain growth. In absence of rainfall, run sprinklers long enough to put down half an inch of water twice a week. Determine how long to run your sprinklers by measuring the water that accumulates in a rain gauge or drinking glass.



5. It's all about "curb appeal". Realtors agree that a great looking lawn and landscape will add significant dollars to the sale price, as well as the speed of the home's sale.



6. Keep on the grass. Grass clippings can remain on your lawn as long as they are not heavy enough to smother your grass. In fact, grass clippings from a properly fed lawn provide increased nourishment to your lawn as they decompose.



7. Roots need air. You can determine if your lawn's roots are being robbed of the air they need by measuring the thatch, the old plant parts that have not decomposed, in your lawn. Remove a plug, square foot of yard, from your lawn to determine if you have more than half an inch of thatch. If there is more than half an inch, your lawn will benefit from a core aeration in early fall.



8. Dog proofed. A healthy, well-fed lawn will recover from any dog-caused brown spots. Or, many people train their dogs to visit a designated mulched or graveled area. For male dogs, include a marking post like a large rock, birdbath or even a fake fire hydrant.



9. Healthy lawns = healthy environment. Lawns turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. Lawns filter air pollutants from rainwater before they reach our ground water. Lawns help keep dust from blowing. Lawns cool our atmosphere.



10. Get help if needed - just a phone call away. You can get personal attention and quick answers to any of your lawn questions by calling 1-800-543-TURF or emailing questions to the trusted experts at www.scotts.com.

Grateful acknowledgement is made to Ashton Ritchie, The Scotts Company Lawn Care Expert, for help in preparing this consumer informative advisory.