The most important

thing to learn is an easy chemistry formula H2O. Water is essential to

a green lawn. As a general rule, lawns need about an inch of water a week,

so it's a good idea to set out a rain gauge and keep track of what Mother

Nature provides.

For a healthy

lawn, John Deere recommends watering infrequently but deeply the water

should go down six to eight inches to encourage a deep root system. If

you give your lawn frequent sips, the roots will stay near the surface

making it more susceptible to disease and drought. So look for signs of

thirst the grass blades curl, the lawn turns a bluish-green tinge, you

can see your footprints then give your lawn a good, long drink.

Here's a quick

way to determine how long to water. Use a grease pencil to put a mark

an inch from the bottom of several plastic food containers. Spread them

around the sprinkler zone, and then time how long it takes for the water

to reach the one-inch mark. Water your lawn for that length of time when

it shows signs of thirst.

After you've

mastered your watering technique, there are a few basic rules to remember

to make your grass as resilient and green as the fairway.

* Fertilize

about a month after the lawn starts growing and about a month before the

lawn goes dormant.

* Mow according

to your grass type: Cool-season grasses bluegrass and fescue should be

cut at 2.5 to 3 inches. Warm-season grasses bermuda and centipede should

be cut at 1 to 2 inches, except St. Augustine grass, which should be cut

at 3 inches.

* Follow the

John Deere One-Third Rule. Mow often enough to cut only the top one-third

of the grass blades.

* A half-inch

layer of thatch is good and helps hold moisture; more than that can block

the movement of air, water and nutrients into the soil and smother a lawn.

Finally, put

the finishing touches on your lawn to create the manicured look of the

tee and to form your own "rough" in the natural areas in your

yard. These final touches make a big difference, but they can take a lot

of time and energy. That's where the right equipment comes into play.

specially-designed mulching mower deck, you can chop grass cuttings into

tiny pieces and blow them down into the turf where they disappear. Since

grass is 85 percent water, the clippings break down quickly and release

about 20 percent of their nitrogen to feed the root system. Besides adding

to the health of your lawn, mulching saves time by eliminating the need

to collect, bag or dispose of grass clippings.

A power tool

will redefine the edges with a vertical blade. By tilting the blade a

little, you can achieve that bevel edge that not only gives a professional

touch, but also slows the future encroachment of the grass. Use a trimmer

to level spikes of tall grass and to remove weeds from hard-to-reach areas.

"String"

trimmers actually use a monofilament line to cut long grass and whip weeds

along walls, under fences and at the garden's edge. Many models can be

equipped with a brushcutter blade for heavier cutting jobs. For a neat

look after the hard work is done, use a handheld blower to clear debris

from sidewalks, driveways and garden beds.

So yes, with

a little extra work and the right equipment, your lawn can look like a

tournament-ready course. Celebrate your achievements by hitting the links

yourself.

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