Keeping a healthy looking lawn makes your home look enticing and gives you a sense of pride when seeing it. If you are new to home ownership there can be a lot of questions that come to mind when first attempting to mow your lawn. What should the blade height be set at? What is the best pattern to mow? Are grass clippings harmful to your lawn? Below we're going to take a look at the best answers to these questions.

Adjusting Blade Height
Each mower, whether you ride it or push it, will have multiple height settings to ensure you get the best looking cut for your law. Picking the right height allows for a healthy lawn that is more resistant to disease, insects, and droughts. It also provides a healthy root system that greatly reduces weed problems.

As a general rule of thumb you should cut off one-third of your lawn's present height. This will ensure that your grass is long enough to resist potential hazards and will save you from having to bag grass clippings. Try adjusting your lawnmower to around what seems like one-third of the current grass blades and mow a small section of your lawn. Keep adjusting as necessary until you get the one-third height you are looking for, then proceed to mow your entire lawn.

Proper Mowing Patterns
While there are some extravagant law mowing patterns, like zig-zags and multiple spirals, many people aren't going to take that much care in mowing their lawn. For typical homes the choice comes down to two options, mowing in rows or mowing in a big spiral. The most general rule to follow when deciding how to mow your lawn is to not move over the same patch of grass more than once. You want efficiency when mowing your lawn. If you tend to use a riding mower it can more difficult to make precise turns, and can leave uncut patches. Use your common sense and come up with a method that works best for the equipment you have. You can always cut it differently next week.

Leave Or Remove The Clippings
This is such a common question in the lawn mowing industry, and many people have differing opinions. The choice is really up to you. If you follow the one-third rule of cutting your lawn above, you won't need to worry about grass clippings. In fact, it's more beneficial to leave them on the lawn as they will return valuable nutrients to the soil. Grass clippings do act like a fertilizer. They both contain phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, so essentially you're saving money by using the free grass clippings as compared to buying fertilizer. It is a lot less work to leave the clippings lay.

There are a couple of cases where picking up the clippings is a more ideal solution. If your lawn has a disease or fungus spreading it's a good idea to collect the clippings. There are bags that fit on a push-behind lawnmower. Riding motors tend to have sweeper attachments that will pick up clippings into one big collection bin.

Some people do prefer to collect their clippings to use them on a compost pile or as mulch. This works fine, however, be sure to not use clippings after you recently applied weed killer to your lawn. This could create a problem with your compost and areas where you spread the mulch.

By following these simple best practices your lawn will be healthy and green all year round.

5 Ways to Start Sod Off Right
The appeal of your home is affected by the appearance of your lawn. If the grass in your property has been looking dull and tired, you should consider performing some improvements with sod. Sodding is favorable because your lawn will experience immediate improvements. You will not need to wait for weeks before you can see the growth. In addition, sod is easy to lay and maintain for a beautiful home. Here are some simple ways to start sod off right.

#1- Choose the Right Type of Sod
You should choose the right sod before beginning the actual process of sodding. Different species of grass will thrive under different climatic conditions. Therefore, there are some factors that you should consider before making your selection. You should think about the temperature in your region. Some grass species like centipede will perform better in warmer areas while alternatives like Zoysia should be grown in lower temperatures. Sun exposure is important, especially for thick grass. Also, consider the potential uses of the lawn and the maintenance demands.

#2- Prepare the Soil
You should prepare the ground for the proper growth of the sod. If the ground is in poor condition, the development of the turf will be affected, even if you choose the best grass. The first step in preparing the soil is tilling the ground. This will loosen the soil and allow the roots of the sod to penetrate the ground with ease. You can use a rototiller to loosen up the topsoil up to around six to eight inches deep. Next, spread some finished compost on your lawn, about two inches of the material. This will enrich the soil, promoting better development of the plants. If you have clayey soil in your property, poor drainage might affect the growth of the sod. Therefore, consider adding some sand during the tilling process.

#3- Level the Ground
The aesthetic appeal of your new sodded lawn will depend on the flatness of the base. If your ground has high and low spots, the rolls of sod will be uneven and unattractive. Therefore, after preparing the soil, you should flatten the yard for maximum appeal. In general, you can use a simple iron rake for this process. This gardening tool can knock down high clumps of soil and fill in the holes left during tilling. Ensure that you level the soil as well as possible. Also, the level of the soil should be about an inch below your hardscaped surfaces such as driveways and pavements.

#4- Lay the Rolls of Sod
After leveling, you can lay the selected sod in your property. For the best results, dampen the soil slightly with water before laying the grass. Next, identify the longest and straightest line in your yard. You should unroll the sod along this edge and smooth out the wrinkles and loose areas. Install the other rolls along the first one; ensure the sections are snug against one another but not overlapping.

#5- Perform Initial Maintenance
Some light maintenance is important to encourage the establishment of the sod. Keep the yard evenly moist until the rolls become one with the ground. Also, eliminate foot traffic for root formation. Finally, avoid cutting the grass for the first few weeks.