Mowing the yard is one of the major chores of home ownership. Even though it might be time consuming and requires a good deal of physical effort, most homeowners are willing to mow their yards. Why? Generally, because they know that it's the one thing that will keep their yard from resembling a small jungle. What few realize, though, is that mowing one's yard is also the best way to make sure that the yard remains healthy. Mowing your yard is not only a good way to make sure your grass is strong, but the best way to make sure that it gets all the nutrients it needs.

Survival of the Fittest
Mowing your grass might seem like a minor thing to you, but it's a huge deal to the grass. The smell of freshly cut grass, after all, is a distress signal. You are waging war on your yard, one that the grass simply cannot win. You are, in a method of speaking, subjecting your grass to incredibly evolutionary pressures. When you take your mower down a strip of grass, you are separating the weak from the strong. Every mow through your yard destroys the grass that just can't quite survive the trauma of being cut. What your mowing leaves behind, though, is stronger grass. Grass that can survive this trauma is stronger, healthier, and looks better. Your mowing is a fantastic mechanism for making sure that only the healthiest grass is around to get the nutrients it needs to survive. Weak grass will die while stronger grass lives, allowing you to rest secure in the knowledge that your grass will be heartier and able to survive longer when it is exposed to true danger. If you don't mow often enough, you won't be able to reap the benefits of having a strong and healthy lawn.

Leveling the Playing Field
Of course, it's not enough that you make sure only the hardiest grass survives through the mowing process. Once you're done, you want to make sure all of that grass is actually able to thrive and grow. The goal is to make sure that your grass continues to have all the resources it needs to make it through the next culling, allowing you to continue the cycle of creating the healthiest yard possible. Fortunately, mowing gives you a rare chance to make sure that all of your grass is given a chance to thrive. When you mow your grass, you reduce everything to an equal height. This means that all of your grass is equidistant from the sun and that it will not cast a shadow on the grass around it. As such, all of your grass is better able to process sunlight. Grass at a uniform height is also better able to process water equally, allowing for all of your grass to remain healthy. If your grass is not at a uniform height, only the larger plants will get what they need. If you want your grass to stay healthy, then, you must keep it mowed.

Mowing your grass isn't just about aesthetics. It helps to make sure your grass is strong, healthy, and that it gets the nutrients necessary to stay green. Don't just look at your mowing time as a chore to keep your yard looking nice - look at it as a very real gardening project. The more you care for your lawn, the better it will look and the longer it will last. Treat your lawn with the care that it deserves and make sure to keep it mowed regularly.

The ability to bring your pets outside is one of the benefits associated with home ownership, and having a lawn is another perk. While you want your pets to have time to play outside, you also don't want your lawn destroyed. Finding safe ways to accomplish this goal is possible. Some people use chemicals on their lawn; keep in mind that doing so can be poisonous to pets.

#1- Find a New Space
If you don't want your pets to damage your lawn, one option is to not allow them on it at all. Plenty of communities have dog parks, so you could go there to ensure that your precious pets have some exercise. You may also want to start going for walks around the community. By doing so, you are still allowing your pets to get fresh air, and you are also getting into a healthy activity for yourself. Even if entirely keeping your pets off the lawn is impossible, at least reduce how much time you spend there.

#2- Create a Hangout Spot
Another idea is to create a part of your lawn that is specifically for your pets. For example, you could put up a dog run in the backyard. This step helps to keep the mess to one area. Also, you can create this space in an area of your lawn that isn't heavily visible. You might be the only one who knows that the area is damaged due to your pets playing on it. On top of that, if visitors see a dog run, they are likely to understand why the grass isn't perfect.

#3- Perform Regular Maintenance
As long as you have the energy to do so, you could perform regular maintenance on the areas of the lawn where your pets play. Remember that if you are using chemicals on the lawn, your pets likely cannot play there because it is dangerous. You may want to consider getting into a routine where you straighten up the patch of earth right after your dog has played on it. You may also increase the amount of times that you request your landscaping company to come each week.

#4- Develop Rules
You can train dogs. Maybe you have already trained your dogs to sit or to lie down. Now, you can work on training them to avoid certain activities. For example, your dogs might like to dig in the grass, which is causing its destruction. Teach your dog not to do that using training. If you are struggling to train your dogs, you can enroll them in obedience courses. Working with a professional trainer is a way to keep both your dogs and your lawn happy throughout the warm seasons.
Having pets is a delight, and it is possible to have a nice lawn while keeping your pup happy! Keeping them off the grass might be the step that you have to take to preserve the lawn, or you can explore some of the alternative options for maintaining the curb appeal of your property.