8 Expert Landscaping Tips for Keeping Your Lawn in Top Shape This Summer

Nothing makes a man prouder than looking out over all he surveys, and seeing a lush, green lawn. The kind of lawn that makes the groundskeepers at Augusta weep.

So to help you induce some serious “lawn envy” in your collar-popping, Bimmer-driving neighbors, I turned to the folks at John Deere, to get their expert tips on keeping your grass in golf course shape. The choice of country singers and guys who choose to “ride on,” they’ve just released a new edition to their EZTrak mower line.

And to help us homeowners keep our yards enviable, they’ve put a ton of tips and advice on their Facebook page where you can also (proudly) post photos of your property, find out what type of landscaper you are, get some new ideas, and more.

Here are their top 8 tips for keeping your lawn in shape this summer:

Landscaping Tip #1: Adjust the height of the mower deck to mow only the top one-third of the blade of grass. This helps encourage a deep root system and keeps the lawn looking and feeling healthy.

Landscaping Tip #2: All summer long, mow in the mid to late-morning, when it’s cool and dry. After the morning dew dries off is the best time for the grass — it isn’t suffering from afternoon sun stress, but it isn’t so damp that grass clumps form in the blades.

Landscaping Tip #3: Water your lawn if you notice curling grass blades or “footprinting.” If you’re dealing with drought, mow on the high side.

Landscaping Tip #4: Don’t cut your grass too short. Higher heights usually look better, provide for a deeper root system, and help prevent from invading weeds.

Landscaping Tip #5: Consider attachments to help put the finishing touches on your yard and keep your turf healthy. Using attachments adds value to your equipment, as they make your mower or tractor ideal for year-round maintenance. For example, John Deere’s new 100 Series Tractors feature the CargO Mount™ System, ideal for plowing, aerating and hauling attachments.

Landscaping Tip #6: Don’t mow the same direction every time. This will leave streaks and striped lines that grow back irregularly and look rather unsightly.

Landscaping Tip #7: Clean up the clippings. After cutting the grass you’ll have a much more polished look if all of the clippings are removed. John Deere’s new 100 Series models come with The Edge™ Cutting System, a 3-in-1 mowing deck that lets you choose between mulching, bagging and side-discharging

Landscaping Tip #8: Do your equipment research. Talk to your local equipment dealers about your yard, terrain, mowing needs and landscaping habits. There are different types of mowers that are ideal for your unique lawn. For example, John Deere’s newly expanded EZTrak Mower Line-Up is ideal for homeowners with larger yards and flatter terrain. The new mowers provide superior cut quality, and allow homeowners to mow more area in less time with the high-capacity deck and top speeds of 9 MPH.