Here are some tips to make it appear like you have the perfect lawn - Yahoo Finance

It is best to mow high in midsummer, but more frequently as the grass grows.

The goal is to only remove a third of the blade of grass, but allow the grass to grow 5 to 7 cm high before cutting. That's higher than the traditional low cut that grass and golf course fans aspire to.

The problem with short-cut lawns is that they require more water to stay green than taller grass, which shades the roots and retains moisture. Another benefit of a taller lawn is that it can provide shade for sun-loving weeds like clover.

Here are some additional Lawn Ranger tips to create the illusion of a perfect lawn:

1. Edging the lawn to give it a neat and tidy finish

You can trim the edges of flower beds with a flat bladed shovel for a clean edge, or invest in an electric edger that quickly trims sharp edges. Invest in a machine that is quiet or runs on rechargeable batteries.

You don't have to trim the lawn every time you mow and consider the size of your lawn before setting out on the arduous goal of a clean edge. A good compromise is to have a clean cut in the front or public part of the landscape, but fade the edges a bit in the backyard so you have time to relax.

Placing a physical border of cobblestones, stacked blocks, or even fallen logs can also help define and frame your lawn.

2. Balance dips for a sleek look

The optical illusion of a nicer lawn can be achieved by filling in holes and low spots and shaving the ground under the high spots. One trick is to mow a low spot, remove the section of grass, then add sand or topsoil to fill in the low spot, and place the sod back over the repaired spot. You don't have to wait for the seeds to germinate, and you get the eye-to-eye look that will make even a lawn look its best.

3. Dig to find out why there are brown areas

If patches of grass continue to turn brown before the rest of the grass dries up in the summer, dig up now and examine. Most often it is due to a patch of rock or clay that is a few inches below the surface of the lawn. If necessary, use a crowbar and tear off the bricks. Then add soil and replant or replace the sod. You will wish you had taken the time to get to the bottom of the problem years ago.

4. Dealing with moles and voles

There's no easy answer to keeping these underground rodents off your lawn, but over-watering your lawn is one way to attract moles. They are on the lookout for worms and maggots, which become more active when watering. Therefore, water less frequently as this will also cause your weed's roots to grow deeper in search of water.

Voles are voles that use mole tracks. So if you catch a mole with your cat or find a dead mole, bury the mole carcass in its trail. This will prevent the voles from taking root. Throwing used cat litter down a mole hole or using coffee grounds in a trail will force them to build new underground roads, but it will not be a permanent solution to mole/vole invasion.

Perhaps the most practical solution is to poke the caterpillars to keep the turf in contact with the ground and spread small mounds of dirt over the lawn to minimize brown mounds.

Over the years, successful gardeners have claimed that learning how to use mole and mouse traps or adopting a cat that loves to hunt are the best mole control strategies.

Marianne Binetti has a degree in Horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of several books. Contact them at binettigarden.com.

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