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When to Water Your Grass:
It is best to give your lawn only the amount of water it needs and no  more. This approach will conserve an important resource, save you money, and help prevent grass diseases caused by too much water.
The amount of water your lawn needs depends on the health of your lawn and soil, the amount of rainfall your lawn gets, and the climate. You may need as few as two lawn waterings a year or as many as two waterings a week.
The best approach to watering grass (and most other plants) is to follow nature's pattern of rainy periods followed by dry spells. Apply enough water all at once to penetrate to the roots, then let the soil almost dry out, and apply water again. Grass signals when it needs water by losing its spring: When you walk across the lawn and see your footprints, your lawn probably needs to be watered.
When to Mow your Lawn:
Most cool-season grasses should be cut when they  reach heights of 3 to 3-1/2 inches, typically once a week. Cut warm-season grasses when they reach 2 to 2-1/2 inches. Cut no more than 1/3 of the grass height at each mowing to avoid damaging the plants.
If the lawn grows too high for you to cut off 1/3 the height and have an acceptable length, cut off one-third now and mow 1/3 off again in two or three days.
Cutting more than 1/3 the height results in clumps of clippings that tend to lie on top of the lawn, decompose more slowly, and give the grass a less attractive, open, bristly appearance. In addition, short cutting will stunt or slow root growth and weaken the grass plants.
The Right Height to Cut Your Grass:
There are several reasons why you should not cut your lawn or grass too short.
- First, grass grows from the crown, not the blade tips. This trait makes grass ideal for lawns because it keeps on growing despite the regular mowing off of its upper stem, leaf sheath, and blades. This is also why it's important not to damage grass crowns by accidental scalping with the mower. No crown, no grass!
- Second, keeping grass on the longer side allows it greater surface area to carry out photosynthesis. This in turn results in healthier plants.
- Third, taller grass grows slower than shorter grass. You can use this simple fact to eliminate up to 20 percent of the mowing you do annually. That's a saving of about 8 hours a year for the average lawn owner, not to mention the savings of gasoline and wear on equipment.
- Lastly, by keeping your grass at the upper end of its recommended mowing height, you can prevent most weeds from germinating--and thereby eliminate the need for herbicides.
Rules of Mowing Your Lawn:
- Cut no more than 1/3 the height of the grass. Never scalp the lawn or cut below plant crowns. Mow only when the grass is dry.
- Change mowing patterns frequently to prevent compaction. Leave clippings on the lawn unless they are very long or wet.
- Rinse clippings off your mower after it has cooled to reduce the chance of spreading lawn disease.
- Cut grass at the high end of the recommended height range during hot weather. Cut at the low end of the recommended height range during cool weather or in shade.
- Make your last cut of season at the low end of recommended height range.
Lawn Clippings:
Today it is recommended to leave clippings on the lawn. The old belief that clippings contribute to thatch buildup has been proved false. Thatch is a buildup of old roots and stems, not grass blades. Leaving clippings where they fall not only saves the labor of collecting and composting them; it also reduces the need to add fertilizer because the clippings themselves add nitrogen to the soil as they decompose.
Clippings also act as a light mulch that helps to conserve soil moisture. However, there are exceptions to this advice. If you have neglected your mowing or must mow in wet conditions, the long clippings are likely to form heavy soggy clumps that cover the grass. In such cases, remove the clippings so that they do not smother the grass plants beneath them.
The idea of leaving clippings on the lawn is not new, but today's new mulching mowers, also called recycling mowers, make it even easier to leave clippings where they fall. The deck and blade designs allow these mowers to cut each grass blade several times, producing a finely chopped clipping.
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