Cutting Height. One of the biggest mistakes we make mowing is cutting the grass too low. This is also known as scalping. Believe it or not, each type of turf grass has its ideal cut height that ensures it will continue to grow and be healthy. Tall Fescue, a grass most people cut too low, should be cut at 3 to 4 inches. Before you begin mowing, get out a tape measure and set your blade at a 3-inch minimum. The height of the cut should be measured while the mower is sitting on a hard flat surface.

Mowing Frequency. It's also important to remember never to cut more than a third of the grass at any time. This rule is particularly difficult to follow if you've let the grass _get away from you_ and get too high for one reason or another. If the grass is tall and we cut it back to its usual height, it will stunt and shock the grass. If you cut the grass back too far, you will notice it turning yellow. During the spring and fall, tall fescue grows at its best. During this time you may have to cut every 5 days or so to keep up. If you do, the grass will look better all the time. It will be healthier and thicker. Frequent cutting encourages the fescue to spread out a little more. Fescue does not spread laterally on the ground like Bermuda grass, but gets wider by each grass blade branching out to cover a wider area. The fescue also gets thicker.

Bermuda grass can be cut much lower than fescue. The preferred cut height is about 1 to 2 inches. The cut height primarily depends on how level your lawn is. If you have humps and dips in the lawn, you won't be able to cut so low. Bermuda grass is used extensively on golf courses and is routinely cut as low as 1/2 inch. You must have a perfectly smooth lawn to be able to cut this low without chucking some dirt. Bermuda grass spreads rapidly, covering up wounded areas. It is very vigorous in resistance to fungus and other problems. Properly maintained, you can't beat it in the summer. The major drawback is it's dormant color in fall and winter.

When to Water. Watering is always a big question for homeowners. Remember that nature usually does a pretty good job on its own. There are obviously drought situations and drier times of the year that we need to intercede on the lawn's behalf. If you are going to water the lawn, do so early in the morning and let the sun in the daytime dry out the lawn a little. If you water late afternoon or evening, the moisture stays on the grass too long and promotes mold, mildew and dry rot. Watering your lawn in the heat of the afternoon can actually cook the grass and the roots.

Courtesy Don Zeman, host of the nationally syndicated radio show, Homefront. To learn more about Homefront, and find home improvement news and advice, visit www.homefront.com or click on the Homefront logo .