(NAPSA)—It’s time to get your lawn back in shape after winter. It doesn’t need to be an all day process—or cost a lot—if you follow a few no-frill lawn tips. In no time, you’ll be on your way to a healthy looking lawn that would make even the most avid gardener jealous. Here are a few quick and easy lawn care tips from Yard Machines outdoor power equipment, the hardest working tools for the lawn: Cut low initially—Winter snow and wind dry out the lawn, turning the tips of grass blades brown. To help your lawn recover in spring, the initial cutting should be at a lower mowing height, ideally 1.5 inches. The first cut will remove the winter damage and help the lawn to thicken, reducing spring weeds and ultimately saving money on weed treatments. e Prevent crab grass now— Crab grass generally appears in lawns in late May, so now is the time to apply herbicides, specifically pre-emergent herbicides. May1 is the approximate timefor application of a pre-emergent herbicide to control crab grass in many regions, but the ideal time will vary depending on where you live and how warm a spring you're having. If dealt with early, crab grass can be largely prevented, thus saving you time and money in the future. maintenance on your mower. Sharpen the blades each year to keep your mower cutting better and smoother with each use. Clean the deck twice a year with a hose to remove caked-on clippings and dirt. Also, be sure to check and change the oil, filter and spark plug. These simple tricks will keep your mower runningbet- ter season after season and will Sharpen the blades of your lawn mower each year to keep your mower cutting better and smootherwith each use. e Bare patches—Throw some extra grass seed down and water daily to fill in spots. In no time you'll havea filled-in yard. e Fertilize and aerate your way to green grass—Visit your local garden store for a few bags of fertilizer, depending on your lawn size. In most cases, you can get away with one spring and onefall fertilization. Early spring is the best time to aerate your lawn to help warm cold soils, increase water, nutrient and oxygen move- ment and enhance rooting for better grass growth andcolor. Mulch your grass—If you don’t want to spend the extra money on fertilizer, mulch your grass clippings and throw them back on the lawn for added nutrients. e Mower maintenance— Make sure to perform proper save you money. Need New Gearfor the Yard? Know a hardworking dad who could use new lawn care tools to makehislife a little easier? Yard Machines, together with The Home Depot, are celebrating America’s hardest working dads. The contest, which runs from April 17 until May 28, 2008, will award one grand prize winner and seven regional prizes. The grand prize winner will receive a $500 gift card to The Home Depot and a garage full of Yard Machines out- door power equipment worth $2,500. The seven regional winners will each receive a $500 gift card to The Home Depot and one Yard Machinestool of their choice, a $500 value. Interested consumers should submit an essay to www.home depot.com/sweepstakes or fill out an entry form at The Home Depot. Entrants must be 18 years or older to participate. Entries will be judged and winners will be announced on the Yard Machines Website on or around Father’s Day.
