Tips on lawn maintenance from Walter Clemons:

• Mow often. Frequent cutting makes grass grow thick, which suppresses weeds.

• Avoid cutting grass too short, so moisture is conserved and grass stays green and healthy. Fescue thrives when it’s cut 3Z\x inches tall.

• Don’t mow a wet lawn, or you risk compacting the soil and suffocating grass roots.

• Give your lawn about an inch of water per week when there is no rainfall; use a small plastic cup to measure. To avoid diseases like brown spot, water between 4 and 9 a.m. If you put your foot on the grass and it doesn’t spring back, it needs water.

• Test your soil to determine what nutrients your yard needs before making fertilizer applications. Too much fertilizer washes into waterways, causing pollution problems.

• Apply herbicides only when needed. Use the right protection at the right time, avoiding guessing games that can cause more problems.

• A good-looking lawn and landscape adds value and sales appeal to any home.