A dense, healthy and vigoursly growing lawn is the best defense against pests, such as weeds, insects, and diseases, that attack your lawn.  Using good lawn maintenance practices on your lawn is the best pest control program you can practice. 

Mowing regularly with a sharp blade at the proper height will help avoid excessive stress to your lawn.  In early spring, grass may be kept shorter than when it gets very warm.  A good rule is 2 1/2 inches from spring throughout mid-June.  From mid-June to the end of August, 3 inches is recommended.  After the first of September, take the height doen by 1/2 inch for every two weeks until you have it down to 1 1/2 inches going into the winter.  Scalping, or cutting your grass too short, weakens the grasses, making the lawn more susceptible to pests and weed invasion.  The more rainfall and warm temperatures we have, the more you will have to mow.  Never should more than 1/3 of the leaf surface be taken off at one time.  Another tip for good mowing is to cut in different directions as often as possible. 

Water is a must for a well maintained lawn.  Approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inch of water per week, including rainfall, is considered necessary to keep lawns green.  Best results are attained when the soil is damp to a depth of 4-6 inches 2 hours after watering.  Apply at least 1/2 inch of water two or three times a week for sandy soils, on loam and clay soils, 1 inch is usually sufficient.  The best time of the day to water your lawn is the cool early morning hours.  Never water in the later afternoon or evening. 

Fertilizer is the single most important thing that can be done for the turf grass.  Fertilizer will force new growth, encouraging a lush, thick lawn.  Good fertility will counteract wear, keep a lawn from looking old, and keep out weeds.  Fertilizer should be applied four times per growing season.  The first application should take place in early spring.  After that , the fertilizer should be applied at six or seven week intervals.  Leading University Extension Horticulturist recommendations would be up to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year and up to 1 pound of actual nitrogen per application.

Proper mowing, watering and fertilizing are the best week control methods.  A combination of proper cultural practices plus the use of chemicals is sometimes necessary to rid a lawn of weeds.  The most effective week control invovles: weed identification, proper herbiced selection and proper application. 

Diseases can change an attractive lawn into a dying or dead lawn in a very short period of time.  Early detection is essential for any possiblity of successful control.  Most diseases tend to occur in the same area year after year.  Proper lawn management is the best method of keeping disease out of your lawn.  Chemical control along with good turf grass management should keep disease damage to a minimum in your lawn. 

Usually in the northern climate insects are not as large of a probelm in lawns as they are in warmer climates.  White grubs, nightcrawers and Billbugs are three insects that cause the most concern in the area.  Control measures should be based on insects actively working in the turf.  The prupose of chemical application is to help reduce the insect population and thus minimize damage under good conditions. 

Core aeration is an effective way to increase thatch decomposition and to reduce build-up.  Core aeration allows water and oxygen to move into the soil quickly, creating a better environment for the thatch decomposing organisms.