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Healthy lawns start with the right seeds in good soil. Lawn care is less labor intensive and expensive with healthy lawns. The right seeds are the ones that suit how the homeowners use their lawns, the temperature variations of the area and the amount of sunlight the lawns receive. Once homeowners establish a healthy lawn, lawn care becomes more a matter of routine maintenance, including mowing, watering and fertilizing the grass on a regular basis.

Homeowners who plant a new lawn will have the greatest amount of control over the look and feel of their grass. A drawback of starting with seeds may be the time, labor and expense associated with clearing the area, buying, planting, fertilizing and watering the seed. Starting with sod, rather than seed, reduces the time homeowners need to see a full area of grass, but increases their initial costs. Lawn care options for homeowners with established lawns depend on the general health of the soil and the grass.

Whether starting with sod or seed, the grass will grow stronger and healthier if it germinates in the right soil. Soil provides the grass seed with nutrients, moisture and air. Start with soil rich in organic matter. Organic matter includes composted manure, decomposed leaves, organisms and other vegetative life. The majority of homeowners will need to amend their soil to some degree to give their lawns the best foundation possible. In some areas, the overall quality of the soil makes it more difficult to grow grass than in other areas. For example, in areas where heavy clay is the dominant soil property, lawncare involves more effort to create good conditions for grass to grow.

As with other plants, different species of grasses have traits that allow them to grow better in some areas than in other areas. For example, although all grasses need at least a few hours of sunlight each day for optimal growth, some types will survive with lower levels of light than other grasses. Some grasses will tolerate more foot traffic than other grasses. Some grasses require higher levels of water than other grasses. Planting the right type of grass, from the outset, that matches the areas sun, soil and water conditions reduces the amount of lawncare that the homeowner will need to provide the grass. Grasses that thrive in rainy areas may perform well under drier conditions if the homeowners are willing and able to provide sufficient water for the grass. For large areas, it is prudent to install automatic sprinkler systems with timers to ensure that the grass receives an adequate amount of water.

Lawns benefit from the nutrients they receive from fertilizers. Fertilizers inject the grass with the minerals they need in a form in which they can use it. New lawns, in particular, need fertilizers to encourage their roots to grow. Applying fertilizers to strengthen grasses and help them to compete against unwanted weeds should be a standard part of a good lawn service program.