A lush, green lawn is not too far off and they don't want those pesky dandelions to take hold again this year. It seems all that stands in the way of a beautiful lawn is the addition of a few seemingly harmless chemicals.

While lawn care companies and do-it-yourself type lawn applications can certainly be very effective in reducing weed growth and insect damage, the truth is that people had great lawns before these tools were even at our disposal. A few simple rules will help you keep your lawn looking its best without the need to introduce chemicals into your yard. Follow our tips below to get a great looking lawn the natural way this season.

Step One: You must first understand that everything you do to your lawn will have some sort of effect. Neglect in one area will not be overshadowed by attention to detail in another. While you may carefully weed your yard by hand every day, if you cut it with a mower that has dull blades it will still look horrible.

Step Two: The process starts with proper mowing techniques. Make sure your mower blades are sharp at the start of each season. Also, never mow your lawn while it is wet, as the blades will become shredded by the mower. It is important to mow regularly and remove the top 1/3 of the growth rather than let the lawn grow long and mow once each week.

Step Three: Beyond mowing, take the time to remove weeds before you mow. The main offenders are dandelions, which can get out of hand in a hurry. The main reason they are so prolific is because we mow over them and spread their seeds for them. Remove them at the roots before you mow and you will notice an instant decline.

Step Four: After you mow it is a good idea to leave the clippings in the lawn as a natural fertilizer. Just be sure they aren't too heavy or thick. Also, consider covering the lawn with a thin layer of compost in mid season to help fertilize. Regular watering will also help your lawn keep that nice green color throughout the summer.

These quick and easy tips don't really take that much time if you start at the beginning of the season. A well-maintained lawn doesn't usually require any chemical additives to stay healthy looking all season.