Ever wonder how your neighbors achieve thick, vibrant lawns year after year or how they keep their lawns and landscapes healthy as temperatures continue to rise throughout the summer months? The answer is simple: they work at it.

Here are some tips to keep lawns and trees looking their best now until the end of summer.

• Watch your water: When Mother Nature doesn’t supply enough rainfall, supplemental watering is integral to maintaining a healthy lawn, but remember, too much water can be wasteful and even detrimental to the lawn’s lifespan and too little water can lead to turf that’s more susceptible to disease, insect and weed infestations.

A well-maintained lawn needs one inch of water per week to stay green and growing, so instead of setting your automatic sprinkler system so come up every day to water each zone for 10 minutes, set the system to run only every three to four days for a longer time per zone — a practice that prevents roots from growing closer to the surface.

You can also use hoses and a pulsating portable sprinkler, leaving it in one position for 30 to 60 minutes before moving it to another location. Early morning watering is best, as watering in the evening can increase the likelihood of disease development because the lawn will remain cool, dark and moist for an extended period of time.

If you are unable to water due to watering restrictions, your lawn will go dormant, the turf’s natural defense mechanism in which it will shut down all non-essential parts, like top growth, to keep the crown alive. Turf is a remarkable plant and most varieties can survive for four weeks or more without irrigation of any type. If the drought is severe enough, some lawn renovation may be necessary once it starts to rain or you are able to water again.

• Mow your lawn: Mowing is a simple process but it has more impact on the health and growth of a lawn than any other regular maintenance activity. Start by setting your mower deck to 2½ to 3½ inches — a soda can on its side should be able to slide under the mower at this height — and mow your lawn when it needs it as opposed to keeping to a weekly schedule. Understand turfgrass grows slower in the summer and infrequent rainfall can also play a factor in sluggish growth so running a mower across drought-stressed turf can hurt instead of help.

Also since mowing opens up the tip of the grass blade, it’s best to mow early in the morning after the dew has dried or in the evening when temperatures have dropped instead of in the heat of the day when the most moisture can be lost. Lastly, because grass is between 80 and 90 percent water, clippings and nutrients can be recycled back into the lawn, providing beneficial organic material for future growth.

• Fight back against weeds: Different types of weeds germinate in the spring, summer and fall, so the battle to banish them from your lawn is an ongoing and frustrating one.

The weeds that germinate in the summer are generally the summer annual weeds, which grow rapidly, produce a flower, go to seed and then die with the onset of fall. Many of these summer annuals can easily be controlled by pulling them out by hand because they usually cannot re-grow from the remaining roots; spot treating with a commercial weed control product labeled for use on home lawns is also effective.

The best overall method of controlling weeds is a thick, well-maintained lawn, as wind-blown weed seeds will have a harder time germinating in the middle of a lush lawn. By mowing properly, watering as needed and fertilizing to keep your lawn growing, you will discourage many weeds from ever germinating.

Ryan Leland is the owner of Spring-Green Lawn Care in the Kenmore area.