A perfect lawn is the dream of many homeowners who at times may feel embattled by the weather, by unseen challenges beneath the lawn's surface and by mysterious brown spots in the lawn. Experts may be hired to carve out a block of lawn for investigation, and many eco-friendly products may be tried out as possible solutions to those dodgy lawn flaws.

But the answer may very likely be as simple as this: Your mower blades may need to be cleaned, sharpened and set to the proper height for your lawn's gradation and soil type. It's possible that the solution costs under $20 for new blades and nothing for an adjustment to your blade's height setting and lawn-cutting timing.

David R. Mellor is the senior director of grounds for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park and author of two books on gardening and horticulture: "Picture Perfect: Mowing Techniques for Lawns, Landscapes, and Sports" (Wiley, 2001) and "The Lawn Bible: How to Keep It Green, Groomed, and Growing Every Season of the Year" (Hyperion, 2003). ("Picture Perfect" is considered the textbook for lawn patterns, if you're also interested in how to make those fantastic checkerboard patterns on your lawn.) Here are his tips for using mower blades to your advantage:

"Sharp blades are important to maintaining healthy turf," says Mellor. When blades are dulled or dinged, such as from running into the occasional lawn toy or stone edge, they tend to rip the grass instead of cutting it, "and that can not only damage the cleanly-cut appearance of the lawn but can lead to plant disease and desiccation." Mellor mentions the many different kinds of mower blades, pointing to the new "razor" blades to slice cleanly and make a precision cut. "Robotic mowers like Husqvarna's Ceora mower are an innovation in automatic, razor-blade mowing to check out."

"Mulching or gator blades can be beneficial when recycling clippings or the first of the fall leaves to the soil. No need to collect clippings if you mow often enough, and doing this benefits the soil as the clippings break down and return nutrients for the plants to use."

Different grass types and slopes in your lawn can present the need for a well-matched type of blade. "Suggested height of cut varies for (different) grass varieties and time of year. I suggest going with the higher side of suggested height. The longer grass blades shade the plant crowns and soil so lessens moisture evaporation," all for the health of your grass. You can find grass height charts tailored to your region online, or ask a professional at your local garden center for advice. Bring a "plug," or cut cube of your grass, to a garden center that offers an assessment of your lawn's issues. What you might find in grass height suggestions is a recommendation like "Kentucky bluegrass -- .75 to 3 inches." There is a fairly comprehensive overview of grass care basics between "Picture Perfect" and "The Lawn Bible."

"Another easy way to avoid damage is to lower your travel speed to avoid scalping on turns or slopes."

"Low lift blades are good for sandy soil. They create less upward suction to disturb the soil, reducing dust and damage to the grass and mower blades from the flying sand particles." An expert lawn assessment at the garden center can help figure out how sandy your soil might be, which can lead to a mower blade switch and a healthier cut.

Keep your mower blades sharpened. Dull blades can shred the tops of grass rather than slice through, often leading to brown spots and disease. "A professional service and sharpening in the off season is worth the cost in the long run. I also suggest having a second set of blades to switch out to prevent service down time."

"My go-to advice is to use sharp blades and mow often enough that you can follow the 1/3 rule. Never remove more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade to reduce stress on the plant. Most of all, have fun and create an area where memories can be made."