Do Less

Skip Spring Feed

If your lawn is thick with a dense cover of desirable grass that grows vigorously, do not apply spring feed (fertilizer). The lawn is getting enough nutrients released from the soil, grass clippings and a late season feeding.

Follow the Clump Rule

Mow often enough to avoid piles of grass clippings. This might be every 5 days during the flush of top growth in spring, not at all during summer drought and every 7-14 days the rest of the  growing season.

Limit Watering

Cool-season grasses slow growth under drought conditions. They may even turn brown but are likely not dead. Drough stress is rarely lethal as most lawns will survive on a fraction of an inch of water over a 3-week period. Use a rain gauge to measure your rainfall. During active growth apply supplemental irrigation to reach no more than one inch per week at a rate where all the water is soaked up with no puddles forming or running off. Choose a sunny morning to allow leaves to dry and minimize disease conditions.

In addition, moss thrives in damp wet soils. Limit watering and fix soil compaction in the area.

Live With Some Weeds

Check garden centers or online stores for the many hand tools that exist for pulling specific weeds. Pulling weeds is easiest when the soil is moist. Be sure to remove the entire root system as perennial weeds will regrow from the underground parts. Also a targeted spray on young small weeds with the proper herbicide can be efficient. Be certain to properly identify the weed and read the herbicide product label to determine if the active ingredient(s) listed will kill the identified weed. Your time and money will be wasted if you spray herbicide that is not effective for your specific weed issue.

View video: Your Best Defense Against Weeds

Next >