Lawn Basics

Your lawn is a delicate ecosystem that relies on an optimal balance of nutrients to thrive. So calculating the rate at which you apply fertilizer is very important. Adding too much nitrogen...

The best time to install sod is in mid spring through summer. Sod can also be laid in cold weather, but it's riskier. Grass stops growing below 60 degrees and is dormant in cold weather. Sod roots...

Most chemical fertilizers are synthesized from inorganic materials and contain acids that can damage beneficial microorganisms, impede plant growth and produce toxic runoff. Green fertilizers...

Fescue is a cool season grass. Fine fescue varieties, such as Chewing's fescue and red rescue fescue, are shade and drought tolerant. Fine fescue doesn't, however, tolerate heat. Timing is...

Creeping Charlie is another name for ground ivy. It is also called creeping Jenny, gill-over-the-ground or creeping ivy. The plant is related to mint and once rooted grows very aggressively. It is...

Clearing out a heavily wooded area and replacing it with turf can seem like a daunting task, but several helpful tools can make the clearing process easier. You will need to choose tools that suit...

Groundhogs, or woodchucks, are a member of the squirrel family and often cause major headaches for gardeners because of their diet of vegetables, grass, grains and fruit. The unsightly holes and...

Anyone with a weedy or bald-patched lawn that needs a total makeover knows the value of using a rotor tiller before laying new grass seed. The gas-powered machine also comes in handy on less...

When watering plants, it is important to achieve a correct balance where plants receive as much water as they require. The amount of water that plants need depends on their individual requirements...

Badgers can wreck havoc on lawns and gardens, digging up vegetables and getting into garbage. They will also get into animal food and water dishes and dig holes in the lawn looking for worms and...

Amazoy zoysia grass, also known as Meyer or Z-52, is an improved variety of zoysia japonica released by the Department of Agriculture in 1951. According to the University of Florida IFAS...

This engaging little fellow is certainly more welcome than his cousins, the tunneling ground squirrels, which include prairie dogs and woodchucks, and which can be quite a bit more destructive to...

Part of maintaining your lawn is making sure to set your water sprinkler properly, and knowing how to efficiently use your sprinkler to get the best possible results. Improper use of your...

Numerous lawn problems stem from improper cultivation practices. A lawn riddled with weeds can be attributed to over- or under-fertilization or watering. Brown spots can be the result of dog...

Fertilizers contain nitrogen to promote plant root growth and grass blade development. By adding a nitrogen containing fertilizer to your yard or garden at the proper time, you encourage a healthy...

Bald patches in lawns create an eye sore that ruins the aesthetics of your green expanse. Most lawn problems are caused by improper practices like overfertilizing, over or under watering, gasoline...

Spring is the time when plants and grass start waking up from their long winter dormancy. The most important thing they need is moisture in order to start growing again. Water not only quenches...

The first reaction of many Americans when they see weeds beginning to pop up in their new lawn is to go out and buy herbicide and kill the intruders. However, herbicide on a young lawn will...

Maple firewood is among the more common types of wood used for burning in a fireplace or wood stove because most varieties burn well and it is found in many places. Harder maples are generally...

Considering climate, use and maintenance requirements and conditions at the site are crucial factors in choosing lawn seed, but there are other important things to know to ensure a healthy and...

Cutting a new planting bed in your yard is the first step to creating an exciting and interesting garden. Whether you are planting vegetables or flowers you will need to follow the same steps in...

According to the Nutri-Lawn website (www.Nutri-Lawn.com), dew worms can be beneficial to the health of a lawn. Dew worms produce castings, or shedding, of their skin, which provides water...

Most fertilizers have NPK amounts printed on their labels. NPK stands for the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium amounts in the fertilizer. If you use a fertilizer with 10-10-10 NPK, the bag...

There are several common weeds that plague lawn-conscious homeowners everywhere. A brief description of some of these common weeds will help you to maintain the right prevention methods.

There are several types of weeds that can attack your lawn and diminish curb appeal. A basic understanding of the types of weeds will help you to determine what creeping green pests are invading...

Some people enjoy hours in the yard, mowing and raking, but many others prefer to have someone else do the basic maintenance. Of course, you want to find someone who does a good job, is...

Keeping your lawn healthy and green sometimes seems like a chore. After all, no matter how much fertilizer you use, what type of topsoil you have chosen and what kind of treatments you try, it...

Compost is made up of the once living plant remains. These piles, which can be made in your backyard, are full of nutrients. If you have your own garden or bed of flowers, you can use the compost...

Several years ago I bought a house that was in the middle of a hill. There were several spots within the yard that had bare spots. No matter how much seed I sowed, fertilizer I spread or turf...

Having a compost pile in your backyard is a great way to recycle materials that you would normally throw away. Many of the items that are typically thrown into a compost pile, such as lawn and...

Cultivating a perfect green lawn can make you the envy of your neighbors and really spruce up the home. If you do not have the money for professional care, doing it yourself can be rewarding....

Landscape edging creates a neat, tidy line between lawn and vegetable, flower, or shrubbery planting areas. Edging not only improves the visual aesthetic of the landscape, in helps improve desired...

If you want to kill your lawn's grass so you can start fresh with new grass, there's a simple remedy you can make at home that is inexpensive and effective. Some reasons for killing off old grass...

Lawn thatching can be an excellent practice to improve the health and overall appearance of your yard, regardless of your geographic location or lawn quality. Many materials that can be highly...

When fertilizing, gardeners and farmers have to consider the three principal nutrients required---to one degree or another---by every plant: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. A plant that does...

Taking care of your lawn can be tedious work and you may not have the time or the energy to do this, especially if you work long hours every day.You might want to consider hiring a lawn care...

According to the University of Gerogia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, zoysia is a species of grass that is gaining popularity in the southeastern United States. When...

Marigolds are colorful annuals that add splashes of color to gardens. You can choose between a host of colors that will create dynamic focal points and textures in your yard. Although they are...

Tall fescue and perennial rye are two different types of cool-season grasses. Both grasses survive cold winters and mild summers but tend to thrive in spring and fall. Tall fescue and perennial...

When embarking on the search for the right height to cut your grass during the summer growing season, you need to answer three questions. What kind of climate do you live in, which type of soil do...

Also known as the arrowhead vine, the Nephthytis plant is generally easy to care for. The arrowhead vine has dark green leaves that are arrowhead shaped and marked with silvery white venation, or...

Installing sod is a great way to quickly establish an attractive lawn. Sod is also expensive, which means it's crucial to install it correctly. It's also very important to purchase the required...

If your lush green lawn is punctuated by unsightly weeds, you may be considering how to remove the offenders without using chemical herbicides, especially if your children and pets play on that...

Every winter, homeowners buy and apply ice-melt products to keep their sidewalks and driveways safe. The choices are between urea and salt, crystals and liquids. These products eliminate the ice...

Zoysia grass is a warm season turf popular in the southeastern United States for its dense and attractive appearance. It is drought and shade tolerant, but has a tendency to go dormant in the...

Fertilizing your lawn improves your chances for a green landscape throughout the summer. Knowing when, how much and what type of fertilizer to apply is immensely important to avoid burning or...