Lawns & Lawn Care

Using a step edger doesn't require you to hire a lawn care professional. Find out how to use a step edger with help from an expert with over two decades of experience working in Garden Centers in this…

Controlling a sprinkler with a well pump is an efficient way to water an area that does not have access to a municipal water supply. Well pumps generate enough force to operate a sprinkler head…

The sickle-bar mower was invented around the time of the American Civil War as a way to partially mechanize the harvest of hay. While the first models were horse-drawn, over the years, many variations…

Detection of partial discharges in transformers helps avoid certain problems. For example, this sort of discharge can be an indication that the transformer is aging. The accumulation of an electric…

Larger lawn mowers, such as riding mowers and lawn tractors, have a kill switch system. It’s related to the ignition system and is designed to keep the rider safe and prevent harm to others. If…

Lawns are subject to traffic, pests, weed invasions and weather conditions, causing them to grow thin, damaged or neglected. Consider reseeding your lawn if you want to fill bare or brown spots,…

A tow-behind aerator/spreader is a useful and versatile piece of equipment that spreads grass seed while creating an ideal soil environment for the seed. An aerator makes holes in the soil -- it's…

Enhance the beauty of your lawn while preventing the grass from overgrowing your sidewalk with the installation of a decorative brick border between your lawn and sidewalk. Decorative bricks come in a…

Carpetweed and blanketweed thrive under very different conditions, but both are invasive and annoying if not controlled. Carpetweed is a compact annual plant that wreaks havoc in lawns during warm…

If you have trees in your yard, there will likely be a few roots poking above the ground. These can inhibit grass growth, making a lawn appear bumpy and less than lush. If you're facing this problem,…

Lawn aerators foster healthy grass by softening the soil, allowing water to penetrate the ground and giving the roots room to grow. Professional lawn aerators actually pull plugs of soil out of the…

Commonly found in deicing products, calcium chloride is an alternative to the ubiquitous and inexpensive sodium chloride, or rock salt. Because it is more expensive and more difficult to handle than…

Artificial turf provides a padded, real-looking play area to places where grass generally won't grow. Artificial turf is non-organic and manufactured to be antibacterial. To provide the padding that…

Laying sod over sand is a quick way to establish a new lawn. A yard often contains a combination of the common soil types: sand, silt, clay and loam. Therefore, a yard that is sand might be sandy…

Ponds, waterways and wells can all be sources of water for lawns and gardens. Getting the water from there to where it is needed usually requires some kind of pump. The pump has an inlet connector…

A gravel path through your lawn leading into your garden or a gravel driveway leading to your home may project exactly the country-style, rustic appearance you want. But keeping the gravel from…

Renovating a lawn damaged by pests, disease, or the elements is a job that no homeowner looks forward to. The best way to renovate a lawn is to remove the existing sod. New sod can be laid over old…

FieldTurf, which is often referred to as “artificial turf,” is common in sports facilities around the world. FieldTurf is used in several Major League Baseball stadiums, National Football…

Rid a yard of grubs without using harsh chemicals with a little help from nature. Grubs are nuisances in many gardens. They eat through the roots of plants and grasses, killing the plants. Chemical…

Sand burs, those prickly, irritating weeds that grow on the dry fringes of your lawn, are the bane of many homeowners. They tend to have a scraggly, dry appearance, which may be why burning them seems…

In states such as Colorado, homeowners' associations (HOAs) have lien rights to foreclose on their homeowners' real property for nonpayment of dues or assessments. Their lien rights allow them to have…

Lawn seed looks exactly like birdseed to hungry birds. Seeding rather than buying sod is an economical way to start a new lawn, but not if the local avian population eats the seeds before they can…

A bumpy, uneven backyard is not only is unpleasant to the eye, but it also can lead to injuries from falls and twisted ankles. If your backyard is not fairly level, you also won't be able to install…

A newly laid lawn needs sufficient water in order to thrive. The best way to ensure that you give sufficient water is to install a sprinkler system, and this should be done prior to laying the sod.…

There’s more to getting a rich green lawn than just unrolling sod rows and watching the grass grow. You need to prepare the ground properly before you lay sod, and you need to pay attention to…

Laying stepping stones will reduce wear and tear on your green lawn from foot traffic. The stones provide a convenient solution to both the people walking and the gardener trying to keep the lawn…

Worms make great bait for fishing. Although you can buy worms in bait shops, you can dig them up yourself for free if you know where to look. Worms often live in soil, mud or manure to protect…

Lawn aeration serves many important benefits, including increasing oxygen, water and nutrient movement in soil, helping grass develop root structures and helping prevent contamination of water systems…

Molasses is a thick syrup created from the sugar of beets or natural sugar cane. Molasses can be used to boost fertilizers in the soil, because the carbohydrate content stimulates microbes in the…

Pre-emergent herbicides are applied to lawns before weeds have a chance to grow. The pre-emergent used depends on the type of grass growing, as some herbicides have negative effects on certain grass…

Mowing a steep lawn is difficult. Any lawn with more than a 30 percent is dangerous. It may cause you to lose control of your mower, trip and become seriously injured. Installing terraces is one…

Some insects that are commonly found in lawns, such as lady beetles, assassin bugs, lacewings, earwigs, big-eyed bugs and syrphid flies, are actually beneficial and do not need to be eliminated from…

Lawns and flower beds go together but don't grow together. Keep them separated with a scallop-topped concrete edging. It's available in several colors and lengths at home improvement and hardware…

Not all lawns have good drainage. Heavily compacted soils will prevent water from soaking into the lawn and flushing out properly. Steady rains or flash floods can cause water to collect in the lawn,…

Core aeration helps your lawn by relieving it of soil compaction, facilitating nutrient movement and water movement throughout. It prevents too much thatch from accumulating on your lawn’s…

Scotch moss is a perennial ground cover that thrives in full to partial sun, unlike other mosses that require shade. This makes Scotch moss an excellent choice for a lawn replacement. If your grass…

Bay grass is the common collective term for a number of species of aquatic plants known as submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). In addition to acting as a food source and shelter for creatures…

Framing a saltbox shed is slightly different from framing other sheds or structures. Unlike a regular shed, a saltbox has an A-style roof that is unequal on one side, to give more horizontal interior…

When you want a beautiful, lush lawn in a short time, laying sod is the way to go. Although sod may be installed at any point in the year, it is best done during warmer months so the lawn sets up…

Laying sod over an area that consists mostly of gravel is possible and recommended in areas where water runoff might be a problem. The gravel is not a suitable substrate for the grass, so you need to…

Overseeding is a lawn and pasture growing technique in which seed from different grass and pasture crops are sown at different times on the same area as a way to encourage lush, perennial growth.…

Laying wet sod helps facilitate rooting and prevents root systems from drying out. When sod's roots are allowed to dry out, they are unable to establish themselves in the soil. The result is patchy,…

For some, mowing the lawn is drudgery. For others, lawn mowing is an art. Mow early, cut across the slope, and tidy-up afterwards are just some of the rules that seasoned landscapers follow. Another…

Aeration is a process that introduces small holes into the surface of your lawn. It improves the rate of air and gas exchange in your lawn, which helps your grass grow faster, and it also reduces the…

Wood patio decking undergoes a lot of abuse because of its constant exposure to the elements, as well as everyday use by you and your family. The finish of the wood will begin to fade, nails can begin…

Sometimes, turf grass isn’t suitable for the area where you want to plant a lawn. In this case there are alternative plants you can choose, such as Irish moss. While not actually a true moss,…

Growing grass under trees poses numerous problems for gardeners. Sod laid in shady environments is more susceptible to fungal diseases and root competition from trees. That's why it's important to…

Edging your lawn not only provides decorative detail to the landscape, it prevents weeds and undesirable grasses from encroaching on the enclosed space. Paver edging is available in a variety of…

A yellow lawn is a sign that the grass needs help. Protecting the grass from the damage that can occur from the sun or pet spraying is a year-long concern. Aerating the lawn opens the soil to be able…

Dog owners who pride themselves on keeping beautiful lawns should be aware that canine urine can greatly diminish the health of their grass. This is primarily a result of the high levels of nitrogen…