Lawns Selection, Planting and Care

Is there any way to have a good looking bluegrass lawn without chemicals?

I want to purchase or perhaps rent a lawn aerator. Should I buy the style that removes the plugs or the one that just punches holes in the lawn?

When and how should I apply corn gluten to my lawn for the best weed control?

What is the best time to power rake my lawn? I've been bagging my clippings for the last two years, but I still have a fairly thick layer of thatch left over from before I was bagging. I'm planning on putting down a crabgrass preemergent and fertilizer this spring, which recommends not raking the lawn for several months. What's your opinion?

Someone said I could dormant seed the bare spots in my lawn in fall. How is this done and will it work?

You can have your grass and be kind to the environment too. It’s just a matter of changing your lawn care practices.

Is it best to bag my grass clippings when mowing, or let them fall on the ground?

How long do you need to wait after you have a lawn sprayed with a weed killer before you can use the clippings as mulch in the garden?

I often hear you recommend using broadleaf weed killers instead of weed and feed products. Why?

I need to start laying some grass seed in what will be a high traffic area. When should I begin seeding, and what seed do you recommend using and what do you recommend I put down to help the grass grow in this high traffic area?

Whether you want a golf course quality lawn or just green healthy grass to keep your feet from getting muddy, proper care is the answer. Mowing, fertilizing and watering are the three keys to a healthy lawn.

I have an 85,000 sq feet lawn that can cost a lot to keep fertilized. I was able to purchase a liquid nitrogen fertilizer that is cheap and easily applied with a spray tank pulled by my lawn tractor. Is there a source of liquid phosphorous and potassium?

Installing an in-ground swimming pool recently destroyed our lawn—it’s now about 5,000 square feet of uneven, rutted dirt and mud that I’d like to replace. If I hire a landscaper to reseed it, will the grass grow in spotty and scarce? Should I go with sod instead, and if so, will I have to water it frequently?

Where can I get Merion Bluegrass Seed? I searched the web, but only come up with Kentucky bluegrass. My Merion is over 50 years old. If Merion’s not available what would be a good substitute?

I have read where you recommend people keep their grass 2 1/2 to 3 or 3 to 3 1/2 inches tall. Which is correct?

We seeded a new lawn last June. When is it safe to fertilize?

I want to overseed my Chicago area lawn. Is it better to do it in the spring or fall? What steps do I need to take?

Two weeks ago we had a pine tree cut down. We are planning on planting grass in this area. A friend said we would have to wait a year before seeding because the ground under the pine is high in acid and grass will not grow.

I took the opportunity to put down a pre-emergent crabgrass control plus fertilizer two weeks ago. The instructions said that you need to wait six weeks before doing any overseeding, or applying any grass seed (which I need to in some areas of my lawn), so I wanted to get it down as early as possible. Now what?

We have a property in northern Wisconsin. Because of our sandy soil, we have a hard time with being successful with our lawn. My husband added a layer of brown dirt to the soil and planted grass seed. It did take somewhat but it is not thick. I continue planting more seed in the bare areas. We do water consistently. What type of grass seed would you recommend for our type of soil?

We have a small backyard that is fairly shady and dry. In addition, we have two large dogs. Is there a grass that can survive these conditions? Or is there any very low-growing groundcovers that might work? For various reasons, I'm reluctant to resort to wood chips or gravel.

What’s the best way to grow an entire lawn from scratch? The large backyard of our new house in Tooele, Utah is barren, but I’d rather not install that much sod.

I have some areas in my yard that may need some re-seeding this year. I was wondering what type of grass seed would be best for an area that receives a lot of sun. I noticed that some of the grass seed mixtures have creeping red fescue in them. I was told that this is not a good type of grass. Can I use just bluegrass seed or should I use a mixture with other types of grass?

I am tired of raking leaves.  Someone told me I can leave them on the lawn.  Is this true?  Won't it kill the grass?

We received in the mail, an advertisement for AMAZOY Zoysia Grass. It sounds too good to be true so I question it. Is this a grass that would thrive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?