Walt's Lawn Care Forum......The Answers to Frequently Asked Lawn Care Questions

Walt's Lawn Care Forum will help you find the answers to frequently asked lawn care questions.

Find the topic your question falls under and look for the answer to your lawn care questions.

General Lawn Care Questions

How do you know if your lawn is healthy or not?

Answer:

There are several factors that tell you if your lawn is healthy.

• The color will be a deep green consistent throughout the entire lawn.
• The lawn is dense. It is nice and thick making it nearly impossible for lawn weeds, lawn pests and lawn diseases to attack it.
• The lawn is cut on the high side.  

Lawn Fertilizing

How often can I fertilize grass in the midwest?

Answer:

I personally live in the midwest and use grass fertilizer on my lawn 3 to 4 times a year.  The first application is usually in early spring.  The remaining applications are in late spring, mid-summer depending on weather conditions and fall.  The mid-summer application can be skipped if it is a dry, hot summer.

How many times should I use grass fertilizer on the lawn in late spring?

Answer:

In the spring you should fertilize twice. Once in early spring and once in late spring.  If you miss the early spring fertilizer application do not use the grass fertilizer twice in the late spring.

How often do I need to add iron to my lawn?

Answer:

The answer to this depends on the composition of your soil.  First you need to test your soil.  There are several different soil testing methods to choose from. If the soil test determines your lawn is iron deficient, an application once a year should be sufficient.  You can retest your soil after the application to make sure that the soil is no longer iron deficient.

Cutting Grass - Walt's Lawn Care Forum 

How do I avoid tire lines when mowing?

Answer:

The best way to avoid tire tracks from the lawn mower is to not cut wet grass. If it just rained or you just watered your lawn, don't mow it. When you cut wet grass, it compresses the grass under the mower causing the tires to form indentations in your lawn.

Also, you can avoid tire tracks in your lawn when you change the direction you mow each time.

Planting Grass (Lawn Renovation, Lawn Repairs and Over Seeding) - Walt's Lawn Care Forum

How do I know if I should control weeds or replant my lawn?

Answer:

The general rule of thumb is if less than 40% of your lawn is comprised of lawn weeds you should practice lawn weed control.  If this is your path, identifying weeds is first and foremost followed by weed removal.  Your method of lawn weed control will vary depending on the type of weed your lawn is hosting.

If your lawn is comprised of 60% or more lawn weeds, you should have a thorough lawn renovation. Here you have several options.  The very first thing you need to do is use weed killer to eliminate the lawn weeds. Then you need to begin planting a lawn with lawn seed or lawn sod.

How do I know if lawn seed has worked?

Answer:

The answer really varies based on grass types.  After approximately 10-14 days the lawn seed begins to germinate and you will see grass blades beginning to spike through the soil.  Be sure to read the label on the bag of grass seed because this will give you an idea of when the germination process will begin.  Remember, lawn seed needs to be nurtured along.  Watering the areas where you have planted the grass is critical in your success.

Identifying Weeds and Lawn Weed Control

How do you know the difference between grass and weeds? 

Answer:

An advantage for homeowners is that most weeds stand out. Their appearance is very distinctive. Physical trait, life span and growing season are all used in identifying weeds.

Repairing Lawn Damage - Walt's Lawn Care Forum

How do I repair salt damage to my lawn?

Answer:

First, be sure it is salt damage. The affected area usually turns brown.  Salt lawn damage typically occurs along the driveway, sidewalk and other walkways. Dilute the area with water.  There are also products that can be purchased at your local home center that will help wash the salt through your soil.  The salt must be removed before you can repair the lawn.