Learn how to use compost in your lawn and garden as topdressing, a soil amendment, mulch, or compost tea, plus how much you need and when to apply it.
Category: Lawn Care Tips
What Can And Cannot Be Composted?
Fruit peels, corncobs, and grass clippings compost well, while meat, oil, and plastic attract pests, slow down decomposition, and create bad odors.
How to Mulch Around Trees
To mulch around trees, start by clearing weeds, grass, and other vegetation around the base of the tree, then spread mulch in a three-foot circle about 3 to 4 inches thick. Finish by lightly watering the mulch to help it settle against the soil.
When to Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides
Apply pre-emergents from February to April, when your soil reaches 55 degrees, and from August to October, when it drops to 70.
What Are Pre-Emergent Herbicides?
Pre-emergents are liquids or granules that prevent annual and unestablished perennial weeds from emerging in your lawn in the spring and fall.
Should You Put Straw Over Grass Seed?
Should you put straw on grass seed? Yes—a thin layer holds moisture and protects seed. Learn how much to use, how to apply it, and when to remove it.
How to Repair Salt Damage on Your Lawn
Learn how to repair salt-damaged grass with our 6-step guide. Flush salt, apply gypsum, and reseed to restore your lawn’s health this spring.
How to Care for New Sod
From watering schedules to mowing tips, this guide has everything you need to know about how to care for new sod and achieve a picture-perfect lawn.
What Is Winter Desiccation? Causes and Prevention
Winter desiccation is the phenomenon where a plant loses water through its leaves faster than it can regain it through its roots during the winter months.
What is Crown Hydration?
Crown hydration is the destructive phenomenon of water freezing in grass during periods of thawing and rapid refreezing in the winter.