Maintaining a Beautiful Lawn is Not that Difficult.
If you know a few simple tricks.
Summertime is great! By far the best season of the year if you ask me. I have a Jeep Wrangler.
Around Memorial Day I take out the canvas windows, pull the top down and take the doors off and leave it that way until October.
Just about every evening Pam and I put the little yellow dog in the back seat and we go for a Jeep ride.
I’m going to toss a few of photos of my favorite summer activities into this post. Humor me will ya?
But . . . Summertime is really hard on lawns. Hot sun, dry conditions, Japanese Beetles laying eggs in the lawn, those eggs quickly hatch into grubs that dine on the roots of our lawns.
By the end of summer my lawn starts to look a little haggard. I water it when it’s really hot and dry, but not every day. But even with water, it drys out along the edges, by the curb, the grass dies, the weeds move in.
This is what my lawn looks like in many areas along the curb by the end of summer. It happens every year because the concrete curb gets so hot it just bakes the moisture out of the soil, kills the grass and along come the weeds. Each fall I get rid of these weeds along the curb and plant new grass.
There are a couple of ways to do this. You can dig out all of weeds, loosen the soil and simply plant grass seed. That works great as long as you get all of the roots. I spray the weeds to kill them with a non selective herbicide because that gets rid of roots and all.
After spraying I wait three days, then simply sprinkle the grass seed over the area that I sprayed. Even though the weeds don’t appear to be dead after only 72 hours, they are, and leaving them there actually helps to protect the new grass seed as it germinates.
Mike’s Spot Lawn Repair Video.
A couple of years ago we did a video explaining step by step how I how do this. Take a peek!
“If you want to smack me around for using Roundup or Glyphosate, You Can Do that on this page.” Being the nice guy that I am, I’ve actually created a place for you to do that. I am a professional in this industry.
I use products that I know will do the job and products that I believe to be safe after having used them for over 40 years. I don’t believe what I read on the Internet. I believe what my experience has taught me.
Of course for me, donkey hugging is a year round sport.
Regular lawn weed and feed products will not get rid of undesirable thick bladed grasses in a lawn. That’s why they have to be treated differently than most lawn weeds.
I know somebody is going to ask about the two weeping trees in the photo. The one closest to the camera is a Lavender Twist Weeping Redbud and the one closest to the house is Waterfall Laceleaf Weeping Japanese maple.
Both are difficult to find. Right now I do have some Lavender Twist at my nursery here in Perry, Ohio for only $49.00 each. But when they are gone they are gone, I’m no longer growing trees, just $5.97 plants.
Many people could care less what’s in their lawn as long as it’s green and I get that. I understand it. Not everybody is fussy about their lawn and I used to be like that. But in this house I try and keep the lawn halfway nice.
These patches of creeping bentgrass don’t bother me that much, but in time they choke out the desirable grass, then the patches of bentgrass start to look poorly.
Sooner or later I have to deal with them. They are invasive, starting with just a random seed that blows in and if unchecked they just keep spreading and spreading.
I deal with patches like this just like I do the weeds as I show in the above video. I paint an orange circle around them, spray everything inside the circle, then simply sprinkle new grass seed over the area, actually spreading seed outside of the circle just in case a little spray drifted.
Yes, after going through this treatment process my lawn looks terrible. But as we approach winter I’m not concerned about that, I want it really nice next spring and summer.
About 7 to 10 days after I spray and reseed, the sprayed areas turn golden brown and flat out look terrible. But as that is happening the new grass seed is germinating and eventually fills in the brown areas completely. The weeds, thick bladed grasses and Creeping Bentgrass, or Creeping Charlie if you have that, are gone.
By doing this in the fall it’s cool at night, damp but warm and sunny during the day. Ideal for growing grass seed. For detailed information on grass seed, my take on hydro seed and sod, see this article.
By spring the lawn looks fabulous once again!
The donkeys have the best shade tree on farm so I hung my hammock in the donkey pen. I actually have to raise it up into the tree when I’m not using it or they’d tear it apart.
When I do get into the hammock it’s like a thrill ride! In this photo Fergus has pushed the hammock almost perpendicular to the ground, with me in it! All the while I’m in the hammock they are pushing, pulling, walking under the hammock raising it into the air with me in it. Or trying to steal my pillow!
It’s fun for all of us!
Questions? Comments? Mean things to say? Post them below.
Do you have any articles dealing with how to get rid of nutsedge?
Gordon,
I don’t but there are sprays that work really well on it. Ortho makes one called Nutsedge Killer.
Mike,
Thanks for all the valuable info. Quick question…what is the best way to get rid of crack grass! It is takin over our lawn in Michigan.
Nancy,
Unfortunately there is not a product that I know of that will kill the quack grass and not other grasses. But the tecnhique that I share here will work. It will kill the quack, weeds and other grasses then you have to re-seed a few days after you spray.
Mike,.. the oompany that does my lawn spraying has been trying for several years to defeat what they say is lespedesa… They have not done so yet… It just keeps spreading..
Do you have any suggestions ..
Thanks for your expertise
Dorothy,
See this; https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1395
Good evening Mike,
Question, I am up north from Delaware, Ohio. Got a small yard and I will like to renew the whole thing. I do have a dog that uses the back yard to do his business, will the weed killer hurt him in anyway…
and, what grass can I plant that can have a lasting result (life) with him using it as his playing ground.
Maria,
I can’t really answer about the pesticide and the dog, a pesticide is a pesticide and caution should always be observed. Lots of perennial and fescue grasses make a durable lawn.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Good evening Mike,
Question, I am up north from Delaware, Ohio. Got a small yard and I will like to renew the whole thing. I do have a dog that uses the back yard to do his business, will the weed killer hurt him in anyway…
and, what grass can I plant that can have a lasting result (life) with him using it as his playing ground.
I am in middle TN and have no clue what zone I am in. Getting ready to level my backyard as it is on a slope and has washed away a lot of the top soil. Just bought this new home and the front yard is fine but the back needs a lot of help. I don’t mind the expense, so what kind of grass seed would you recommend? I have no idea so have asked those who should know and keep getting different answers with most recommending because of cost, most common answer is Kentucky 31 with fescu. My sister in VA told me about your site and I have been reading it for quite some time. Always interesting!
Thanks,
Freida in TN
Freida,
You want a blend of grass seed, several different kinds in the mix. Go to a full service garden center or a feed supply store. Our local feed mill has a good mix of grass seed. You don’t need some fancy brand in colorful bag. All you need is good blend that contains some blue grass, some fescue and some fine textured rye grasses. See this http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2012/08/how-to-plant-grass-seed/ and this http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2014/02/lawn-installation-hand-seeding-hydro-seeding-or-sod-which-is-better/
Good evening Mike,
Question, I am up north from Delaware, Ohio. Got a small yard and I will like to renew the whole thing. I do have a dog that uses the back yard to do his business, will the weed killer hurt him in anyway…
and, what grass can I plant that can have a lasting result (life) with him using it as his playing ground.
Hi Mike, Thank you for the video about using the wheelbarrow This great information that .everybody needs to know Thank you for all your videos.
If I take crepe myrtle cuttings do you think they’ll sell? I live in West Cleveland, Took a chance and planted one. Took three yr. of dying back each winter but the last two years has grown a lot,, has beautiful flowers that really last a long time.
Nancy,
Cleveland, Ohio? Probably not, gets too cold here.
Mike:
Great video! My question concerns two large contained “beds” of grass as you approach our entry. They are approx 14×15 each and probably over 50% weeds. MIXED throughout. I have tried every weed and feed know to man, at no telling how much money, to no avail—just getting worse! Would it be possible to kill out the whole area with Round Up and reseed? If so, when would be the best time in order not too look too ugly too long?!? And what seed would you recommend for our climate? Everyone seems to use St Augustine or Centipeed in our area and I am frankly not impressed! Your process would certainly be a lot easier than taking up the old and putting in new sod.
Our home is in Savannah Georgia
Many thanks for all of your help
Sandi,
Yes, you can kill off the entire lawn and reseed as I described here. Talk to a local full service garden store about seed choices in your area. See the other comments I just posted with links to other pages.
I moved from the rolling hills of northeast PA to Southwest Florida, The grass I have here is different. It’s called St. Augustine and its a really thick dense turf. I now know what hot really is living here, What do you know about planting sod plugs of this type in our sandy soil? Do I have to ammend the soil first before planting the plugs and soaking them well once or twice a day for a week or two? I need a Southern garden guru!!
Suzanne,
You shouldn’t have to amend the soil, do the plugs, water like crazy and get on a fertilization schedule.
Any recommendation to get rid of violets in the lawn? I’ve used a spray on weed killer with little success.
Dennis,
I think I would work on improving the lawn and forcing the violets out. But you can buy a one gallon spray for lawns that takes care of like 250 weeds. I think Spectricide makes it.
Thanks for the info on keeping a lawn looking nice. By the way, do you sell donkeys?
I have very big area in my lawn which damage with Curb & Weeds so please let me knwo which spray u used in your video? also lawnseed which you used can i get it in Home Depot?
is there any suggestion for big destroy of lawn .
Hetal,
I use roundup or a generic roundup like product. If you are in a colder state like I am, get a mix with Pennfine rye grass in it and you should be fine.
Mike,
I saw your video on spot treating crab grass. Very easy steps and I understand what to do. My problem…..the spot is a very, very large area. Should I mask off a piece and follow your instruction and do pieces of yard a little at a time? Or do I need to call a professional sprayer to do the job. A response would be appreciated. I enjoy your website….the info….the plants….the animals. Thanks
Nancy,
I did reply to this a few days ago on another page where you posted the question. Crabgass is an annual grass and freezing whether will kill it. If you have other thick bladed grasses that you want to be rid of you can spray and treat as I showed. Best to mark out grids when spraying a large area so you know that you got it all, then seed in a few days. You can hire a professional, they’ll do pretty much as I did except they’ll overseed with an over seeding machine. And if they guarantee their work it might be worth hiring them.
I have a Harry Lauder walking stick the beatles devour it every year, what can i do. Also how do I trim it
Valerie,
Trim your Harry Lauder’s to give it shape. Completely remove any suckers growing around the base of it. You can try treating it with a systemic Bayer product that if applied just as the beetles emerge it might take care of them. Try treating your lawn for beetle grubs as well. I need to do that in the next few days.
Hi Mike,
I was wondering what type of grass seeds you use? I live in Michigan, I believe zone 6 and need a good recommendation for a seed for full sun.
By the way, I am LOVING your website and it has given me so much inspiration for my landscaping which is in dire need of some TLC and a major revamp. I will be in search of a Lavender Twist Weeping Redbud Tree & a Goshiki Shidare or an Orange Dream Japanese Maple!
One more question, how do you get your landscape borders looking so crisp with such a clean line between the mulch & grass? This is something I continue to struggle with! 🙂
Thank you for sharing all of your vast knowledge!
Tiffany,
Great question about grass. You always want to use a blend of grass seeds because the different grasses germinate at different times and there are pests that might attack a complete lawn if it contained only one type of grass. Full sun? A blend of blue grass, several fine textured rye grasses would be perfect. When shopping for grass look at the price per pound, and buy one of the more expensive, but not necessarily the most expensive blends. Buy your grass seed from feed mill or full service garden center that sells it by the pound, they will be more knowledgeable and will be able to help you find a good blend.
We want to add soil to a flower bed that hasn’t been very well taken care of. ?We removed a big area of iris and the bed is in need of some soil to make up for the soil lost with the removal of the flowers. actually we’d really like to have a dome of soil.
what soil would you recommend for us to use.
we are in central Illinois, if location would matter for type of soil.
thank you, love your website.
Bill & Linda,
All you need for that bed is some good topsoil, nothing special, nothing fancy, but good, authentic topsoil. And that’s where the problem comes in. A lot of soil being sold today as topsoil is of poor quality. I written two different articles that will help you know whether or not the soil you are buying is good. This one is about topsoil; http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2012/05/the-best-topsoil-for-you/ This one is about potting soils or blended soils; http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2014/12/mike-mcgroartys-secret-bed-building-and-potting-soil-recipe/
If you could find some really good, aged compost and could work it in with the soil that you have, that might be the ideal thing to do. But you need to know that around the nursery, two beds that I’ve built there, around the house, around the sign out front, those beds are made of nothing but sand and gravel that I excavated from the nursery while doing other projects. It’s not really good topsoil at all, just and sand and gravel. The plants do fine. So just about any soil can work, but the better drained, the less sticky the soil, the better the plants will like it.
Yes Mike, I bought an inexpensive (cheap) top soil from a major home improvement store. I put it in the tomato bed to supplement what the chickens kicked out in early spring. Well, to my surprise, not only did my tomatoes grow, but I also got several plants of a special kind of weed, if you get my drift. I remembered seeing some plant matter and some seeds as I dumped the soil, and I picked them out and threw them away, but I must have missed some. I could just picture the headlines, “Local Grannie Grows Weed in the Garden!” After I took a few pictures to show around to a select group of friends and relatives, these weeds ended up in the compost heap. I think I’ll buy a different brand of topsoil next time.
Wellllll, all topsoil contains “weed” seed, but that’s a first for me.
Mike, I so appreciate your valuable and informative garden and lawn care tips.
I was wondering if I am to water the applied grass seed after using Roundup to kill the weeds.
Tricia,
Yes, keep it watered the best you can. At least once a day on hot or warm days.
I have some pine trees on my lawn with the lawn below the trees looking half dead. I had lime applied for the first applied about a month ago waiting for results. How much and how often can I have the lime applied? Am I going in the right direction?
Lee,
I’d say you’re headed in the right direction but it’s difficult to know how much lime to apply without a soil test. Read the bag and see what rates are recommended, but a simple soil test done by your local county extension office will tell you exactly how much you need and how much would be too much.
Great how you find delight in daily surroundings – appreciate you sharing what you find ; and letting folks know about helpful ‘home-y’ things. THANKS and God bless you and your family!
Thank you and you are welcome.
Like the comments about having a great lawn, however, I use the violets to make violet jelly in the spring, if I kill all the weeds, I kill the violets also, then can’t make violet jelly. So we suffer with the weeds and do the best we can with the lawn.
Enjoy all your tips & pictures, Mike. Thanks.
I just discovered your website. Lots of good information! This post on grass is timely as we just bought a house where the previous owners didn’t do much lawn care/weed treatment and I’m feeling overwhelmed as I try to work on getting the lawn back into shape. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and tips! It gives me hope!
Hey, Mike…
Thanks for mentioning Creeping Charlie (what we call ground ivy here) and how to get rid of it. I have FINALLY gotten the lawn to look pretty good (this spring with all the rain, it looked PERFECT!), but everything that I’ve done to improve the lawn has also “improved” the ground ivy. It has fully taken over half the yard. And no broad leaf weed killer, that I know of, will touch it.
I bought a thatch rake, thinking it would pull up the vines, and leave the grass. Nope. It pulls up as much of the grass as anything else…probably because the grass sends out runners, too. I was still thinking of using it this fall, and re-seeding, but I’m never gonna get all the ground ivy, and I’ll be back at it next summer. And my back would never forgive me.
I like your idea of using the glyphosate (even though I’ve steered clear of Round Up for years) and re-seeding a day or so afterward. And I like the idea of doing patches at a time. Trust me, there is a TON of this crap in my lawn, and tackling the whole thing at once makes my back hurt just THINKING about it. And if I’m not able to get it all done this fall, I think I could probably get good results in very early spring, too. The only difference being that the grass wouldn’t have the winter to develop it’s root system. I think.
Anyway, I am at my wit’s end with this ground ivy, but you’ve just given me a light at the end of a VERY long tunnel! Thanks!!
James,
A guy around the corner from me sprayed his entire front lawn and killed it. He could have simply rented an over seeder and reseeded the lawn once it was dead, he probably could have just seeded it three days after spraying like I described. Just drove by, he worked it up with some kind of a thatcher or someting, maybe a tiller, and now he has a ton of work to do that didn’t have to be done. Spring is fine as long as you do it early before the baking sun arrives. That’s why I like fall.
I am so jealous! All our lawns are dead this year. If you see a green lawn it turns out to be Astroturf! We have had several cloudy days, but barely a drizzle. They are talking El Nino, so we should get heavy rains this winter. Hope so , trees are dying.
I saw in the video you were using your bare hand to sow the seed and yet you never stated on that. Yes you may not have a lot of oil on your palm but, there are many people that have oily palms that oil is from what the body makes. It is a general rule to never sow seeds with the bare hand as the oils that the body makes and comes out at the palm could coat the seeds enough to cause them not to germinate. Just thought I would make that point.
Robert,
I really don’t think it’s an issue, I really don’t buy into this arguement at all. I’ve always sown seed with my bare hands as have millions before me.
I have never used anything but my hands to sow seed ( grass and various other seeds.) I have never had the problem you are talking about. I have never heard your “general rule” before but I believe it is just an old wives tale. Neither my lawn nor gorden have never followed your “gener rule.” Believe only half of what people tell you and absolutely nothing you read on the internet… unless of course it comes from Mike McGroarty.