A simple, "preventative maintenance" care plan will keep your lawn in top shape all year 'round -Just follow these 10 easy steps:

Note For a beautiful lawn you may wish to consider using an Organic Lawn Fertilizer

• Start with a good soil preparation

  If you're starting a new lawn, you'll never regret the investment you make now in improving the soil. Grass grows best in a well-drained blend of topsoil, sand and organic matter several inches deep. Remove any hard packed snow patches and rake out old thatch to allow the grass to "breathe". Top up with a specially formulated soil.

• Seed if Necessary

  As with fertilizer, buying quality grass seed pays off in a thicker growth. Use a good quality mixture to patch bare spots, or spread overall late in fall or early spring. Rake lightly to ensure the seed contacts the soil, apply a starter fertilizer and water as necessary to keep the lawn from drying out.

• Control Crabgrass

  If crabgrass was a problem last year, apply a Crabgrass Preventer in early spring to control crabgrass as it starts to germinate.

• Control Broadleaf Weeds

  Weeds like dandelion, plantain, chickweed and others compete with grass for soil nutrients... and they usually win. If your lawn has a few weeds, spot-treat them with WeedOut. But if your lawn is over-run with weeds, then a "Weed and Feed" fertilizer is your best bet.

• Water...but only if needed

  Don't be afraid to let the top surface of the soil dry out...this will encourage deep-rooted, stress-tolerant grass.

• Control insects

  White grubs, chinch bugs, leather-jackets, ants, wireworms and many common insects could destroy your lawn if conditions favour them. Try this: Cut off both ends of a coffee tin, sink half way into the soil, and fill with water. If several chinch bugs make their way to the surface, apply a insect control product such as C-I-L® GrubOut.

• Use the Correct Mower Height

  In dry summer weather, let the grass grow out a bit, and then cut with the mower set up higher. In the fall, cut shorter again to avoid giving turf diseases a place to develop in the foliage.

• If you don't need to control weeds or insects, don't

  Application of a regular lawn fertilizer like Golden Vigoro 24-4-8 every 10 to 12 weeks may be all you need to keep your lawn healthy.

• Rake leaves so the grass can breathe

  Chopped up, they make a great mulch for gardens.

• Don't forget to feed in the fall

It's one of the most important feedings. For strengthening turf over the winter, use a fertilizer with less nitrogen than a spring fertilizer, but higher potash levels. The nitrogen stays put under the snow cover, ready for a quick start in the spring. Courtesy: News Canada

Flowers Shrubs Vines Plants Bulbs Tools and Carts Composting Pest Control

Perrenial Annual Pots Planters Hanging Baskets Pond Supplies Wind Chimes

Whether you enjoy cooking with fresh herbs or prefer to use them for their medicinal qualities, an herb garden can be a fun, satisfying hobby.Click Here for more info on Herb Gardens

Spring is an excellent time to consider simple, outdoor living enhancements like container water gardens.Click Here for a few tips concerning Water Gardens

The makings for nature’s best, most complete fertilizer may be wilting in your refrigerator’s vegetable bin. Click Here for tips for creating your own Garden Compost

Top of Lawn Page

Decorating Country Home Page