Lawns, pruning, soil, compost, watering, plant health, pests and weeds.
Quick answer: The summer pruning window runs roughly from midsummer through early autumn, once a tree or shrub’s most vigorous spring growth has slowed but while it still has enough of the growing season left to heal the cut. It suits deciduous ”bleeders” like maples, birches and dogwoods, most established shade trees, hedges, and stone…
Quick answer: Scarify a lawn once a year, ideally in mid-spring or late summer to early fall, when the soil is moist but not soggy and the grass is actively growing. Set the blades 3–5 mm (about 1/8 inch) into the turf for light thatch, up to 8 mm (1/3 inch) for heavy moss. Aerate…
Quick answer: Shape gives it away. Round dead spots with a dark green ring around them are almost always dog urine. Large, uneven tan patches in July–August that spring back within a day or two of deep watering are drought stress. Circular patches with a smoky purple-gray border in hot, humid weather point to brown…
Moss in a lawn almost always means shade, compacted or poorly drained soil, low soil pH, or grass that’s already thin from low fertility or mowing too short. Rake or scarify it out, ideally in early autumn while the grass is still growing, oversow the bare patches straight away, and fix the underlying cause —…
Quick answer: For most cool-season lawns, the correct mowing height is 6–8 cm (2.5–3 in) during the regular growing season, raised to 8–9 cm (3–3.5 in) in shade or drought, and lowered to about 5–6 cm (2–2.5 in) only for the final cut of the year. Never remove more than a third of the blade…
Quick answer: Most lawn weeds are broadleaf plants like dandelion, clover, and plantain, or grassy weeds like crabgrass and quackgrass, and both usually move in where the grass is already thin. Pull small numbers by hand, roots included, mow no shorter than 3 inches (7.5 cm), and feed the lawn in spring so it can…
Quick answer: Rake up winter debris as soon as the ground is workable, but hold off on fertilizing, liming and dethatching until the grass itself is actively growing — timing varies by climate zone. Make the first cut once the grass reaches about 3 in (7–8 cm) and never remove more than a third of…
Quick answer: Lay turf on prepared, evenly moist soil that’s free of roots and stones to a depth of 15–20 cm (6–8 in). Install the same day it’s delivered, in a staggered brick-like pattern with tight seams, then water immediately and thoroughly. For the first 2–3 weeks, water almost daily, keep foot traffic off the…
Good lawn care comes down to four numbers: mow at 6–9 cm (2.5–3.5 in) and never remove more than a third of the blade, apply no more than 0.5 kg nitrogen per 100 m² (1 lb per 1,000 sq ft) in one go, water 25 mm (1 in) a week instead of a little every…
Quick answer: sow grass seed once the soil has warmed to at least 8–10°C (46–50°F), ideally in late summer to early autumn or, second best, in mid-spring. Use roughly 35–50 g per square metre (about 3–4.5 lb per 1,000 sq ft) for bare soil, rake it in no deeper than 1 cm (0.4 in), keep…