/r/lawncare
Lawn care guides, pictures, and discussions.
How to Get the Most out of Your Post
Include a photo of the problem. You can upload to imgur.com for free and it's easy to do. One photo should contain enough information for people to understand the immediate area around the problem (dense shade, extremely sloped, etc.). Other photos should include close-ups of the grass or weed in question: such as this, this, or this. The more photos or context to the situation will help us identify the problem and propose some solutions.
Plant Hardiness Zones:
^ Add your zone to your flair under Community Options! ^
Identify What's in Your Yard
Measure Your Yard
Identifying Turfgrass Problems
Weed Control
Cool Season Weed Control Guide
Fungus Control
Insect Control
Lawn Insects & Control Options
Lawn Calcs
Fertilizing Your Lawn
How to Spread Granular Fertilizer
Granular Fertilizer Calculator
Establishing Your Lawn
Establishing Your Lawn from Seed
Establishing Your Lawn from Sod
Having an Organic Lawn
Natural Organic Lawn Care for Ohio
Cornell Lawn Care Without Pesticides
Find the university of your state/region:
US Cooperative Extension Services
Arkansas - University of Arkansas
Florida - University of Florida
Nebraska - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
New Hampshire - The University of New Hampshire
New Jersey - Rutgers University
Ohio - The Ohio State University
Oregon - Oregon State University
Vermont - The University of Vermont
Canadian Cooperative Extension Services
Ontario - University of Guelph
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Last Updated: 09/19/2022
/r/lawncare
778,058 Subscribers
Best grass seed for Florida?
I live 1.5 miles from the beach so my soil is pretty sandy. Recommendations for seeding my lawn? I’ve been using truegreen for fertilization and weed control.
17:58 UTC
Mushrooms in Lawn
Does anyone have any thoughts on what might be causing the mushrooms, or more importantly, what I can do to prevent them from popping up in the future? It started about a year ago, but has been getting progressively worse. I’ve tried altering how much water, etc. but nothing seems to help. Any advice is appreciated.
15:59 UTC
I need a Christmas miracle
Y’all I need some help. I’m at my parents’ house until 12/27 and I don’t know what to do about their lawn. Obviously it’s winter but it’s so weedy and blah. Is there anything I can do right now?
15:42 UTC
Dormant Grass
Once the grass goes dormant do you ever cut once or twice before spring?
15:00 UTC
Soil Erosion between concrete porch and deck
New homeowner here, located just north of Atlanta, GA. I've a strip of Bermuda grass (25 ft x 28 in), in the back of my house, between the concrete porch and the deck that slopes and has developed several holes. Pics provided. The holes are closest to the deck and this area gets partial sun in the morning. What is the best plant to permanently resolve this issue and keep it from returning? Do I replace it myself with some Loriope or Mondo grass. Do I need to do any prepping or applying anything before the planting? Is this something that requires a professional or can I DIY?
13:39 UTC
The scifi future of grass seed pre-treatment? Cold plasma treatment. Someone try this!
So, I just learned about cold plasma treatment of seeds. You pump helium through a coil they electrifies it, and you aim the plasma jet at seed for X amount of time. The plasma does some wacky stuff to the Nitrogen and oxygen in the seed that makes it more reactive, which ultimately improves the germination AND long term growth characteristics of the grass.
Here's an awesome review about the broad topic of cold plasma in agriculture
I was only able to find 2 studies about the application of this for turf grass. One is, unfortunately, just an abstract but it certainly sounds promising. And this one about treating zoysia cuttings is awesome.
And apparently, it's relatively easy to build a mini cold plasma jet. This guy made a crazy simple build. Which, btw, requires also making a slayer exciter. Or atleast, that's what the guy used in that simple build.
Obviously, the big design challenge here is how to make a wider jet (or numerous small jets?) to be able to treat an appreciable amount of seed, since each seed needs to be exposed to the plasma for a total of atleast 30 seconds. Though, mentioned in the review at the top of this post is the generation of plasma-activated water, which could be more feasible than a tiny jet of plasma.
I'm juggling too many experiments at the moment, and my wallet can't handle any more 😅 Plus, this just falls outside my practical skillset. So, someone try this!
09:18 UTC
HELP (new lawn troubles)
I recently laid new Kykuya lawn and left the irrigation on for twice a day. It’s been a month and I believe I’ve over watered it, and since trying to cut it right back it seems to be dead and spreading. Could this be something else what do I do?
04:00 UTC
Won a gift card to a local lawn care company. What should I do with it?
I like cutting my own grass. I have a couple small trees that shed leaves that I don’t mind picking up once a year. Any one have any idea on how $150 could be spent in random fashion?
01:18 UTC
Weird mushrooms in my lawn
Hi, so I’m in socal and I found a few groups of these mushrooms around my lawn! Does anyone know what they are and if they’re poisonous? I don’t plan on eating but I have a dog and I hustle want to be safe
00:44 UTC
Vigoro fertilizer
Has anyone used Vigoro weed and feed fertilizer? My local home depots got it on clearance for 6 bucks. If there stuffs quality imma raid home depot tomorrow and stock up for the spring. Let me know of yall thoughts!!
00:22 UTC
Any idea what this is?
And can it be defeated with a springtime dethatching / aeration / topsoil / overseed and regular fertilizing? I’m trying to avoid herbicide. Located in western Washington.
23:40 UTC
[Update] My NJ Lawn Company wants to December Fertilization
About 1 week ago, I asked for input about my lawn company plan to fertilize my lawn on 12/17 Tuesday. Turned out that it was a lawn application which I ultimately declined (see below for details).
For next year, I am debating whether to do all myself (which I am hesitating due to the effort) or continue with lawn care company...
THANK YOU for all your input/comments on the last post. Much appreciated.
Update
Called the lawn company on (12/16), they indicated that it was lime application. They will test the soil, and apply lime. Furthermore, to alleviate my concern of having heavy machinery, they would use push spreaders.
They came on Friday (12/20), the technician was to apply the lime without any soil testing. Told me that it is their standard practice. While they were amendable to perform testing, they didn't have their lime test kit with them. They proposed to return Saturday. I did inquire about the anticipated snow coming in - which they were not concern. As if there were issues, they can further postpone it.
I ended up calling the office to cancel the lime application for this year. Just not comfortable about them performing any tasks (other than dormant seeding) during winter time and dormant season.
I expect that lawncare companies stop activities after 11/31 to prevent damage to dormant grass. I also expect that lime test to be performed before lime application.
Questions
Am I correct to not perform any tasks (other than dormant seeding) during winter and dormant season? Am I expecting too much from standard lawncare companies - testing acidity before applying lime?
23:02 UTC
Help for interim solution to mud until spring?
Hi all! First time poster, long time lurker (on my old account). Hoping for some guidance! (ETA...title should be FOR mud, not TO mud...whoops!)
I bought a house this year with a very run down lawn, that now that it's winter is basically just mud. I've got a landscaper buddy that is helping me draft some plans and solutions, but we aren't going to be able to start our reno work until things fully thaw out in the spring, probably February at the earliest but likely March (Right now the weather is hanging out around freezing, which just makes the mud freeze and thaw and freeze again.)
So. My question is this: is there a material I can use between now and March to safely be able to walk in my yard without slipping everywhere? But that is also removable in the spring when we start our work? I'm tempted to just put down some stepping stones, it's that bad. But would love better/easier solutions if they exist! (Like for instance, I'm wondering what contractors use when they're working on a new build and there's no lawn yet, is there a material for that?)
22:05 UTC
What species of grass is this most likely? Houston TX
Buddy just bought a house in Houston and the lawn has some special grass that is thin and soft. Anyone know what it could be?
22:03 UTC
How to I stop the new grass I’m trying to grow from dying?
I’ve filled in a ditch next to the driveway, some of the grass have grown in nicely but some died leaving it patchy. Now some of the other new grass has died too. It’s summer here so it gets pretty hot but sometimes having cooler days. I water it almost everyday. I’m assuming it’s dying from the days being too hot? How do I fix it?
21:58 UTC
How do I keep cats out of my backyard lawn?
We are renting a house for the past three years, and lately there’s two cats that keep roaming my backyard at night, which keep setting off my ring cameras in the middle of the night. I think they might belong to, or are being fed by, a neighbor two houses down. We see the cats don’t run away from them like they do us.
The two cats used to be in the front at night, but they stayed far enough not to trigger my front camera except once a month or less. Not sure why they now started roaming the back. Now set my camera off EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. In the backyard. I’m tired, my sleep keeps getting interrupted.
I was wondering what can I use to keep them out? I don’t want them messing up the lawn either but it seems they mostly are walking on the cement walkway. They don’t seem to go on the actual lawn much. Is there some kind of repellant that won’t wash away with all the Florida rain, or something else you’d recommend?
My backyard is weird and is set up like a U shape so I don’t get a ton of straight sun on the ground for solar activated items unless they can be mounted higher up. My camera in the back is battery operated but luckily the battery lasts like 5 months between charges.
13:33 UTC
Material needed to absorb water in muddy areas of yard for dogs
Need advice: Looking for temporary ground cover for a muddy backyard for the winter.
12:48 UTC
Tiff tuff lawn care
I am planning to fertilise my lawn, which I should have done in November but am planning now as I have some time. Is it ok to cut it and then lay the fertiliser? Or should I just use fertiliser and cut it in a week. The grass is tiff tuff.
Secondly, I need to law some sand to level some of the bumps, can I just use sand or should I use a mix of sand and top soil?
11:08 UTC
New to lawn caring. Need some advice.
I recently moved into a home with a medium sized lawn. I'm not sure what kind of grass it is. A garden service came around and mowed it down quite a bit. He said it needed to be done to allow the lawn to grow back with less patchy or dense bits it had before the mow. I was told to layer compost over the top of it and water a lot. We're in peak summer time in South Africa and the sun is baking the he'll out of it. I went to the local agri shop and the sales guy was convinced I need to use potting soil. Will that work or is there a better option? Also, would I need to punch holes before the time?
11:04 UTC
Overgrown and overrun
Hey all, looking for advice for this under loved lawn. Seems to be completely overrun by weeds, wondering what the best steps would be to rid the lawn of weeds and hopefully get it back to good
Thank you! 😊
05:09 UTC
Please help identify, Tasmania, Australia
Please help me identify and how to get rid of it
04:54 UTC