Several varieties of lawn grasses (such as zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass and centipedegrass) are vigorous growers and produce large quantities of stems, rhizomes, stolons and roots that are resistant to decay. That layer of dead, non-decayed organic matter that develops between the green grass and the soil surface is called thatch. A shallow layer (1/2”…

Stopping weeds before they gain a “roothold” in your lawn is one of the smartest cultural practices you can use. Applying a preemergence herbicide does just that — it doesn’t stop the weed seeds from actually germinating, but it kills the new seedlings before they “emerge” by providing a chemical barrier at the soil surface.…

Soil tests provide important information about the nutrient status of the soil under your grass. You can use the test results to select and apply the kind of nutrients, and how much, to provide the optimum soil fertility for your particular kind of grass. In fact, without conducting a soil test first, fertilizing a lawn,…

A recent article published on Bloomberg.com illustrates the dangers of municipalities financially rewarding citizens who replace their lawn grass with an alternative surface, such as gravel. According to the article, the years-long drought in southern California spurred local water districts to offer a combined rebate of $3.75 per square foot for homeowners and businesses to…