The Yard Doctor's Most Popular Questions and Answers

By Briggs & Stratton Yard Doctor, Trey Rogers

Maintaining a nearly flawless lawn can sometimes feel like a bit of a mystery - but it doesn't have to be. I've addressed your top Frequently Asked Questions here. Want to be a great neighbor? Forward this on when you're finished and soon the whole neighborhood will be seeing green.

How often should I water my lawn?

With light but frequent watering you'll not only save water, but you'll also get the best out of your grass as well. About 0.1 to 0.2 inches per day of water will do the trick (check out How to Make a Simple Rain Gauge). However, this should be adjusted if your lawn looks drought stressed or you start seeing standing water.

Also, when you water can be just as important as how much you water. Early morning is best to reduce the amount of water lost by evaporation and uneven coverage caused by wind. More about watering your lawn.

How do I fix the bare spots in my lawn?

Nothing spoils the scenery like bare spots in your lawn. But they can be easily cured. First use a rake to loosen the top half-inch of the soil. Then apply the seed (select a sunny/shady mix of seed) with a starter fertilizer.

When choosing fertilizers, select a "complete" product containing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Then make sure it is high in nitrogen (10N-1P-5K is a typical ratio of a complete fertilizer high in nitrogen). Also, if water isn't available, a slow release fertilizer would work best. More on fertilization.

How do I get rid of the moss in my lawn?

Moss in your yard is an indication that there is too much shade and/or moisture. Fertilizer will reduce the visibility of moss, but will not solve the problem. And while there are products available for reducing moss, they'll only provide a temporary solution if shade and moisture factors are not addressed.

The most effective solution is to reduce the amount of water applied to the problem areas. Also, consider trimming or thinning tree limbs to decrease the overall amount of shade. More on moss.

How much and how often should I fertilize?

To get the most out of your fertilization, follow the "Holiday Plan." This plan suggests fertilizing four times annually, using a total of three pounds of nitrogen for every 1000 square feet.

Here's the breakdown:

1. Memorial Day - Apply one pound per 1000 square feets
2. July 4 - Apply a half-pound per 1000 square feet
3. Labor Day - Apply a half-pound per 1000 square feet
4. Thanksgiving Day - Apply one pound per 1000 square feet

When choosing fertilizers, select a "complete" product containing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Then make sure it is high in nitrogen (10N-1P-5K is a typical ratio of a complete fertilizer high in nitrogen). Also, if water isn't available, a slow release fertilizer would work best. More on fertilization.

How do I control weeds and keep them from returning?

If you're distraught by a lawn overrun with weeds, look for a three-way weed killer available at most garden centers and home improvement stores. This herbicide contains all the necessary ingredients (2,4 D, MCPP, and dicamba) to control the vast majority of weeds. Timing is an important factor, too. For dandelions, apply herbicides in early fall or just after they have flowered in the spring.

But the best weed prevention begins with proper mowing, fertility, and watering. Keeping these practices in balance will help keep your lawn weed free. Here's what you should do:

• First, mow frequently and follow the one-third rule (never cut more than one-third of the leaf blade off in a single mowing). This promotes weed density - the key to preventing weed germination.
• Second, follow a balance nitrogen fertility plan by applying conservative amounts of nitrogen when grass is actively growing (for cool season grasses, this is in spring and fall; for warm seasons, it's late spring and summer). Follow instructions on the bag to avoid overfertilization which causes rapid growth that can actually promote weed growth.

Finally, watering is the final piece to the puzzle. Remember that climate, type of grass, soil type and time of year all dictate the water rules in your area; but one constant rule is to assume your grass needs one inch of water each week during the growing season. For best results, water the early morning. More on weed control.

How long should I stay out of my lawn after spraying pesticides or fertilizing?

The answer can be found right on your product's label. What to look for? The REI. All lawn pesticides and products that are potentially harmful to humans and pets are assigned an REI (Restricted Entry Interval), or the time after a pesticide application during which you should avoid contact with the treated area. Following the REI recommendations will prevent exposure to active pesticides that can be absorbed through the skin. Be aware that REIs will differ depending on whether you're using a liquid, granular, fast-release or organic products.

It's also important to note that rodenticides (products for rodents) are the most harmful to humans and pets, followed by insectides (products for insects and bugs), while herbicides (weed control products) have the least effect on humans.

How do I get weeds out of my landscaping bricks?

If your weeds are isolated to your bricks, try using a product called RoundUp (glyphosate), a non-selective sprayable herbicide.

But keep in mind that RoundUp will kill anything green that it touches. If you have weeds that creep out from your bricks into your lawn, you'll want to try a product like Weed B Gon Max, a selective product that will not harm your coexisting turfgrass. All of these products can be purchased at any garden center or home improvement store.

Can I have a nice lawn without using pesticides or chemicals?

Weeds are the result of poor lawn maintenance - not the cause of less than beautiful lawns. So again, the best way to prevent weeds in a more natural garden is by following the four important practices routinely - mowing, fertilizing, watering, and cultivation. Keeping chemicals out of your yard also requires some patience; typically it will take more than one season to achieve your goals.

How do I get stripes in my lawn, like at the golf course or a professional baseball field?

Getting fancy? These pleasing patterns are the result of using rollers along with a mower specially-designed for use on athletic fields. While attaching rollers to your mower will give you the best results, you can get similar effects from most mowers alone.

Just follow the mowing technique of field managers: Mow in a side-by-side direction (north and south), bending the grass blades within the mowing lanes in opposite directions. The grass blades laying toward you will appear dark green because they are reflecting the sunlight away from you, whereas the blades bending away from you appear lighter because they are reflecting light in your direction, creating the striping effect.

Submit your own question to the Yard Doctor and find more answers, in the Yard Doctor's FAQs section.