Poison ivy is a common summer lawn care nuisance due to the irritating, rash-causing oil in its leaves: urushiol. Urushiol gets on the skin when poison ivy leaves are damaged, torn, bruised or burned. It leaves behind itchy rashes and blisters. Knowing how to kill poison ivy can keep your outdoor space irritant-free. Poison ivy is…

Don’t let pesky weeds ruin your garden feng shui or crowd out your tomatoes or herbs. Instead, put together a plan to stop weeds in their tracks. Professional lawn care services can handle weeds for you and will typically cost $25 to $200 for an herbicide treatment, according to our March 2024 lawn expert interview…

Plants likely grow in your garden — with or without your help. But creating a garden design that balances annuals and perennials with your lawn takes work. “The design is the blueprint for the project and can make all the difference between a mediocre installation versus a spectacular one,” said Joe Raboine, vice president of…

A lush lawn can be a point of pride, but maintaining always-green grass comes with its fair share of challenges, especially if you live in an area with moderate heat, high humidity and lots of shade. One unusual disease that favors these conditions is lawn rust, or grass rust. Grass rust is a fungal disease…

A gorgeously green lawn might be as American as apple pie. And yet a huge swath of the population is admittedly perplexed by their turf. One in four Americans aren’t confident in their lawn care capabilities, with weed control and browning grass among the top challenges, reported the 2024 Tractor Supply Survey.  Spring is a…

Consider hydroseeding if you want a lush, grassy foundation in a jiffy. Hydroseeding is a technique that can produce faster results than overseeding — you might start to see signs of new grass in a matter of days. “Hydroseeding is the spray of a mixture of seed, moisture and adhesive that can prevent erosion,” explained…

Though it may sound like something you do on evening strolls as you admire your neighbors’ handiwork (“Now, that lawn striping is a solid A+!”), yard grading has nothing to do with judging grass and gardens. It is, however, the foundation for creating a solid lawn and is crucial for protecting your home from water…

A well-maintained lawn is one thing. Growing food and flowers from seed, on the other hand, is utterly fulfilling. Whether you start seeds indoors or plant directly into the ground, garden seeding will save you money.  Starting plants from seeds is the most economical way to start a garden, as it is significantly less expensive…

The scent of freshly cut grass says summer, but crisp edging is what gives your home true curb appeal. A straight edge around walkways and flower beds is pretty and makes lawn maintenance easier. By establishing a barrier, you’re practicing weed control and protecting your flower beds from invasive weeds. Tackling edging for the first…

Spring is in full swing and your lawn is calling. “While regular watering and mowing practices are important, aeration, dethatching and overseeding can lead to long-term turf health,” said Ron Scheffler, a lawn and turf expert and senior product manager with Bobcat Company. Aeration is a crucial component of lawn care. Without it, soil can…

TruGreen is the best lawn care company for homeowners needing full-service lawn care due to its various plan options and flexible services. Weed Man makes sense for homeowners with specific lawn issues, such as mole control services. Both companies feature similar services overall, so it boils down to availability: TruGreen services 48 states compared to…

Moss control can be challenging — in most cases, you can easily remove moss with a rake, but it can recur if you don’t fix the underlying issue that led to its growth. You have three options regarding your moss problem: acceptance, combat or correction, according to Chris Funke, turf agronomist for Mariani Landscape in…

Often grown long in swirling patterns, fescue grass is frequently compared with whimsical vegetation from Dr. Seuss’ books. Not only is fescue grass striking, but it is easy to care for and can survive in various climates. To get the lowdown on this distinctively tough turfgrass, we contacted natural science manager Teri Valenzuela of Sunday,…

Brown spots on your once-healthy green lawn aren’t just unsightly — they’re often a sign of an underlying condition that requires attention and could put your entire lawn at risk. Whether it’s a pest infestation, poor soil health or quickly spreading disease, you’ll want to determine the cause of your lawn’s brown spots before starting…

Creeping Charlie, scientifically known as Glechoma hederacea, is a persistent weed that has invaded residential lawns for generations. The plant originated in Europe and was introduced to North America in the 1800s. Also known as ground ivy, creeping Charlie thrives in moist, shady areas but can adapt to various conditions. It grows low to the…

If you want a hands-on approach to lawn care, Sunday Lawn Care delivers through its customized subscription service. However, Sunday’s products require consistent application and effort for the best results. Based on my experience testing the products and our full methodology review, we recommend Sunday as our top subscription lawn care company. Sunday analyzes your…

St. Augustine grass requires proper care and lawn maintenance to thrive. It can succumb to brown spots and thin growth without routine mowing, watering, and weed and pest prevention.  If your St. Augustine lawn has been looking lax rather than lush lately, don’t panic. You can take several approaches to restore and revive it, including…

Is your lawn in need of a serious makeover? With thinning, dead spots, brown grass and weeds, a lawn can go from pristine to patchy in a single season. We spoke with lawn experts Rafi Friedman, CEO of Coastal Luxury Outdoors, and Marty Teresi, host of The Grass Station Podcast, to get their input on…

While a nuisance, weeds in your yard or flower beds can provide valuable insight into your lawn’s health. They can reveal underlying problems such as soil compaction, poor drainage, nutrient deficiencies or even inadequate sunlight.  But when weeds begin to overstay their welcome, consider a lawn weed killer. Finding the best weed killer starts with…

There’s nothing quite like the first weeks of spring after a long, cold winter. If you’re a homeowner, this also means restoring your lawn to a state of bounty with spring lawn care. But before you begin picking out blooming flora, it’s time to repair your lawn from any wintertime damage or snow mold and…

Weed Man is a franchise full-service lawn care company that provides an extensive list of lawn care and pest control services. It’s one of the few national lawn care companies we’ve reviewed that offers landscape bed and xeriscape weed control services. In addition, Weed Man has an online customer portal where you can pay for…

If water remains in your sprinkler system throughout the winter, it will freeze when outside temperatures dip below freezing. Water expands when it freezes, leading to burst pipes. Replacing these underground pipes is time-consuming and expensive, so you should winterize your sprinkler system before temperatures drop. Winterizing your sprinkler system requires shutting off water to…

Summer is a great time to relax, but don’t forget about your lawn. With soaring temps, seasonal droughts and pesky pests, your lawn needs a little extra love during the summer months. Warm weather means lots of plants popping up — including weeds. Weeds steal nutrients, water and sunlight from your grass, so start your…

Regardless of where you are geographically, most lawns only need 1 inch of water every week, including any rainfall, to remain healthy. While there is no exact window for how long you should water your lawn, typically, it takes about 30 minutes to gather a 1/2-inch of water in the summer months.  Specific watering times…

When it comes to turfgrass tasks, you need to be one season ahead. The mantra “a failure to plan is planning to fail” is surprisingly apt regarding lawn care.  Whether you’ve cared about turfgrass for ages or your interest in DIY landscaping is new, embracing a lawn care schedule will help you succeed. Additionally, not…

Do you ever look at your neighbor’s lawn and ponder: Why can’t my lawn look like that? The old saying may tell you that the grass is always greener on the other side, but you don’t have to long for someone else’s beautiful lawn. As long as you know when to fertilize your lawn, you…

Clover is beneficial to both your lawn and pollinators, though it may easily take over your yard if left unchecked. To get rid of clover in your lawn naturally, you may create a DIY white vinegar solution to spray on clover leaves. This dries them out and effectively kills the clover. You may also cover…

The right time to plant grass seed in the spring depends on the type of grass you have, where you live and the current weather in your area. Growing a vibrant green lawn takes work. Part of it is hands-on yardwork; the other part is knowing what to do before you get your hands dirty. …

As you’re ready to kick off a new lawn care season, you might find yourself less than excited if your yard is dotted with fluffy dandelion heads and other weeds. That backyard oasis you’ve been dreaming of all winter doesn’t materialize on its own. Wish as you may for lush grass, chances are, your yard…

You can choose from two types of lawn care services in the market: full-service and subscription. As the name suggests, full-service companies perform most of the lawn care for your home. Subscription lawn care companies send lawn care products that you apply to your lawn at established intervals. Full-service lawn care companies take the guesswork…