Soil, seed, and season

Grow a lawn you actually want to walk on.

A practical almanac for the home lawn. We dig into mowing height, watering rhythm, soil tests, seed selection, and the seasonal jobs that turn a thin, patchy yard into turf you actually want to walk on. Written plainly, for real gardens.

Grass Seed Calculator

Find how many pounds of grass seed to buy for a new lawn or an overseed, by grass type and lawn area.

40 lbs of pure seed for 5,000 sq ft.

These rates are for pure seed. Blends and coated seed list their own rate on the bag, so check the label. More seed than this is not better; overcrowded seedlings compete for light and water and a share of them just fail.

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Fresh from the yard

50 guides
Weeds & Pests

Why Your Lawn Has So Many Weeds (and How to Fix the Cause)

Weeds are a symptom, not the problem. Learn why thin turf, compaction, and mowing mistakes invite weeds, and how to fix the real cause.

July 4, 2026
Yard & Landscaping

How to Edge a Lawn for a Clean, Crisp Border

Learn how to edge a lawn for sharp, professional-looking borders along walkways and garden beds using the right tools and technique.

July 3, 2026
Tools & Equipment

How to Winterize Your Lawn Equipment

A plain-English guide to winterizing your lawn mower and other outdoor power tools before cold weather arrives, so they start reliably come spring.

July 3, 2026
Lawn Care Basics

Spring Lawn Cleanup: The First Jobs of the Season

A practical spring lawn care guide for beginners: when to start, what to rake, how to assess winter damage, and the first jobs that set up a strong growing s...

July 3, 2026
Seeding & Sod

How to Repair a Patchy Lawn With Seed

Learn how to do lawn patch repair the right way: scratch the soil, pick matching seed, water consistently, and get bare spots growing again in a few weeks.

July 2, 2026
Yard & Landscaping

Choosing and Installing Edging Between Lawn and Beds

A practical guide to lawn edging ideas: types of garden edging, metal vs plastic, and how to install landscape edging so beds stay tidy all season.

July 1, 2026
Soil & Feeding

How to Fix Compacted Soil in the Yard

Learn how to fix compacted soil with core aeration, topdressing, and follow-up care. Practical steps for a beginner to loosen hard soil and restore a struggl...

July 1, 2026
Tools & Equipment

Push, Self-Propelled, or Riding: Choosing the Right Mower

Not sure which mower to buy? Match your yard size and terrain to the right type — push, self-propelled, riding tractor, zero-turn, or robotic.

July 1, 2026
Soil & Feeding

Organic vs Synthetic Lawn Fertilizer

A practical guide to choosing between organic and synthetic lawn fertilizers, covering how each works, what they cost, and when to use one over the other.

June 30, 2026
Weeds & Pests

How to Identify and Get Rid of Crabgrass

Learn to identify crabgrass, kill it with post-emergent herbicide, and prevent it next year using pre-emergent and a thick, healthy lawn.

June 29, 2026
Tools & Equipment

Lawn Mower Maintenance: Oil, Air Filter, and Spark Plug

Learn how to change mower oil, clean the air filter, and replace the spark plug. A plain-language tune-up guide for beginner lawn care.

June 29, 2026
Weeds & Pests

How to Get Rid of Moss in the Lawn

Moss moves in when grass is struggling. This guide covers why moss grows, how to kill it, and what to fix so it doesn't come back.

June 28, 2026
Yard & Landscaping

How to Plan a Backyard Layout

A practical walkthrough for designing a backyard from scratch. Learn how to map zones, work with your site conditions, and build a small backyard plan that a...

June 28, 2026
Lawn Care Basics

How to Fix Brown Patches and Bare Spots in the Lawn

A step-by-step guide to diagnosing and repairing bare spots and brown patches in your lawn, from pet urine burns to grub damage and drought stress.

June 27, 2026
Seeding & Sod

Choosing the Right Grass Seed for a Shady Yard

Find the best grass seed for shade with this practical guide to shade-tolerant varieties, planting tips, and realistic expectations for growing grass under t...

June 26, 2026
Soil & Feeding

How to Test Your Lawn's Soil and Read the Results

Learn how to test lawn soil the right way: collecting samples, choosing a kit or lab, and decoding pH, phosphorus, and potassium results.

June 26, 2026
Soil & Feeding

Topdressing Your Lawn With Compost

Learn how to topdress a lawn with compost the right way: timing, application depth, spreading technique, and how to use it for leveling lawn low spots.

June 26, 2026
Yard & Landscaping

Low-Maintenance Backyard Ideas That Cut Down on Mowing

Practical ways to reduce lawn size and create an easy care backyard with less grass to mow, from ground covers to mulched beds and simple hardscaping.

June 25, 2026
Seeding & Sod

Cool-Season vs Warm-Season Grass: Which Is Right for Your Yard

Choose the right grass for your lawn: cool-season grasses for the north, warm-season for the south, and what to do in the tricky transition zone.

June 24, 2026
Weeds & Pests

How to Identify and Get Rid of Nutsedge

Learn to spot yellow and purple nutsedge, understand why pulling it back-fires, and find out which selective herbicides actually clear sedge from your lawn.

June 24, 2026
Tools & Equipment

How to Set Up and Adjust a Lawn Sprinkler

A practical guide to lawn sprinkler setup: choosing the right type, placing it correctly, dialing in coverage, and knowing how long to run it.

June 24, 2026
Seeding & Sod

Grass Seed vs Sod: Cost, Time, and Trade-offs

Sod vs seed: which is right for your yard? Compare costs, establishment timelines, and real trade-offs to choose the smarter option for your lawn.

June 23, 2026
Weeds & Pests

Common Lawn Diseases and How to Treat Them

Learn how to identify common lawn fungal diseases like brown patch, dollar spot, and red thread, and find out which fungicide for grass actually works.

June 22, 2026
Lawn Care Basics

How High Should You Cut Your Grass? Mowing Heights by Grass Type

Find the best mowing height for your lawn by grass type. Covers cool- and warm-season grasses, the one-third rule, and seasonal adjustments.

June 22, 2026
Lawn Care Basics

Should You Bag or Mulch Your Grass Clippings?

Bagging vs. mulching grass clippings: which is better for your lawn? Learn when grasscycling beats the bag and how to do both well.

June 21, 2026
Tools & Equipment

String Trimmer Basics: Line, Technique, and Care

Learn how to use a string trimmer safely and effectively, from holding the tool correctly to replacing line and edging crisp borders.

June 21, 2026
Soil & Feeding

Lime: When Your Lawn Actually Needs It

Find out when to lime a lawn, how to tell if your soil actually needs it, how much to apply, and the best time of year to get results.

June 20, 2026
Weeds & Pests

How to Spot and Treat Lawn Grubs

Learn how to get rid of lawn grubs with the right timing, products, and techniques. Covers signs of grubs, white grubs in soil, and when to treat.

June 19, 2026
Yard & Landscaping

Landscaping a Slope to Stop Erosion

Learn how to landscape a slope with practical erosion control on a hill: choosing plants, building terraces, and stopping soil washing away for good.

June 19, 2026
Lawn Care Basics

Fall Lawn Care: What to Do Before the First Frost

A practical fall lawn care checklist covering final mowing height, aeration, overseeding, fertilizing, leaf cleanup, and when to put the mower away for winter.

June 18, 2026
Lawn Care Basics

Dethatching: When Your Lawn Needs It and How to Do It

Learn what lawn thatch is, how to measure it, and when and how to dethatch using a rake or power machine for a healthier lawn.

June 17, 2026
Seeding & Sod

The Best Time of Year to Plant Grass Seed

Cool-season grasses do best seeded in early fall; warm-season grasses in late spring. Here's how to read soil temps and pick the right window.

June 17, 2026
Yard & Landscaping

How to Build and Plant a Simple Garden Bed

Learn how to make a garden bed from scratch: mark the shape, remove grass, improve soil with compost, then plant and mulch for a clean result.

June 16, 2026
Tools & Equipment

How to Use a Broadcast Spreader Correctly

Use a broadcast spreader the right way: set the rate from the bag, apply header strips, overlap at half rate, and calibrate to prevent striping.

June 15, 2026
Weeds & Pests

Dealing With Dandelions Without Wrecking the Lawn

Learn how to kill dandelions by pulling the full taproot or spot-treating with selective herbicide, plus the long-term fix: thicker turf.

June 14, 2026
Soil & Feeding

How to Raise or Lower Your Lawn's Soil pH

Learn how to adjust lawn soil pH using lime or elemental sulfur. Includes test-first approach, application rates by soil type, and a target pH table.

June 14, 2026
Seeding & Sod

How to Lay Sod for an Instant Lawn

Learn how to lay sod the right way — from soil prep and grading to staggered seams, rolling, and the watering schedule that gets roots down fast.

June 13, 2026
Yard & Landscaping

Ground Covers for Spots Where Grass Won't Grow

The best ground covers for shade, slopes, and high-traffic gaps where grass struggles, with practical plant picks and planting tips.

June 12, 2026
Lawn Care Basics

How to Aerate a Compacted Lawn

Learn how to aerate a compacted lawn with core aeration: when to do it, how deep to go, and what to do after to get thicker, healthier grass.

June 12, 2026
Tools & Equipment

How to Sharpen and Balance a Mower Blade

Learn how to sharpen and balance a mower blade safely at home. Covers removal, filing technique, angle, and balancing for a cleaner cut every time.

June 11, 2026
Soil & Feeding

A Simple Seasonal Fertilizing Schedule

Know exactly when to fertilize your lawn with this seasonal schedule for cool-season and warm-season grasses, including timing, rates, and what to avoid.

June 10, 2026
Weeds & Pests

How to Get Rid of Clover in the Lawn

Clover takes hold in low-nitrogen, thin turf. Learn how to remove it by hand, smother it, feed the lawn, or use a selective herbicide.

June 10, 2026
Seeding & Sod

Starting a New Lawn From Seed, Start to Finish

Learn how to plant grass seed the right way—soil prep, seeding rates, watering schedules, and first-mow timing for a new lawn that actually fills in.

June 9, 2026
Lawn Care Basics

A Month-by-Month Lawn Care Calendar

A seasonal lawn care calendar covering mowing, feeding, watering, and seeding for cool-season and warm-season grasses throughout the year.

June 8, 2026
Tools & Equipment

Electric vs Gas Lawn Mowers: How to Choose

Battery mowers handle most yards with less hassle. Gas still wins for large lots and tough conditions. Here's how to pick the right one.

June 7, 2026
Yard & Landscaping

How to Mulch Garden Beds the Right Way

Learn how to mulch flower beds properly: the right depth, best mulch types, how much to buy, and mistakes to avoid for healthier plants.

June 7, 2026
Weeds & Pests

Pre-Emergent vs Post-Emergent Weed Control, Explained

Learn how pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides work, when to apply each one, and how to combine them for a season-long weed control plan.

June 6, 2026
Seeding & Sod

How to Overseed a Thin Lawn for a Thicker Stand

Learn how to overseed a lawn the right way: timing, seed rates, prep, and aftercare to turn thin, patchy turf into a dense, healthy stand.

June 5, 2026
Soil & Feeding

Understanding Lawn Fertilizer Numbers (N-P-K)

The three numbers on a fertilizer bag are N-P-K percentages. Learn what each nutrient does and how to calculate the pounds you actually apply.

June 5, 2026
Lawn Care Basics

How Often and How Deep to Water Your Lawn

Learn how often to water your lawn, how deep roots need moisture, the best time of day to water, and how to adjust for soil type and season.

June 4, 2026

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