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The quickest way to kill weeds is to burn them, pour boiling water on them, or pull them out by hand. Each of these methods works instantaneously. Beyond that, using vinegar for grass works in a couple of hours, as do herbicides you can buy at the store. The slowest way to kill weeds is to starve them of nutrients and sunlight with mulch or fabric covers.

You can use a fungicide to help control powdery mildew, but you should apply it judiciously as it can damage soil health and persist in the soil. Most of the time, proper watering, surface drying, and limiting shade can control powdery mildew without needing harsher interventions. If you have a repeated problem with powdery mildew, you can also try planting a shade-resistant type of grass that will be less susceptible to the fungus.

You should put pre-emergent herbicide and fertilizer on your lawn in the spring. Pre-emergent herbicide keeps weeds from taking root. Fertilizer helps your grass to grow lush and dense and blocks future weeds from growing. You can also add amendments, such as sulfur and lime, to enhance your soil quality. 

At its core, soil pH is a measure of how many hydrogen ions are present in your soil. In highly acidic soil (low pH), plant growth is difficult due to reduced microbial availability in the dirt.

In highly alkaline soil, plants may struggle to grow due to iron deficiencies. In either case, a lack of balance deprives grass or plants of some key nutrients they need to grow.

A pH reading of 6 to 7.5 is ideal for most plants. Slight acidity is, generally speaking, less of an issue than slight alkalinity. Many plants can still thrive in slightly acidic soil.