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Buffalo grass does not turn green as early in the spring as some other grasses. If you have a heavily shaded yard, buffalo grass may not receive enough sunlight to thrive. It’s not as dense as some other grass varieties, so it may not feel as comfortable on bare feet.

There are organic herbicide options that will kill grass but not flowers, including white vinegar or a dish soap solution. Commercial selective herbicides can also target grass over other plants, but read the instructions carefully to avoid damaging your garden. Herbicides that kill grass but not flowers usually include ingredients like clethodim and sethoxydim. Otherwise, your best bet will be to weed by hand.

Pulling weeds can spread weed seeds and disturb the soil, leading to seed germination. Pulling weeds can also trigger growth in weeds that reproduce through their root systems—disturbing the roots without fully removing them may cause more weeds to grow from the roots.

Clover lawns stand up better against dog and cat urine than traditional turfgrass. If your pets love to hang out on the lawn on a sunny day—or if you find yourself with a lot of visiting neighborhood dogs—you could save yourself from yellow and brown patches by making the switch to a clover lawn.