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The best type of fertilizer depends on the type of grass and your desired end result. Generally speaking, slow-release fertilizers are best for grass, as they gradually release nutrients into your soil instead of all at once, which meets the needs of many grass types. However, the tradeoff is that slow-release fertilizers contain phosphorus, which negatively impacts local water quality. Also, some grasses require different formulations to meet the demands of the soil. Test your soil to see how acidic or alkaline it is before choosing a fertilizer. 

The first step is killing any current nutgrass plants, either through application of herbicides or sugar, by digging up the plants and rhizomes, or by using soil solarization. To discourage new nutgrass plants from forming, ensure proper landscape drainage and bring shade into areas of the lawn that are consistently damp.

A few common lawn maintenance mistakes include failure to use fertilizer, not committing to a yearly maintenance plan, and under- and over-watering your lawn. Other issues that might arise include poor timing of lawn treatments. It’s important to dethatch, aerate, and reseed your yard at the right time of year—preferably in early spring.

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.