Get matched with top lawn fertilization and treatment specialists in Ravenna, NE

You can thicken new grass by using fertilizer, watering it 1 to 1½ inches per week, mowing when it is at an optimal height, and preventing weeds. You should fertilize your grass while you plant the grass seed, or soon afterward. Use an herbicide to prevent weeds or spot spray with herbicide to kill existing weeds.

Whether organic or synthetic fertilizers are better for your lawn depends on your goals, budget, and plans for other lawn treatments. Organic fertilizer costs more but is likely to benefit your lawn more in the long run by improving the soil as well as feeding your grass. Synthetic fertilizers get faster results but don’t enrich the soil and may contaminate nearby bodies of water if you live on a shoreline. A hybrid fertilizer may be an option to give you the benefits found in both organic and synthetic fertilizers.

If the grass is dead, you cannot bring it back to life. However, you can grow new grass in its place or try the methods mentioned above to revive the grass if it isn’t entirely dead. You can expect St. Augustine grass to come back after moderate droughts, but it will suffer significant nutrient loss after an extended period of drought.

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.