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Chiggers thrive in overgrown lawns, so regular mowing will deter these annoying mites. It may not remove every single chigger, however, so follow that up with weeding and trimming any nearby trees and bushes. Pay special attention to moist, shady spots, as these are a chigger’s preferred habitat. When all else fails, sprinkle your yard with diatomaceous earth. It kills chiggers by dehydrating their exoskeletons. Diatomaceous earth is basically ground-up shells, so there’s no risk of injury to animals.

Ultimately, pulling weeds vs. spraying them depends on what’s happening in your yard and your personal preferences. Manual weed removal doesn’t introduce any chemicals into your landscape, targets specific problematic plants, produces immediate results, can be free if you go the DIY route, and is inexpensive with a weed service if you only have a handful of weeds. On the other hand, spraying is often preferable for severe weed infestations and situations involving difficult-to-pull weeds because it treats multiple weeds at once, is usually more effective long-term, is less time-consuming, and costs less when done by a pro.

Stick to your watering schedule. As long as new grass is getting plenty of water from irrigation, it shouldn’t need watering right after you cut it. Watch for signs like yellowing grass that shows a new lawn isn’t getting enough water and needs more regular irrigation. If you want to water after mowing, wait until the afternoon. Hot, direct sunlight can scorch grass more easily when it’s wet, so it’s better to wait until the day has cooled off.

You should not water your lawn every day, even in hot weather. For most lawns, watering one to three times per week is sufficient. It is best to water during a drought or when temperatures are high, but avoid watering in the middle of the day or if the temperature exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme heat will cause the water to evaporate before the soil can fully absorb it. The best time to water is in the early morning at dawn or in the early evening (between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.) when the temperature is cooler.