Water Smart Outdoors

Lawn Tips and Tools

Watering | Mowing | Composting | Replacing Sod
Over Seeding | De-thatching | Aerating
Controlling Weeds and Pests

Over seeding

Add additional grass seed to your lawn to ensure the grass remains full.

• Look for native species of grass seed that are adaptable to our climate and resistant to disease and drought.
• Use endophyte enhanced grass seed! (helps control hairy cinch bug).
• Topdressing with compost or top soil can be done at the same time.
• Early spring or fall is the best time to overseed.

De-thatching

Thatch is a tough mixture of dead grass and roots that accumulates at the soil surface.

• Excess thatch can be removed with a heavy rake or de-thatching equipment.
• Spring is the best time for de-thatching.

Aerating

Aerate your lawn to allow a better absorption of water, air and nutrients to the grass roots.

Aerate your lawn when:

• The ground is hard and compacted.
• Thatch is building up.
• Water is not being absorbed when you water the lawn.
• Aerating is best done in the fall.

Aeration Techniques

• Solid-tined machine that drives spikes into the ground.
• Core machine that removes small plugs from soil.

Controlling Weeds and Pests

Hand removal and natural pesticides are the best way to rid your lawn of weeds and pests. Your best defence against weeds and pests is not overwatering your lawn.

Weeds
Corn Gluten is a nontoxic byproduct of corn processing. Corn gluten prevents weed seeds from germinating. It also adds nitrogen to your soil.

Lawn Grubs
The most common type of lawn pest is the grub. Grubs are small white worm like insects. There is a natural remedy for lawn grubs called nematode worms. This natural treatment affects only the grubs, leaving other micro-organisms unharmed.