What can I do now to ensure a lush lawn next year?

Question

I have an icky lawn now, dandelions and bald patches, etc. What can I do now to help this ? I live in Chicago

Answer 1

i use Scotts turf builder with weed control. i live in south bend Indiana with is only 90 miles from you so we are pretty much the same zone. i only use Scott's anything else seems to burn or not do too much weed control. they have a 3 step program that i have heard works really well. but i just use the turf builder with weed control. it kills hundreds of varieties of weeds. but, be careful not to get near flower beds, it will also kill flowers. i use preen in the early spring in the flower beds to keep weeds out. you must use it early spring any later and you will not have good results.

Answer 2

Seeing as they had snow in Alberta Canada yesterday, I'd say skip the reseeding till spring now. However,
do get rid of your dandilions - either by hand or spray each with a selective herbicide.
Then, it is time to feed your lawn with a "winter" fertilizer, one with high middle and last numbers. This will feed the roots and help make the grass lawn - resistance to disease and hardy against any winter you may get.
Come spring, rough up the bald patches, fertilize the whole lawn with a spring feed - again high last 2 numbers - and reseed the bald patches useing peat moss to hold the moisture and protect the seed till it gets a good start.
Please note: You can not and will not have a healthy lawn unless the roots are healthy. So spend the extra money and time and do fall and spring feed the roots.

Answer 3

1) Fertilize 3 times, spring, summer, fall. (Us fertilizer only, not weed and feed)
2) Mow frequently (this helps a lot with the weeds)
3) Spot treat the dandelions with a weedkiller (Don't use a widespread weedkiller or weed and feed as these are BAD for your trees and other plants.
4) Seed the bald patches and top dress with topsoil/mulch now.
5) Water 1" weekly - do not over water or water too frequently.

Answer 4

Fall is the best time to rejuvinate a lawn for next spring. Fill in the blad spots with seed. Apply weed killer to the weeds, or entire lawn if it is overrun. Fertilize lightly. It might sound like a waste of time and money given the lawn is going to be going to be dormant soon, but it is exactly what the lawn needs to be good next year.

I am going to kill weeds and fertilize my lawn in the next week or so. The time is right to get the best benefit from the money spent.