Weeds do not like competition. If your lawn is happy, weeds have a hard time starting. The same applies to flower beds and gardens. Avoid turning flower beds as buried seeds will germinate once they are near the surface.

Chickweed does not survive winter. Their seeds do. By carefully removing a thin layer of soil from the top of the bed early in the spring, you can eliminate chickweed completely. Thousands of seeds are dropped on the surface of the soil when the plant matures. These seeds survive winter and germinate long after the adult plant is gone. If you follow this technique, chickweeds will be gone within two seasons.

Timing is critical. If any seed pods are visible on a mature plant, remove and dispose of the plant carefully. Seeds can be planted accidentaly during handling. Herbicides are effective only when applied before or during flowering. Timely removal is the best method of control.

Eliminate dandelions and other tap root plants easily by cutting 1/2" below the surface with a utility knife. The plant dies and will not grow back. Dandelions prefer dry areas without competition. A healthy lawn stops dandelions from starting.

We plant grass in flower beds with lawn mowers and weed whips. Grass usually starts from seeds and clippings. The cure is simple. Lawn mowers always fling debris in one direction. Cut in a counter clockwise direction and grass seeds are thrown away from beds rather than into them.

Cut grass at nearly the highest setting. Your lawn will be more tolerant to drought as well as appearing greener. This way you cut the tops of the leaves rather than the stems.

You get a lusher lawn requiring less maintenance and less watering. The amount of grass clippings is reduced greatly. Fertilize and water early in the season. Repeat as you see fit and do not let your lawn burn in extreme heat.