Lawns
From mowing and watering to aeration and fertilization, get the know-how on keeping your lawn lush and healthy.
How to Mow a Lawn
When it comes to learning how to properly mow your lawn, who better to ask than a professional landscaper? When host Kevin O’Connor had some questions about mowing, he turned to Landscape contractor Lee Gilliam for a breakdown on the basics.
How to Choose a Fertilizer
Fertilizer is full of nutrients that break down and soak into the soil where plants and grass can use them to become stronger and healthier. When host Kevin O’Connor wanted to learn more about fertilizer, he turned to landscape contractors Jenn Nawada and Lee Gilliam for a lesson at the shop.
Inside a Grass Seed Cleaning Facility
Landscaper Lee Gilliam travels to eastern Washington state to see where the majority of Kentucky bluegrass seed comes from. He talks to a grass breeder, and the researcher then tours a grass seed-cleaning facility.
Gas Mower Maintenance 101
Gas-powered mowers and small engines of all kinds are truly simple machines. However, they do require maintenance to keep them running properly and to prevent damage. When host Kevin O’Connor had some questions about lawn mower maintenance, he turned to landscape contractor Lee Gilliam for a rundown.
How to Regrade a Yard
Uneven yards can be tricky for little kids to navigate. Depressions make walking and running unsafe, and they hold water, creating wet, muddy conditions. When a couple wanted their backyard to be flatter and retain less water, landscape contractor Lee Gilliam answered their call. With a simple process, he was able to repair the soil, regrade the lawn, and seed it for the growing season.
Eco-Friendly Grass Alternatives
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada heads to a Rhode Island sod farm to look at some alternatives to traditional sod products to achieve the perfect lawn.
How to Fix a Dead Lawn by Overseeding
Dry, brown spots don’t just stress lawns—they also stress homeowners. Especially when they put a lot of effort into their lawn and landscaping. When a homeowner’s yard started turning brown, they called landscaping contractor Lee Gilliam for help. The solution? Aeration and overseeding.
Dethatching and Aeration 101
If you want a lush, green lawn this year, the soil needs air, water, and sunlight. Learn how to improve your lawn’s growing conditions with this breakdown on dethatching and aeration with landscape contractor Lee Gilliam and host Kevin O’Connor.
Understanding Common Types of Sprinkler Heads
Landscape contractor Lee Gilliam teaches host Kevin O’Connor all about sprinkler heads, including the types, how they work, and how he likes to set them up around plants, trees, and yards.
Fall Fertilizing: Essential Tips to Make Your Yard Grow
Read this guide to learn why autumn is the best time of year to fertilize your yard.
All About Attachment Capable String Trimmers
While it may look like an ordinary string trimmer, the unique shaft design allows DIYers to swap in different attachments, turning one machine into a lawn and garden maintenance multitool. Here’s what you need to know about the Swiss Army knife you should stock in your shed.
Our 6 Best Cornhole Board Picks (2024 Guide)
Our review of the best cornhole boards covers highly rated tournament cornhole boards, mini cornhole boards, travel cornhole boards, and kids’ cornhole boards.
How To Transition a Landscape From Spring to Summer
Host Kevin O’Connor meets with landscape contractors Jenn Nawada and Lee Gilliam to talk about what homeowners should do to transition their yards from spring to summer.
How To Replace Grass with a Garden Bed
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada helps a couple redesign, repurpose, and restore their front yard’s design after removing two mature but rotten oak trees, exposing the yard to full sun.
How to Choose, Lay, and Maintain Shade Tolerant Sod
Learn how to choose, install, and maintain shade-tolerant sod in this guide, with tips from This Old House landscaper Lee Gilliam.
How to Care for Your Lawn During a Drought
Periods of excessive temperatures with very little rain can cause extreme stress on your lawn, transforming what was once lush and green into a sparse mat of tired-looking browns and yellows. There’s good news though: There are ways to help your yard through these tough times, and we’ll show you how to care for your lawn during a drought.
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10 Drainage Solutions for Your Yard
Dealing with a nasty, returning puddle in a yard can be a real problem for some homeowners. And, no matter what they do, they can’t seem to get ahead of the problem. This guide will highlight some of the most common challenges that arise when dealing with a wet lawn, as well as some potential solutions they can try to dry up their lawn.
How to Turn on a Sprinkler System in Spring
Are you tired of paying a sprinkler company or landscape contractor to turn the water to your sprinkler system back on each spring? This relatively simple job is well within the abilities of a DIYer, and all it takes is a little background knowledge to save a lot of money. Here’s how to handle turning on a sprinkler system yourself.
Spring Home and Lawn Maintenance: Tips for a Beautiful Property
These home and lawn maintenance tasks will take spring cleaning to a new level and keep your property looking as good as new.
How To Care for Ornamental Grass
Wondering how to care for ornamental grasses? This guide covers expert care tips, how to find the right type for your climate, and more.
Valentine's Day Gifts for Bird Lovers (2024)
If the bird lover in your life has a birthday or other occasion coming up, it’s time to consider a gift. In this review, the This Old House Team researched the best bird gifts to help you find the product that’s right for your loved one.
Yard Grading 101: Everything you need to know
The grade of your yard can be the difference between runoff that flows away from your home and water pooling around your foundation and causing serious problems.
When to Fertilize Your Lawn: Our Best Tips
Wondering when to fertilize your lawn? Learn about the best timing and schedule for your grass type and region in our comprehensive guide.
Exactly When to Plant Grass Seed in Spring
Wondering when to plant grass seed in spring for ideal results? Discover the best times and perfect seeding schedule for your region, plus our top tips.
How Much Does Lawn Aeration Cost?
Read our guide on lawn aeration cost to determine if the service is a viable option for you.
How Much Does it Cost to Reseed a Lawn?
Wondering how much to budget for your lawn project? Our guide to the cost of reseeding a lawn breaks down average prices, cost factors, and the best lawn care services.
When To Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Pre-emergents stop growing weeds before they’re even spotted in your lawn. Keep reading to learn more about the preventative measure, the best time to apply it, and how it can protect your lawn.
The Ultimate Guide to Winter Fertilizer
Applying a winter fertilizer is an important lawn care measure that ensures your grass survives freezing temperatures and is ready to flourish in the early spring. Read on to learn about winter fertilizers, their benefits, and tips for application.
What Is Grass Rust and How to Remove It
Your lawn isn’t actually rusting, but it may have a fungal disease that weakens the grass blades and sheds orange powder. Fortunately, although this infection weakens turfgrass, it rarely kills it. We’ll show you how to get rid of it.
End-of-Summer Yard and Garden Cleanup Tips
Give your lawn and garden the care they need by removing debris, dividing crowded perennials, and adding mulch—so plants can come back stronger.
10 Smart Tools for Your Next DIY Project
A new crop of warm-weather problem-solvers for your home.
Summer Checklist: Small Projects that Pay Off
Warm weather has finally arrived! It’s time to head outside and give your house and landscape some TLC.
