Turf And Lawn Care

By Tish Grenfell, UC Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: I know that a lot of people are tearing out their lawn. Should I do that, and, if so, what can I plant instead?A: First, examine your reasons for having a lawn. Grass can be difficult, needing plentiful water, fertilizer, weed killers, pesticides…

By Elaine Applebaum, UC Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: I would like a lawn but am concerned about the environmental effects. Is it possible to have a beautiful green lawn without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides?A: Taking a low- or no-chemical approach to lawn care is becoming…

By Trish Grenfell, UC Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: One of my neighbors told me to leave my grass clippings on the lawn, but I feel that it is unsightly and would actually prevent the grass from getting the sunlight it needs to grow. However, it would save me time.  Please advise. A:…

Lynn Lorenson, UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County From The Curious Gardener, Summer 2008Green, weed free lawns did not exist in the US until the late 18th century. Travelers to Europe, especially England, were taken by the new Palladian (classical Roman) style of architecture and the surrounding…

By Julie Long, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyThinking of getting rid of your lawn?  An easy and ecological way to reduce or eliminate your lawn (turf) is to sheet mulch. This method is also known as layer, or lasagna mulching.Why would you remove your lawn?  The most common reason is to…

Sharon Ross, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Fall 2008Fall is an excellent time to take action to improve the health and beauty of your lawn.A good place to start is de-thatching. Thatch is a layer of decaying organic matter that occurs between the green matter and the…

By Gay Wilhelm, Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: Crabgrass is spreading in my lawn. What can I do to stop it?  A: Who hasn’t done combat with crabgrass? What a foe! But there is help.There are two kinds of crabgrass in California, smooth crabgrass and large or hairy crabgrass…

By Elaine Kelly Applebaum, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Summer 2022 As UC Master Gardeners, we encourage homeowners to explore water-wise and habitat friendly landscaping options. Lawns fall short on both those fronts, requiring lots of water and providing little if any…

How to identify the pests that are damaging your lawn What is wrecking your lawn? It could be skunks, raccoons, moles, voles, pocket gophers, or lawn insects. Each leave behind evidence and signs of their presence.Skunks are out at dusk, during the night, and at dawn in residential areas searching for…

Crabgrass popping up in your lawn or landscape can be aggravating, but don't despair -- you can manage this common annual weed with integrated pest management!  First, make sure that you are dealing with crabgrass and not a lookalike grass like dallisgrass or bermudagrass. The newly revised Pest Notes:…