Perhaps you remember when your lawn was thick and green with hardly a weed in sight. Over the years though, some bare spots have appeared and the weeds have really taken hold. It's time to determine then, if lawn renovation is for you.
First you need to walk outside and really scrutinize your lawn. You'll also need a few simple tools: a soil testing kit found at any garden center, a knife, a trowel, and a good weed reference guide. I have included two links which should assist you in identifying weeds.
If the soil is not frozen,take soil samples from several different areas of the lawn. Make sure you dig down several inches for your samples. Then follow the directions included with your testing kit. These kits, though not as accurate as what you would get from a university or testing lab, will still give you a very good idea of your soil's fertility, pH, and humus content. If you don't want to perform the test yourself, then by all means submit your samples to a lab or university.
Next, pull out that knife and insert it into the turf. Note the effort required to penetrate the soil. Having to put some muscle into the process indicates soil compaction which means it's time to aerate. Now, cut a 2x2 inch square piece of sod with soil attached. Examine the area at the soil line because this is where you'll find thatch. Thatch is a layer of dead stems and roots usually looked upon as detrimental, but a thin layer can actually be beneficial to turf. It's only when the thatch layer exceeds 1/2 inch that troubles can arise. If the thatch is too thick, arrange to have your lawn dethatched or if your lawn is small and you like a good workout, purchase a cavex rake and remove the thatch yourself. If thatch is not removed, it can harbor diseases and pests, and even repel water. Sometimes the grass will root into the thatch and not the soil. When hot weather arrives, the lawn quickly becomes thirsty, and begins to wilt and die.
Finally, figure out what types of weeds are invading. Weeds in a lawn signal an imbalance of the turf grass environment. The type of weed is a good indicator of what that imbalance might be. Below is a list of common lawn weeds and what their presence can mean.
