How to Care for Turf Lawns With Weeds and Insects

Cut a 2-inch wedged-shape piece of turf out of your lawn to measure the thatch layer. Use a masonry trowel to cut through the turf. Measure the brown spongy material between the soil and the grass blades. If the thatch layer is more than 1/2 an inch, thatch the yard. Thatch layers less than 1/2 an inch should have the dead grass raked up from the yard before herbicides or pesticides can be applied.

Mow the lawn closer than your would normally mow, but do not take off more than 1/3 of the grass blade. Short grass makes thatching or applying a lawn treatment more effective because it can sink into the soil easier.

Push a power thatcher back and forth over the lawn when the grass greens up for the year. Thatching dormant or slowly growing grass can hurt the root systems of the grass. Rake up the dead grass debris.

Apply a pre-emergent herbicide and pesticide over the soil. Water your lawn with 1/2 an inch of water so that both chemicals can sink into the soil. Pre-emergent herbicide will prevent weed seeds from germinating. Use a pesticide that treats the type of insect you are trying to kill.

Wait two days before applying post-emergent herbicide. Vigorously growing weeds are easier to kill, because they have more surface area for herbicide to absorb into the plant. Wait for a dry spell or a rain free 48 hours to apply the herbicide. Distribute the herbicide on the yard.