Fought the lawn, and the lawn won?

When it comes to growing grass, do you feel like you’re far from having a green thumb? Justin Cave, host of HGTV’s “Ground Breakers,” shares simple tips on preparing your lawn for spring.

Spring is here, and for most of us, that means getting our backyard and lawn into shape. Nobody's lawn is perfect and for the most part, it requires a lot of work to make it green.

You can't just simply throw grass seeds and sprinkle water, and expect the sun and rain to take care of the rest.

Here are Justin's beautiful lawn tips:

Asses your yard and plant seeds 
The first step to preparing your lawn is to identify what kind of grass you have or what type of grass would best suite the conditions of your yard.  This all depends on the region you live in. Some lawns are in shaded areas and require more work, while others have no problem with sun exposure. There are all types of turf to choose from such as fescue, Bermuda, Zoysia or rye grass.  If your budget doesn't allow for fresh cut sod to be installed, buy a premium grass seed.  You can spread your grass seed by hand or with a broadcaster. Bag of seed, spreader

Fertilizing
Planting seeds is not enough, you also have to fertilize the soil and spring and fall are the best times to fertilize your lawn.  You can hire a professional to apply a liquid fertilizer, or spread a granular fertilizer with a time release, which is easier to spread and less expensive. 

You can purchase fertilizer and weed-killers at your local home improvement store, but  just be sure to read the label before you make a purchase. Take caution before spreading herbicides on a newly seeded yard for young lawns can’t handle herbicide (selective and non-selective herbicides).  So take a look at your lawn and ask yourself “are there more weeds or areas of thin patchy grass?”  You may have to make the decision this spring – it’s either weed or seed! Fertilizer, spreader

Mulch and weed killers 
Chances are that at this time of year, there are weeds everywhere! This is a good time to weed out obnoxious lawn invaders because you might have everything in your yard from crabgrass to chickweed.  Mowing the yard is a temporary solution to weeds that will give your lawn an even appearance. 

Mulching will stop and suppress weeds in garden planting beds and give a clean, fresh look.  Grass clippings from your lawn mower can serve as mulch and compost, or you can purchase decorative mulch at your local nursery.  Install the mulch 3-4 inches thick.  If you still have weeds popping up, try the old fashioned way; pull your weeds by hand!   Mulch, grass-clipping attachment on mower, bag of mulch, bottle of weed killer

Water the lawn
Early morning or early evenings are typically the best times to water your lawn.  If you don't have the luxury of an irrigation system, pull out the water hose and get to work!  Check for local watering bands for you may only be allowed to water on certain days of the week.

Mow the lawn
If you have a lawn, mowing it is one activity that just can't be avoided.  For a clean look, try to mow straight lines.  If you have the time and the gusto, you can mow it in opposite directions for a checkerboard look.  Constant maintenance of your yard is the only way to get it looking its best.  Maintain your mower and other lawn equipment also. If your mower has been sitting outside in the rain, it might not work the next time you need it -- just another excuse not to mow!  If you don't have the time or the patience to maintain your lawn, hire a professional and then lean back and watch the grass grow.