Yard, Garden & Outdoor Home Systems

Your yard is an extension of your home — and it needs maintenance too. This hub covers everything from lawn problems to outdoor pest control.

Seasonal Yard Prep

Spring

• Rake and dethatch lawn
• Test soil pH
• Apply pre-emergent (before weeds sprout)
• Service lawn mower
• Check irrigation system for leaks
• Prune winter damage from shrubs

Summer

• Water deeply but less frequently
• Mow high (3-4 inches) to shade roots
• Watch for pest damage
• Mulch beds to retain moisture

Fall

• Aerate lawn
• Overseed thin areas
• Apply fall fertilizer
• Clean gutters (leaves clog them)
• Winterize irrigation system
• Plant spring bulbs

Winter

• Protect pipes from freezing
• Store hoses indoors
• Service snow equipment
• Plan next year’s projects

Watering & Irrigation

How much water does your lawn need?

• Most lawns need 1-1.5 inches per week
• Water early morning (less evaporation)
• Deep, infrequent watering beats daily sprinkles

Drip irrigation for beds

• More efficient than sprinklers
• Delivers water directly to roots
• Reduces weed growth
• Easy DIY installation

Lawn Problems Diagnosis

Symptom	Likely Cause	Fix
Yellow patches	Under/overwatering, disease	Adjust watering, fungicide if needed
Brown spots	Dog urine, grubs	Flush with water, treat for grubs
Bare patches	Heavy traffic, shade	Overseed, consider ground cover
Weeds taking over	Thin turf	Thicken lawn to crowd out weeds
Mushrooms	Excess moisture	Improve drainage

Garden Beds & Soil

Soil basics

• Test soil before adding amendments
• Add compost annually
• Mulch 2-3 inches deep
• Don’t work wet soil

Easy vegetables for beginners

• Tomatoes
• Zucchini
• Lettuce
• Peppers
• Herbs (basil, mint, rosemary)

Outdoor Pests

Mosquito reduction

• Eliminate standing water
• Clean gutters
• Change bird bath water weekly
• Treat with BTI dunks where water collects

Common lawn pests

• Grubs: Brown patches that pull up easily
• Chinch bugs: Yellow patches in sunny areas
• Moles: Raised tunnels
• Fire ants: Mounds, aggressive when disturbed

When to call pest control

• Large infestations
• Stinging insects near high-traffic areas
• Termites or carpenter ants
• Wildlife problems