You look at it and perhaps walk on it every day, cut it when it is too long, maybe fertilize it on occasion, but is it grass or weeds? One can also ask the question, how many lawn grasses do you have in your lawn; it’s not really ‘the more the merrier’ it’s a case of controlling weed growth (monocots and dicots or weed grasses and broad leaved weeds) and having the lawn look like a lawn and not like a shaggy carpet or a close shave. Many lawns I see are more weed than grass and that is a recipe for disaster as the weed population invariably overwhelms the grass.The lawn often covers a major part of the landscape, perhaps up to 80 percent and therefore makes an immediate visual impact. A poor looking lawn can totally detract from the property in general while keeping a lawn in good condition is similar to any object that requires maintenance to keep it looking/working well. Preparation in developing the foundation for the lawn is paramount and involves grading, soil depth, rolling, fertilizer application, rate for seed distribution or correct installation of plugs at four to six inches apart, irrigation and that’s just the beginning!Uniformity of soil depth is very important in the long term development of a good lawn, as soil depth will encourage a good root run as roots chase moisture during periods of drought. To start with, excavating to a depth of a minimum of 18 inches followed by spreading at least six inches of ‘sub soil’ then rolling to avoid uneven settlement, top soil is then spread to a depth of six inches then rolled followed by a further spread of six inches and final rolling. A light application of lawn starter fertilizer (24-24-4) can be raked into the surface of soil and watered in.Selection of grass type should be based on location and function of area with consideration being given to cost of each type. Grass type should dictate maintenance if a weed free thick sward lawn is to be achieved.Bermuda grass is not shade tolerant but stands up to drought conditions relatively well, however its growth slows between November and April. It is relatively wear tolerant and rebounds quickly from pedestrian traffic. Bermuda grass hybrids are also useful as they have been bred for shorter leaf blade, tighter growth habit etc. Height of cut can vary from one and one half inches to one quarter inch however for lawns requiring low cutting height golf green height a reel machine is recommended. Sowing rate is in the region of 3-4lb per thousand square feet and should be applied in two directions to obtain uniform spread.St Augustine Floratem is chinch bug resistant and should be considered over the common form. It is more tolerant to shady areas than Bermuda grass and will take full sun, it is not however as tolerant to droughtconditions. To create a good thick sward, mow to a minimum height of three inches. This grass does not take well to heavy foot traffic and wears down in areas of same; in areas where foot traffic is minimal it will look like a carpet if maintained correctly. A thick sward reduces weed growth therefore a healthy grass will be uniform in its growth height and not look untidy if left to four inches. If cut too low weeds will become prevalent and cause maintenance problems. Floratem is best installed as plugs planted 4” to 6’ inches apart; root ball should be moist when planting and area irrigated regularly once all plugs are installed. Hand weeding until leaf blades fill in will encourage a quicker in fill of sward and reduce further weed growth. Do not mow until active growth is seen which indicates root activity has taken hold and mowing will not ‘drag’ on plugs. Plugs are sold for between $1-1.50 per plug, one supplier is offering it by the square foot rate of $9.Zoysia is a grass you either like or hate. It can be invasive simply by its aggressive growth. Its value is it will take full sun and tolerate some shade and is relatively tolerant of foot traffic. It is slow growing therefore is best started by installing solid turf which is not always easy to find, it is sold for between $5-$7 per square foot. Installation involves laying grass on firmed area with overlapping joints to encourage a quick knit of root system; a top dressing of 75 percent sand/25 percent fine peat can be brushed into the joints to assist in developing a level surface and even growth which results in a more even mowing cut. Zoysia is best mown with a 9-12 blade reel mower to obtain golf green like finish.Maintenance is what keeps a lawn healthy and in good condition; a good sward reduces weed growth dramatically especially during the growing season (April to November). Fertilizer applications for the time of year will encourage good top growth or harden off root growth for the dormant season; it a good sward is maintained at the correct height weed control is minimised to the point that spot treatment can be applied to problem areas. Liquid applications of the required herbicide seem to have a better kill rate than granular applications; it is important to remember that herbicides are not compatible with all lawn grasses, as a rule of thumb St Augustine herbicides are usually stand alone and should not be used on Bermuda or Zoysia lawns. The best way to determine sensitivity problems and application rates is simply to READ INSTRUCTIONS found on the container.Thatch is a layer of ‘brown dead’ grass found between the soil and growing tip which interferes with good mowing practices and reduces penetration of rainfall and fertilizer applications owing to its dense mass, especially in zoysia lawns. Thatch is removed by verticutting, thus removing the thatch and invigorating the root zone to generate new growth this is usually carried out in April or May at the latest, based on weather conditions when grass is not under stress as it has been of late.Contact Malcolm D Griffiths at griffm[AT]northrock.bm