Fertilized lawns look better, compete better against weeds, hold up better under wear and tear, and recover more quickly from damage. Weeds can rob your lawn of nutrients, crowd out grass and quickly take over your lawn. A balanced program of fertilization and weed control gives lawns the best environment to flourish.

If grass is thin, look at shady areas or where water stands after a rain. In these areas, trees can be limbed up enough to allow early morning and late afternoon sun into the yard to maintain the lawn. Standing water problems can be improved by addressing surface drainage.

Soil compaction could also be a factor. Areas near the driveway entry and next to the front door are common locations for compacted soil. Core aerating can help alleviate soil compaction.

Re-seeding is done on areas that had grass growing before and are now bare. Over-seeding is done on areas that have grass but in thin stands. Adequate soil temperatures are necessary for the grass seed to germinate and grow. The soil needs to be a least 50 degrees or warmer. In northern Illinois, April is the best month. 

Certification is a hands-on testing program administered by 26 states and provinces in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes proficiency in the landscape workforce, upgrades the status of the landscape professional, and provides the public with a means of identifying qualified landscape professionals.