My SoCal Lawn is in pretty sad shape. I need suggestions on how to bring it up to par with the neigborhood?

Question

My lawn is a combination of about 4 different grasses and weeds at this point. I'd like some suggestions on what type of seed and fertilizers to use in order to get it to be uniform in appearance. I'm a total rookie to lawn care and gardening in general.

Answer 1

Well, since most of California is actually DESERT, why don't you be the first on your block and plant xeriscape. Xeriscaping is planting native plants to your region that use very little water to maintain. Cacti and succulents are a couple, but there are FAR MORE plants that grow in desert conditions that are pleasing to the eye.

Lawns guzzle SO much water that having one in desert areas is becoming fined in many areas. Las Vegas is fining people who plant lawns rather than xeric plants.

The xeric plants need to be watered regularly the first year so that their root system can become established. Once established, they require very little water. That will show up on your water bill, and you will be helping to conserve water. I have included a website for a nursery that handles xeriscape plants.

http://www.highcountrygardens.com/

If you type in Xeriscaping gardens in images, you can find many, many pictures of xeriscaped gardens. They are really beautiful.

Answer 2

You may want to check out John Perez's site, where you'll be able to learn how to have a nice green lawn that your neighbors can envy you for :-)

And he only uses homemade recipes for fertilizers and insecticides.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.homemade-fertilizer.com