Question
The snow is almost gone, and i can see most of the brown grass.   My lawn never reaches the thickness of some of my neighbors.   What would you recommend that I do starting now and on into the growing season to spruce it up?   I have some sun and some shade.  I have been told that I can't expect much improvement due to the several trees on the lot.  What do you think?

Answer
It is true that a lawn grown in shade, and especially in competition with large feeder roots of mature trees, will never be as dense and lush as a lawn in full sun.

However, to improve odds, you can:
- fertilize 3 times per year
in late may, early september and late october.
use a fertilizer like Scott's turfbuilder. Last application should be just as the grass stops growing in late fall, but while the lawn is still green for another 3-4 weeks.

- mow high and mow frequently. avoid scalping grass especially in shade. Mow atleast weekly in spring and fall, and once every two weeks in summer. more frequent is not a problem. do not allow grass to get too tall before mowing. the golden rule is never to cut more than 1/3 of the length of the grass.

- during periods of no rain, water deeply and infrequently. a lawn with mature trees tend to dry out quicker in competition for water especially during hot summers. when you do water, water deeply. Set the sprinklers to run for 1-2 hours. avoid frequent, shallow waterings. In spring and fall you really only have to water if you had 10-14 days without rain. In hot summer months, weekly applications or more frequent may be needed. However, still remember that infrequent but deep applications are favored over infrequent and shallow applications.

- thin lawns can be improved by overseeding with a good quality shady-lawn mixture. this is best done in early fall (late august/early september) and water the lawn daily until new grass sprout. loosening soil with a rake is recommended. If possible, spread a thin layer of compost over the lawn after seeding.

The combination of correct mowing, fertilizing, and watering patterns will help improve the quality of the lawn. Avoid putting the lawn in and out draught dormacy in summer due to lack of water (draught dormancy is when grass turns grayish dullish bluish green and then brown). Keep an eye on the moisture during warm dry periods. Mow regularily and do not forget the fertilizer. however, avoid fertilizing during hot summer months, and always water a few days before applying.

A continous careplan will produce a good result.
example:
- every week (may-nov): mow, water deeply if no rain
- very hot months, water twice per week
- may, early september, late october: fertilize
- every september: sow seeds to thicken up lawn