On 29 Apr 2004 07:29:58 -0700, (ted) wrote:

I'm a gardening newbie and I hate lawn maintenance.

I was told that instead of spending $$ on fertilizer and/or
weedkillers, if we spread grass seed on the lawn regularly it will
take care of the health and thickness of the lawn. Also since there's
no place for the weeds to grow, they won't.

Does anyone use this concept? Does this work? It looks too easy and
simple to be true.

Don't know about regular over-seeding, but it sounds reasonable. I
think many will tell you that a healthy, growing lawn is the best
weed-preventer there is. And I seem to see more problems (other than
environmental) with over-treatment than benefits.

The owner of a newish house across the street has been trying for 3
years to achieve a golf-course lawn. She mows often (too often and too
low, IMO), and is always out spreading or spraying *something* around.
Her lawn looked lovely -- bright green and perfect at the end of
winter. In about 6 weeks, her attentions have resulted in big patches
of brown, and you can see some of the straight lines invovlved in
either fertilizing or weed-killing (we're not pals, so I don't know
exactly).

My own lawn isn't weed-free, but it's green and respectable looking,
and the only maintenance it's had for years is mowing every 7-10 days
and (very) occasionally spot-treating dandelions.