Weeds and pests are symptoms of an unhealthy lawn. Allow clover in your lawn for its nitrogen-fixing magic. Hand remove annual weeds before they seed, and remember to remove the roots of perennials. Hand weeding at any time is better than killing off everything with chemicals. An old knife or fork will do or dandelion weeders are inexpensive.
Diseases can be quite selective.
A mixture of grasses will prevent complete destruction of your lawn. TEST YOUR SOIL . Such a test will give your soil's pH, organic matter content and nutrients needed to balance it. Organic matter increases nutrient-holding capacity and improves aeration and water retention. Thatch chokes out grass plants, prevents air, water and nutrients from reaching the soil, and promotes almost every possible lawn problem.