If you think about lawn care as a preventive health care program, then the object is to prevent problems from occurring so you don't have to treat them. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A healthy lawn can out compete most weeds, survive most insect attacks, and fend off most diseases before these problems ever get the upper hand. Good soil is the foundation of a healthy lawn. Start by checking the texture of your soil to see whether it s heavy with clay, light and sandy, or somewhere in between.
Lawns grow best in soil with intermediate or loamy soils that have a mix of clay, silt, and sand.
Whatever your soil type, you can probably improve it by periodically adding organic matter like compost, manure, or grass clippings. Organic matter helps to lighten a predominantly clay soil and it helps sandy soil retain water and nutrients. Also check to see if your soil is packed down from lots of use or heavy clay content. This makes it harder for air and water to penetrate, and for grass roots to grow. To loosen compacted soil, some lawns may need to be aerated.