Lest we forget about weeds. Know your weeds. Weeds can be categorized based on their life cycle. Summer annuals germinate in the spring, live during the summer and mature in the fall months. Winter annuals have the exact opposite life cycle.
Perennial weeds are more difficult to control because the reproduce both vegetatively and by seed.
However, in most cases weed control can be achieved by mowing weeds before they go to seed and either spot spraying or pulling those that can withstand mowing pressure. There is an old saying that says knives can either cut us or serve us depending on whether we grab them by the handle or the blade. Try scouting your landscape so that you will have a better understanding of how weeds, insects and diseases are functioning before you spray. And if at all possible, try to preserve and even recruit beneficial insects to do some of the work for you.