A single species lawn is a virtual monoculture, something nature abhors. Left unattended this type of lawn would soon become a more varied community of wildflowers, weeds, insect and animal life. Some gardeners spend an enormous time and energy preventing anything but grass from growing, other take a more balanced approach. Some weeds are positively beneficial. Clover for example fixes nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need to fertilize. The more varieties of plants and other species the more resistant the ‘lawn’ is to drought, disease, and pest problems, in other words less maintenance is needed.

Weed Control- some level of weed control is necessary to maintain a healthy attractive lawn. Organic gardeners can do this quite successfully without the use of toxic chemicals. Some simple tips are:

- Remove individual weeds such as dandelions, plantains, or daisies with an asparagus fork
- Fill in holes after removing the weeds with soil or potting soil and then sow grass.
- Avoid mowing too low; short grass is minimal competition for weeds, and grass cut too short weakens the grass
- Remove debris and improve conditions for grass to grow.
- Use soil conditioners or improvers in spring and summer.
- Improve drainage with a hollow-tined aerator to prevent waterlogged conditions, which harm grass and encourage moisture-loving weeds and moss.

Common Weeds- Different soils and conditions encourage different type of weeds. Identifying problem weeds can tell you something about these and point you in the right direction to control them. Ground ivy for example flourishes in moist shaded areas. Chickweed is a good indication of alkaline conditions. Dandelions are most common on compacted or clay soils and or on lawns mowed too short. Clover grows very will in poor soil. Feeding the lawn will curtail this. Sheep’s sorrel is an indication of acidic soil conditions. Adding  Garden Lime will bring the soil back to a neutral condition; curtailing this problem. Lawn pest such as ants, leatherjackets, moles can cause damage to lawns.

Controlling Moss- Moss can develop for a variety of reasons. Moss thrives in moist conditions where drainage is poor. It will also survive in drier soils where fertility is poor and acidity is high. Moss colonizes in shaded areas and spreads in areas where grass is mowed too short.

Rake out moss regularly with a lawn rake each spring and autumn if the problem is bad. Bare patches should be reseeded. Feed poor lawns to strengthen grass growth. Set the lawn mower blade to cut no lower than 2.5 in (5cm) to avoid mowing too short. Make soil more alkaline by adding lime or dolomite lime will discourage moss growth. Remember that moss is valued by birds for nest building so consider leaving a mossy patch for them to obtain nesting materials or leave piles of raked out moss in an open location for them to collect. Almost all lawn problems can easily be prevented or solved with these simple techniques.