MYTH: Lawns need lots of water to be vibrant.
FACT: Grass needs water. If you do choose to water when it's hot and dry, fortunately grass needs less of it than trees and shrubs.
MYTH: Artificial turf or pavement is a better choice than grass.
FACT: Grass is the coolest, safest play surface there is. That's why professional football and baseball players insist on it in their contracts.
MYTH: Fertilizers kill earthworms and beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
FACT: Fertilizing adds organic matter to the soil and provides better living conditions for earthworms and microorganisms.
MYTH: Xeriscaped yards are better for the environment.
FACT: Xeriscaping doesn't mean no grass—it incorporates drought-tolerant plants, grasses, mulch and efficient irrigation in arid climates which is always good.
MYTH: All-purpose fertilizers are OK to use on my lawn.
FACT: All-purpose fertilizers, like 10-10-10s, aren't made for lawns and put down up to six times the phosphorus grass needs annually.
MYTH: Fertilizing makes grass dependent on feeding over time.
FACT: Grass won't become addicted to feeding. Feeding builds rich organic matter in the soil over time so you'll eventually feed less.
MYTH: Feeding and watering my lawn in the summer is bad.
FACT: You shouldn't feed or water if your lawn is brown and dormant. It will bounce back with rain, especially if it's fed well in the spring.
MYTH: Mowing is bad because grass clippings fill up landfills.
FACT: Mowing is good when you leave grass clippings on your lawn and recycle nutrients back into the soil instead of bagging.
MYTH: Lawn care takes more time and money than garden care.
FACT: Ask any landscaper, maintaining a lawn is the simplest and cheapest type of landscape.
MYTH: Organic fertilizers are best for the environment.
FACT: A fed lawn is better than an unfed lawn and grass can't tell the difference between organic and other fertilizers.
MYTH: Letting weeds thrive is better for the environment.
FACT: Strong, weed-free lawns reduce run-off and erosion, enrich soil and promote clean air and water better than weed-filled lawns.
MYTH: Fertilizers are harmful to my family and pets.
FACT: The ingredients in fertilizers are found in things like pretzels, baking soda and lotions, and are safe to use around family and pets.
MYTH: Fertilizers run off the lawn and pollute waterways.
FACT: Grasses absorb nutrients and are actually used around agricultural fields to prevent nutrient runoff into waterways.
MYTH: Doing nothing to my lawn is best for the environment.
FACT: Poor care and inadequate feeding weakens your lawn so you don't get the most of its benefits like preventing soil erosion.
