Don't Fertilize Shady Areas More

People tend to make this lawn care mistake because the grass in shady areas is struggling. But that just kills it faster!

Sunny and shady sections of lawn have different water and fertilizer needs. The shady-area grass needs less fertilizer than sunny areas. When you go into shade, shift the controls on the spreader, so you're spreading about half the amount.

"You can burn your lawn," Cameron says. "Read the labels of materials you're using carefully and have properly calibrated equipment."

Don't Skip Reseeding the Lawn

If your lawn is a mix of weeds and bare spots, it might be time to start over and reseed. Reseeding involves removing all existing grass and weeds and planting new grass seed. I reseeded a large section of my lawn after a few years of trying to improve it with little results. Reseeding ended up being the best option to grow a thick, healthy lawn finally.

If you have an average-size lawn, this can be done over the course of a weekend or two. Once your reseeding work is done, be prepared to keep the soil damp with daily watering for the first month or so.

Don't Discount Compost

Top-dress your lawn with high-quality compost to bring depleted or damaged soil back to life.

To apply compost, spread it over your lawn with a shovel, aiming for a layer that is 1/4 to a 1/2 inch thick. Then work it into the turf with a rake. It's best to do this after aerating. I used this technique to improve an area of my backyard with poor soil. It took a treatment or two, but over time it did improve the quality of the soil and the lawn.

Most garden centers sell bagged compost. However, you're better off buying in bulk to cover an entire yard.