Phytophthora — pronounced: "fy-toff-thor-uh" — is Greek for "Plant Destroyer," and unfortunately, it lives up to this ominous reputation.

The basic schedule for organic lawn care in North Texas is: apply Corn Gluten Meal as a pre-emergent herbicide to in February or March to control weeds, feed the lawn with organic fertilizer 2 weeks later, water deeply through summer, apply Corn Gluten Meal pre-emergent again in early fall, and keep heavy leaves off the grass through winter.

A freshly mowed lawn can still leave you with a yard that looks thin, weedy, or unhealthy. This article explains seven signs your North Texas landscape may need more than mowing, including weak turf, weed problems, overgrown beds, stressed shrubs, pests, disease, hard soil, and poor long-term improvement.