Ask Axios: What about natural lawn care?

The answer: Ohio State University Extension educator Timothy McDermott agrees it's OK to leave some weeds be if you don't mind the look — he does too.

What he's saying: "The occasional clover or dandelion, early in the season, they're the first flowers that come out for pollinators," he tells Axios.

• "I want to make sure that when they wake up from hibernation, they have a little something to eat."

His tips:

🧪 Test it. Find out what your soil needs to avoid over-fertilizing. For example, phosphorous helps seeds grow but isn't in many common lawn fertilizers.

♻️ Feed it. Buy organic products or compost at home.

🌱 Seed it. Pick an appropriate blend for your yard's sunlight levels.

• Water early in the day to reduce heat evaporation.

🌽 Weed it. Corn gluten meal is an option for annual weeds — but follow the label's advice on timing or it may accidentally turn into fertilizer.

• Plucking perennials before they flower is effective if your lawn is in decent shape.

Go deeper: A guide to switching to natural, organic lawn care.

📬 Email [email protected] and Ask Axios your questions. We'll try to track down the answers.