Whether you have a green thumb or you're all thumbs when it comes to yard care, odds are there are times when you could use a little extra advice.

• What's the best way to fill in bare spots on my lawn?

• Is there an organic way to kill weeds?

• Why won't my lawn mower start on the first pull?

• Are there flowers I can plant that deer and rabbits won't eat?

The free Yard Smarts Hotline sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Corporation can answer these and any other questions homeowners may have about their lawn, landscape, garden and yard care equipment.

The hotline is available during the entire month of May. Anyone can call the toll-free hotline at 1-866-YARD-TIPS (927-3847) or submit an e-mail question by visiting www.yardsmarts.com. All questions are answered personally within 48 hours. Every Friday in May, from noon until 7 p.m. CT, homeowners can speak directly with experts to prepare for their weekend yard projects.

Any caller who asks a question that stumps the experts will receive a Yard Smarts T-shirt. From all of the calls and e-mails received each week, a drawing will be held to award one person his or her choice of a new lawn mower, pressure washer or string trimmer.

Yard Care Experts Respond

The hotline is headed by Michigan State University professor Trey Rogers, Ph.D., also known as the "Yard Doctor." Rogers, who has more than 20 years' experience in the science of turf grass, has helped design and grow playing fields for the Olympic Games and World Cup soccer. Joining Rogers is a team of lawn, garden and equipment experts.

Last year, callers asked questions ranging from how to cope with wild violets and grow grass in the shade to how to renovate lawns damaged by grubs and deal with dead spots in the lawn caused by dogs. The hotline even identified a potentially dangerous situation for a woman living in Colorado who thought a fungus was killing her front lawn. The Yard Doctor correctly diagnosed an underground gas leak and the gas company was immediately called to make repairs.

Briggs & Stratton, a manufacturer of gasoline engines for a variety of outdoor power equipment, sponsors the hotline as part of its Yard Smarts education program.

Stacey Moore