Month: September 2026

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I used to think rooftop tents were mostly overpriced status symbols—the outdoor equivalent of driving around town with a spotless set of traction boards bolted to your truck. Then I started really testing them.

After trying at least half a dozen rooftop tents over the years, my opinion has changed. Having the right one can eliminate a surprising amount of the friction that keeps people from camping more often. Your tent and sleeping setup are already on the vehicle, you’re off the wet and uneven ground, and when you arrive at camp after dark, setup can take minutes instead of turning into a headlamp-lit argument with tent poles. The $4,000 iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio might be the best example I’ve tested.

I’ve had it mounted on my F-150 for two months, using the truck for everyday driving and road trips between nights at camp. (And yes, enjoying how rugged it makes my truck look.) Its clever fold-out design keeps the shell compact enough to sit neatly over my short bed while opening into a surprisingly spacious three-person tent. Better still, once I learned the routine, I could set it up in less than two minutes and pack it away just as easily by myself.

It’s expensive, and it’s not perfect. But after years of testing rooftop tents, the SkyCamp 4.0 Trio gets closer than anything I’ve used to fulfilling the category’s ultimate promise: making it easier to go camping.

iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio Overall Impressions

iKamper makes some of the most recognizable rooftop tent on the market, and they’ve put years of experience into designing their new SkyCamp 4.0 series of tents, maximizing the interior footprint and adding some smart updates that make the tents even more user friendly. In addition to the Trio that I tested, iKamper makes a two-person Duo and a four-person Quad. I chose the Trio because it’s compact enough to fit neatly over my F-150’s short bed, but still has plenty of space for me, my wife, and our dog.

iKamper’s SkyCamp tents use a fold-out design that expands the sleeping space beyond the exterior foot print of the shell, which means they take up less room on top of your vehicle without sacrificing any interior space. This is the secret sauce of the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio. It’s compact enough to fit on a Subaru, but spacious enough to host a poker game if you need to wait out a rainstorm at camp. 

For the SkyCamp 4.0 Trio, iKamper managed to increase the sleeping space by 75 square inches while reducing the width of the exterior shell for a more streamlined package. The result is a tent that fits better on more vehicles. I’ve had larger hardshell rooftop tents on my truck in the past, which are great when you’re stretching out at night, but they’re too long to fit over my 5’6” bed, so I have to install them so they sit above the truck’s cab.

This increases drag and  raises the center of gravity creating a potentially less stable platform when you’re driving through hairy terrain. But the SkyCamp 4.0 Trio fits neatly over the bed of my truck so I can install it in-line with my cab’s roofline, reducing drag and lowering the center of gravity. 

The SkyCamp series also has cork flooring, which adds insulation and reduces condensation, as well as the new DuraCore shell, a two-sheet design that adds a layer of air insulation making these tents legitimate four-season options for those that won’t stop camping when the temperature drops. They also come standard with electrical and HVAC ports if you want to run heaters or air conditioners. I haven’t reached that point of luxury yet, but I’m curious about the potential. 

I really like the new integrated lights, because it means you don’t have to string lights or hang a lantern, which is one less thing you have to worry about packing when you’re trying to get out the door. Just bring a power source or battery and you’ve got built-in illumination. 

The Trio is also really spacious, with plenty of headroom and large doors and windows which keep the tent bright and airy during the day. It’s a small detail, but I also really like the world map that occupies the one wall that doesn’t have any windows. It’s like your tent comes with a piece of art. Who doesn’t like art? 

iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio Review

The iKamper SkyCamp Trio is spacious, comfortable and fits well on my truck, but what really won me over is how easy it is to set up when I roll into camp. Unlock the side latches and push the shell open, then pull the ladder towards you, which expands the floor and erects the canvas tent. After that you just have to add some poles to the windows and door. It’s so easy you can knock it out in just a couple of minutes and never have to ask for help.

Even better, this tent is just as easy to take down. A lot of rooftop tents require two people working together to tuck the fabric into the shell as you’re packing it away, but the SkyCamp 4.0 Trio is so well-designed, I can handle this duty solo. 

I’ve also been impressed with how the tent hasn’t impacted my truck’s driving performance. I’ve had it on my truck for more than two months, driving it daily around town and on road trips and I haven’t noticed any drop on my gas mileage. I have it mounted almost level with my cab, so it’s a very streamlined setup that stays below the wind for the most part.

It also has a curved top shell which helps prevent too much drag, even if it’s sitting on top of your car’s roof. Keeping it low over my truck bed also helps stabilize the load. I drive curvy mountain roads often and I never feel any sway while digging into curves.  

I only have a couple of complaints about this tent. First, at nearly $4,000, it’s not cheap. But honestly, you get what you pay for when it comes to rooftop tents. There are cheaper versions out there, but some of them are difficult to pitch and made with materials that won’t withstand weather.

I had a softshell tent on one of my vehicles for more than a year, and within a few months it was caked in mildew. After two months of being exposed to constant Southern Appalachian storms, the iKamper still looks brand new. 

My main issue with the iKamper SkyCamp series is that it eliminates the ability to carry other gear on top of your vehicle. I like the curved top shell in terms of reducing drag, but it means you can’t mount roof-rack bars on top of the tent. Some hardshell rooftop tents accommodate bars, allowing you to carry paddle boards, surfboards or kayaks on top of the tent. That’s not an option with the iKamper SkyCamp series. 

And if you buy an iKamper SkyCamp, you should think hard about your mattress choice. You have two options to choose from: a thin foam mattress or an optional 3-inch air mattress. If you’re looking for the easiest setup, stick with the foam. If you want a more plush situation, the air mattress is the way to go. But keep in mind that you need to deflate it completely before you can close up your tent. It’s honestly the most difficult part of the process when it comes to closing up camp.

Overall, the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio is the best rooftop tent I’ve ever tested, and I think it is a superior option for a lot of people. The small footprint allows it to be mounted on a wide variety of vehicles, but there’s still plenty of room inside the tent. It’s easy to install, fast to set up, and a breeze to pack up when it’s time to go home.

Of all the rooftop tents I’ve tested over the years, the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 is the one that actually makes it easier to go camping…while also looking really cool when I’m driving around town. 

iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio Pros & Cons

Pros

• Sets up in less than two minutes with practice
• Just as easy for one person to pack away
• Compact exterior footprint fits a wide variety of vehicles
• Spacious enough to sleep three
• Fold-out design maximizes sleeping space without a huge shell
• 132-pound weight is manageable for a hardshell rooftop tent
• DuraCore shell adds insulation for four-season use
• Cork flooring adds insulation and helps reduce condensation
• Large windows and doors create a bright, airy interior
• Integrated lighting eliminates the need for a lantern
• Electrical and HVAC ports come standard
• Streamlined shell had no noticeable impact on fuel economy in testing
• Held up well through two months of Southern Appalachian weather

Cons

• 132 pounds still requires appropriate vehicle/rack load capacity
• $4,695 price is a serious investment
• No ability to mount roof-rack bars on top of the shell
• Can’t carry kayaks, paddleboards, or other large gear above the tent
• Optional air mattress must be fully deflated before closing
• Air mattress makes packing up considerably more cumbersome

Is iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio Worth Buying?

Yes—if you camp often enough to justify spending $4,000 on a tent. I’ve tested at least half a dozen rooftop tents over the years, and the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio is the best I’ve used. Its biggest advantage isn’t any single luxury feature; it’s how much easier it makes getting to camp, setting up, and packing everything away again.

Once you learn the process, the Trio can be set up in less than two minutes, and I can pack it away by myself just as easily. Its fold-out design also creates enough sleeping space for three people while keeping the exterior shell compact enough to fit a wide variety of vehicles. On my F-150, it sits neatly over the short bed and roughly in line with the cab instead of towering above it.

The $4,000 price is difficult to ignore, and the curved shell prevents you from adding roof-rack bars for kayaks, paddleboards, or other bulky gear. I’d also stick with the foam mattress if fast setup and breakdown are priorities, because completely deflating the optional air mattress adds hassle when you’re trying to leave camp.

But a rooftop tent should ultimately make it easier to sleep outside more often, and that’s exactly what the SkyCamp 4.0 Trio does. If you’re a frequent car camper who values a fast setup, generous interior space, and a compact footprint, this is the rooftop tent I’d buy.

iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio Specs 

• Sleeps: 2-3 people 
• Weight: 132 lbs.
• Sleeping Area: 68 x 52 in.

Why Buy a Rooftop Tent? 

Sure, you can just pitch a tent like our forefathers did and save yourself a lot of money. But there’s a lot to be said about getting off the ground. Rooftop tents are generally more comfortable than traditional tents because they provide a sleeping surface that’s always flat and level. You don’t have to clear every rock and stick from the ground before you pitch your tent. And they typically handle weather better than traditional tents because the floor doesn’t get soaked during a storm, and you don’t have to worry about the corners of your tent flooding in the rain.

I live in the Southern Appalachians where it’s almost guaranteed to rain at some point during a weekend camping trip. Getting off the ground eliminates the hassle of those conditions.

But the main reason I like rooftop tents is they streamline logistics and make it easier to go camping. You don’t have to pack the tent or the mattress, because they’re already on your vehicle. They’re also generally much easier to set up than a traditional ground tent. That’s not always the case—I’ve used some soft-shell rooftop tents that are just as complicated to erect and pack up than a ground tent—but that’s where the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio shines.

I’ve used several different rooftop tents over the years from a variety of different companies, and the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio has proven to be the easiest to set up and take down. Once you get the hang of the process, you could easily pitch this tent in under two minutes. And packing it up is just as simple. 

Why You Should Trust Me 

I’ve been testing and reviewing gear for more than two decades, publishing articles about everything from backyard grills to golf club sensors for Men’s Journal and other magazines. I’m an avid car camper and I’ve had the opportunity to test at least half a dozen different rooftop tents in recent years. I installed the iKamper SkyCamp 4.0 Trio on my truck two months ago and have spent several nights sleeping in this spacious tent. I’m always looking for gear that makes living an adventurous life easier, and this new rooftop tent from iKamper does just that. 

The incomparable Jim Carrey has come a long way since his days doing sketch comedy on In Living Color. Since then, he’s starred in some blockbuster films that have drawn critical acclaim and lots of applause from his fandom. From projects like The Truman Show to How the Grinch Stole Christmas to The Mask, Carrey has become a bona fide star who has managed to entertain millions. And as of September 1st, one of his hits is now available to stream on Netflix. 

Looking back at the legacy of this classic in question, it may come as a shocker to some that the film’s writers actually envisioned other A-listers to take on the comedy’s starring role. However, having seen Carrey’s portrayal, it’s hard to imagine anyone else taking on the task. 

‘Liar Liar’ Is Now Streaming on Netflix 

Liar Liar first debuted in 1997 and raked in $302,710,615 at the global box office. It follows attorney Fletcher Reede and his fractured relationship with the truth. When he’s cursed and prevented from lying for a day, he struggles to maintain his status quo with his legal career and further alienates his ex-wife and son. There are plenty of hijinks throughout the movie, emboldened by Carrey’s unique brand of comedic delivery. 

Critics by and large loved Liar Liar, reflected in its Rotten Tomatoes “Certified Fresh” score of 83%. Duane Byrge with The Hollywood Reporter stated:

“Carrey has never been better – that is to say funnier, or more controlled. He’s reached a higher performance plateau here, playing a real human being we care about rather than a goon figure.”

Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, and Hugh Grant Could Have Starred in ‘Liar Liar’

Apparently, the writing duo behind Liar Liar, Paul Guay and Stephen Mazur, didn’t envision Carrey for the role. As the story goes on SYFY, they wrote the movie with Tom Hanks or Steve Martin in mind. Guay claimed to want “somebody who can do physical comedy and who is at home with tugging at the heartstrings [and] has some a certain amount of dramatic heft.“ 

Furthermore, when it became clear that neither Hanks nor Martin was likely to take on the Fletcher Reede role, Hugh Grant came up in conversation. However, he was dealing with some controversy at the time of casting. Then director Tom Shadyac and Carrey heard about the movie, and they decided to join forces again for Liar Liar, previously working together on  Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

Once again, Liar Liar is now streaming on Netflix.

Related: 20 Years Ago Today: One of the ‘Best Comedy Movies of All Time’ Became a Box Office Flop

It looks like The Four Horsemen will be doing a disappearing trick on streaming, shifting from Starz to Amazon Prime Video, thanks to a deal between Lionsgate and Amazon.

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the third film in the Now You See Me series, made its streaming debut on the smaller streaming platform earlier this year, but is anticipated to reach a larger audience through Prime as early as next month. Here’s everything you need to know about when you can expect to stream the 2025 film as an Amazon Prime subscriber.

‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ Amazon Prime Video Release Window, Explained

Lionsgate has its own streaming service, Starz, which is contractually the first stop for the studio’s theatrical releases once the film leaves theaters and its Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) window finishes its exclusivity period.

Lionsgate also has a “Pay-1” streaming deal with Amazon Prime Video, where films will reach the much larger streamer after debuting on Starz, which is also an add-on channel on Prime. Major Lionsgate titles, such as The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), are some of the most famous examples of the theatrical-Starz-Prime trajectory (per The Hollywood Reporter).

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t joined Starz on March 14, 2026. There’s not much data on the average or median window of time between a film debuting on Starz and its shift to Prime, but we can look into early titles subject to the Pay-1 deal as a guideline.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, perhaps the best example of the Pay-1 deal between the two streaming services, debuted on Starz on May 14, 2024, and later became available to stream for all Prime subscribers on November 14, 2024, which is exactly 6 months.

Should history repeat itself with Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the film should be on Amazon Prime Video around October 14, 2026, the same gap between the last Hunger Games movie and its Starz-Prime window. It should be underlined, however, that Prime hasn’t formally announced a date for Now You See Me 3’s arrival, so this is very much subject to change.

With proper care, regular maintenance, and the right fertilizer, you can keep your lawn and garden lush all spring and summer, and even into the fall. However, before winter hits, it’s important to plan for how you want your lawn and garden to look next spring after the snow melts away.  

Preparing early will give you the chance to treat the lawn and garden with a winter fertilizer that is specifically designed to help it survive through winter and thrive in the spring. If you haven’t applied winter fertilizer to your lawn or garden in the past, keep reading to find out why this step is highly recommended by gardening pros and how to choose the best winter fertilizer for your yard.

What is Winter Fertilizer?

Most people have a basic idea of what fertilizer is, even if they have never used it before. Basically, fertilizer is any natural or synthetic substance that can be added to soil or plants to help supply essential nutrients and promote healthy growth. Typically, fertilizer will have nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and a variety of micronutrients. But what is winter fertilizer?

“Winter fertilizer is lawn food designed to prepare your grass for the colder months ahead,” explains Matthew Koch, Ph.D., Research and Development Fellow at Scotts Miracle-Gro. “It provides an essential pre-winter nutrient boost that helps your lawn recover from summer stress, strengthen its root systems and store energy for winter.”

While regular fertilizer makes ample use of phosphorus to target active root and bloom initiation, winter fertilizer does not use phosphorus at all. Instead, it relies primarily on potassium to serve as a natural antifreeze, and a moderate amount of nitrogen to increase carbohydrate reserves in the roots.

Related: You’re Probably Fertilizing Your Lawn Wrong—Here’s How to Fix It This Spring

Why Should You Apply Winter Fertilizer?

Applying winter fertilizer to your lawn and garden gives your yard what it needs to recover from summer stress and prepare for the colder months ahead. The nutrients in winter fertilizer will help to promote healthy root growth while keeping the plants protected throughout the winter season. 

“Summer heat, drought and foot traffic can take a toll on grass, so fall feeding helps replenish essential nutrients as winter returns,” Koch notes. “Those nutrients can also be stored by the grass and tapped into when growth picks back up in the spring, helping set the stage for a thicker, greener lawn.”

Related: The Lawn Fertilizing Schedule Experts Swear By for Greener Grass

How to Choose the Best Winter Fertilizer

Selecting the best winter fertilizer for your yard comes down to the specific nutrients that your lawn and garden need to prepare for the long winter months ahead. With this in mind, you should avoid using the same fertilizer you have been using over spring and summer, since these formulas are typically high in phosphorus and contain more nitrogen than necessary for the dormant lawn and garden.

“Giving your lawn and plants a feed that’s high in phosphorus as we move into fall and winter will cause weak, leggy growth,” mentions Chrissie Handley, Lawn Care Specialist at Online Turf. “Instead, look for a feed that’s high in potassium to help strengthen the plant for dormancy.”

The best winter fertilizer formula is a high-potassium, moderate-nitrogen blend with little or no phosphorus (such as a 32-0-10 or 18-0-6 ratio), applied in late fall before the grass goes dormant.

How to Apply Winter Fertilizer

Before you begin the application, ensure you have the correct fertilizer for your grass type, and carefully read the product label for the recommended timing and spreader settings. Next, clear the lawn and garden by raking or picking up mulch and heavy piles of leaves, so that the nutrients can actually reach the soil instead of getting trapped in yard waste. 

Ideally, you should aim for a time when the grass and garden are dry and free of morning dew or frost to help prevent the granules from sticking and burning the blades of the grass or plants. When you’re ready to begin, use a lawn spreader to distribute the fertilizer evenly across your yard, walking at a steady pace to ensure consistent coverage.

“Apply the fertilizer in granules and water-in heavily, or let the rain water it in. Granular feed needs to be watered-in, otherwise you risk burning areas of the lawn,” Handley explains, “if you have a liquid feed, apply directly to the base of plants so it can be absorbed directly by the roots.”

Related: If Creeping Charlie Is Taking Over Your Lawn, Now Is the Best Time to Treat It

When Should I Apply Winter Fertilizer?

Choosing the right time to apply your winter fertilizer is important for ensuring the health of your yard. “Despite the name, winter fertilizer should be applied in the fall, before winter weather sets in,” notes Koch. The exact time you should apply the fertilizer depends on your local climate and the forecasted weather. Waiting too long will expose your plants to frost and winter weather before you get the chance to prepare them.

Generally, as long as the weather cooperates, you can apply winter fertilizer anytime from August through November to help your lawn recover from summer stress. That fall preparation also helps your lawn green up faster and come back stronger once spring arrives.

Related: Lawn Experts Say These Are the Best Weed and Feed Products for Dandelions, Crabgrass, Clover, and More

Is Winter Fertilizer Necessary?

Winter fertilizer is one of the best lawn and garden treatments you can do in the fall to set your yard up for success in the spring. “Think of it as laying the foundation for next year’s lawn,” says Koch. “The work you put in now can make a real difference when your grass starts growing again in the spring.”

It will give you a lush, healthy lawn that you can enjoy in the fall, while also giving your grass the nutrients it needs to make it through the colder months and come back strong in the spring. Even if you are simply applying it to the soil in your gardens, winter fertilizer can help promote healthy growth of your annual plants and improve the nutrient conditions for any new additions you plant in the spring.

Related: Lawn Experts Love This Organic, Compost-Based Fertilizer for Reviving Crispy Grass

What is the Difference Between Winter Fertilizer and Fall Fertilizer?

Depending on where you get your information, you may hear the term “fall fertilizer” used instead of “winter fertilizer,” and wonder what the difference is between the two and whether you have missed a step in your lawn and garden care routine. However, this is merely a difference in word choice based on when the fertilizer is applied.

“Winter fertilizer and fall fertilizer are essentially two terms for the same type of seasonal lawn feeding,” Koch explains. “While ‘winter fertilizer’ may sound like something you apply during the winter, it’s actually applied in the fall to prepare your lawn for the colder months ahead, which prompts some people to refer to it as ‘fall fertilizer.’”

A long dry summer can leave your lawn looking the worse for wear. But just how bad does it have to be before you switch from attempting to resuscitate it to replacing the whole thing? Most of the time even a dry brown crunchy lawn is simply lying dormant, waiting for cooler, wetter weather conditions to reawaken. But sometimes, especially under the pressure of extreme heat and weeks without rain, the grass will begin to die. If a large enough percentage of the lawn is deceased, it may make more sense to start over with a complete lawn renovation rather than continue the lawn-saving efforts. We tapped several lawncare experts for tips on how to determine when repair makes sense and when it’s time to replace the entire thing. 

How to Tell Whether You Should Repair or Replace Your Lawn

Determine Whether the Lawn Is Dormant or Dead

The first step to determining whether to repair or replace is to assess the condition of your lawn. There are several easy ways to determine how much of your lawn is dormant and how much is dead. Lucas Ford, vice president of Ford’s Hometown Services, a Worcester- Massachusetts-based lawn care and pest control service, points out that a lawn dying from drought is rare since lawns can survive in dormancy for up to seven weeks. “All grasses have this survival tactic built into themselves in order to survive, so the likelihood of a lawn dying from drought is very minimal,” he says. There are several ways you can determine if your lawn is dead or dormant:

Conduct the tug test

Grab a handful of grass and tug gently on the turf. If it remains anchored in the ground, it’s alive and simply sleeping. If the grass pulls easily out of the earth, then the roots have dried up, which means the grass is dead. Administer the tug test in several areas in both brown and green patches. 

Inspect the crowns

The crown is the part of the grass that is just below the soil line that serves as the heart of the plant, controlling all of the functions that keep it alive and growing. When the crown dies, the entire plant does too. Examine the crowns. They should be green or white, which is an indication that they have living tissue. “If they are brittle and dry all the way through, your grass may be dead,” says Em Daughtery of Bath Garden Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

Water an area

Try watering part of the lawn for several weeks. Watering should trigger the grass to come out of dormancy, causing it to green up. “If the grass doesn’t recover at all, then the area is likely fully dead,” says Daughtery. 

Measure the Extent of the Damage

Determining just how much of your lawn is damaged will help you determine which path to take. Divide your lawn into small zones. Inspect each zone and determine if it’s healthy, thinning, dead, or overrun with weeds. Then use your findings to determine your lawn’s health. If eight of the 20 sample zones are dead or weed ridden, then 40 percent of your lawn is in need of repair. Once you’ve made a full assessment you can determine the best path forward:

• Less than 30 percent damaged: Overseeding and spot repairs make the most sense. 

• 30 to 50 percent damaged: Make a decision based on the type of grass, pressure from weeds, and how healthy the turf was before the drought. 

• More than 50 percent damaged: A complete lawn renovation probably makes more sense than attempting to repair dead areas and overseed. 

Related: Want a Greener Lawn Next Summer? Plant These Drought-Tolerant Grasses This Fall

Look at the Pattern of Damage

A percentage of how much of the lawn is dead versus alive can help you make a decision, but the pattern of damage is also crucial to determining whether it’s best to repair or replace. 

• Damage is scattered: If large patches of lawn are dead, it makes sense to replace the lawn, or at least these large sections. When damage is scattered, it’s easier to make spot repairs. Plus, grass will have an easier time filling in these areas as opposed to a large dead zone. 
• Specific areas: If the damage is limited to sunny areas, pavement edges, slopes and sections missed by your sprinklers, then the lawn is likely repairable. 
• Large dead areas: Large swaths of dead areas or grass that’s thinning across most of the yard probably requires replacement. 
• Overrun with weeds: A lawn that’s dominated by weeds with only a few pockets of good turf is a good candidate for replacement. 
• Patches of brown: Brown patches scattered across the yard are an indication of insects or disease. You should diagnose what’s causing these issues before determining whether repairing or replacement makes sense. 

Related: Those Brown Spots on Your Lawn Could Be Fungus. Here’s How To Treat It Fast Before It Spreads

Determine Why the Lawn Declined

Putting down new turf, planting seed over a patch of dead grass, or replanting an entire lawn will be a waste of time and money if you don’t first identify what killed the grass in the first place. Drought is one possibility. Here are other common causes: 

• Uneven irrigation: If drought killed your lawn and you were watering it, the problem could include uneven irrigation. Check to see if your sprinklers are neglecting some parts of your lawn. “Poor irrigation causes uneven browning in streaks and splotches, while other spots remain green,” Daughtery says. 
• Compacted soil: When soil is compacted, grass roots can’t receive the nutrients, water and oxygen needed to survive. If water is running off the surface of the soil when you irrigate it, compaction is probably the issue. 
• Disease and pests: If insects or mold are the cause of your dead turf, you need to address it, otherwise it will infect any new turf you lay down. Insect damage typically presents as loose grass or may look like animals are digging in the yard, according to Daughtery. 
• Poor grass variety: Cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass and warm-season grasses like centipedegrass and St. Augustine grass are susceptible to drought. “If it’s an unsuitable grass variety, it will likely struggle even with adequate care during either the summer or winter,” Daughtery says. 
• Weeds: If weeds took over your lawn once, they can certainly do it again whether you choose to repair your lawn or install a new lawn. Come up with a strategy for preventing weeds to stop the issue from repeating itself. 

Related: Lawn Experts Say These Are the Best Weed and Feed Products for Dandelions, Crabgrass, Clover, and More

When Repairing the Lawn Makes Sense

Several factors come into play when determining if repair is the best course of action for your ailing lawn:

• Most of the lawn is healthy. The majority of the lawn, at least 60 percent, is made up of healthy turf. 
• Damage to the lawn is limited to isolated patches. It’s easier to repair small patches of dead grass than it is to revive large swaths of dead areas.
• Desired turf is present throughout the entire lawn. If desired grass is present throughout most of the yard, it will be easier to fill in bare spots and choke out weeds. 
• Weeds are manageable. There may be weeds in the yard, but they haven’t taken over the majority of the lawn. 
• The lawn was doing well. If the lawn was thriving before the dry summer drought kicked in, then it’s likely you can get it back to that point when cooler, wetter weather returns in the fall. 

Related: Sod vs. Seed: The Fastest Way to Get a Lush Lawn (And the Best One Long-Term)

When It Makes More Sense to Replace the Lawn

While you can often repair a damaged lawn, sometimes it simply isn’t salvageable. 

• Most of the desirable grass is dead. If the bulk of your yard is made up of bare patches, it probably makes sense to replace it.  
• Weeds have overtaken the surviving grass. If weeds outnumber the healthy grass plants in the lawn, it’s time to renovate. “I would recommend replacing a lawn when varying grassy weed species have overtaken certain areas to the point where fertilization and consistent weed control still cannot maintain an even color/length of turf canopy in these areas,” Ford says. 
• Damage is widespread across large sections of lawn. Large swaths of dead grass are more difficult to repair than smaller patches. If large areas of lawn are dead, replacement makes more sense. 
• Too many grass species: If your lawn has become a mix of various grass species or turf and weed grass, then it may be time to start over. “If the turf does not look like it’s all the same grass and is undesirable, this is when I’d recommend replacement,” Ford says. 
• Major grading or drainage issues must be solved. If you’re dealing with drainage or grading issues or pool soil conditions that require large sections of lawn to be torn up in order to fix these issues, then replacement is really your only option. 

Related: If Your Yard Has Puddles After Rain, It Could Affect Your Home’s Foundation. Here’s How To Level Your Yard Without Hiring a Pro

How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Lawn Versus Replace It? 

While the above factors may point to replacement, that may not always be possible due to budget. The cost of repair versus replacing is significant. Repairing a few dead patches of grass with fresh seed and soil is a job you can handle yourself and costs under $100. Hiring a professional to aerate and overseed the lawn to rejuvenate it is pricier but still affordable at between $250 and $500.

Replacing the lawn is a much more extensive process that involves killing all of the remaining grass and weeds, correcting any drainage or grading issues, prepping the soil, and seeding the entire area. This is a more involved process that usually requires a professional lawncare service. Expect to pay between $3,500 and $6,000 for the average 5,000 square-foot yard. 

Replacing an entire lawn with sod is far more expensive, costing about $2 to $3 per square foot, or about $10,000 to $15,000 for the average lawn.

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.

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Why We Love This Deal

You may think of umbrellas largely as a rainy-day device, but they’re quite excellent for blocking out sun and heat, too. While people across Japan and Korea are known to carry a sun umbrella when necessary, it’s more common in the U.S. to see sun-shading deck umbrellas, especially at restaurants and on patios. You might presume these large, heavy-duty umbrellas are quite expensive, and in normal times you just might be correct, but right now you can get a large one at Walmart that’d be great for a patio table for well under $50

The Ainfox 9-Foot Patio Umbrella in black is now just $30 following the large discount. There are actually dozens of styles, with variations in color, breadth, and lighting, available at Walmart with similar discounts at this time, but this one has one of the best deals. If your patio set-up is smaller, you may want to check out the 7.5-foot white and yellow version at just $20 instead.

Ainfox 9-Foot Patio Umbrella, $30 (was $130) at Walmart

What Shoppers Should Know

• Width: 9 feet
• UV Protection?: Yes
• Best Use Case: This is designed to cover medium-sized outdoor tables at home.

This $30 umbrella, for most patio furniture sets, will be just about perfect. Its black color and 9-foot wingspan block out a ton of UV rays. That 9 feet is going to be larger than the typical bistro umbrella, which is around 7 feet wide, and is more suitable for larger gatherings at home. Ideally, it will stretch beyond the table you affix it to, so that each chair remains covered as the sun moves across the sky. You’ll never block the sun as it is on the horizon, of course, but this size should keep you covered for most of the day and afternoon.

Where should you put the umbrella? Many patio furniture sets include a table with a hole in the middle explicitly for the purpose of holding an umbrella like this one, though you can also get an umbrella-holding patio table explicitly for this purpose. Depending on what’s below your table, it may also be a good idea to use sandbags or a base made to hold umbrellas for added support.

Related: Walmart Is Selling a $19 Patio Rug That’s Waterproof and Never Fades

What Shoppers Are Saying

One user said, “It rolls up easily and is strong, sturdy, and solid. The color is rich, and I love using the tilt feature in the late afternoon sun.”

Another said that “it’s the perfect size for a patio.” Yours may differ, of course, but that’s definitely what people are aiming for with this one.

The Ainfox 9-Foot Patio Umbrella is down to $30 in its black version at this time, but again, there are a ton of sales going on with various other sizes and styles of this umbrella, including the 7.5-foot white and yellow version at $20.

Shop More Deals

• Deorab 6-by-9 Outdoor Rug, $37 (was $70) at Walmart
• Napwant Outdoor Umbrella Stand Table, $96 (was $140) at Walmart
• Arlopu Patio Rectangular Dining Table with Umbrella Hole, $85 (was $200) at Walmart

Netflix has confirmed the official release date for an original documentary series on the life and career of Matthew Perry, the late actor best known for his role as Chandler Bing in Friends (1994-2004).

After decades of public struggle with addiction and substance abuse, Perry died in 2023 at the age of 54, after drowning following the use of ketamine. The death of the sitcom star resulted in the arrest and sentencing of 5 people involved in providing the drug to Perry, who achieved long-time sobriety in 2021.

The new documentary series, The One About Matthew Perry, will debut exclusively on Netflix on October 27. The three-part series is directed by Mary Robertson, who served as Executive Producer on the popular documentary series, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.

“From 1994 to 2004, across 236 episodes, Matthew Perry made the world laugh as Chandler Bing on the era-defining sitcom Friends. As the quick-witted, self-effacing heart of the series, Perry spun everyday anxieties into some of television’s most quoted lines — and became, for millions, their favorite Friend,” Netflix said in a press release for the upcoming series.

“But the real-life Perry was just as outspoken about the pain behind the laughter, which stemmed from the battle with addiction he endured for much of his life,” the statement continued. “When he died following an accidental overdose, in October 2023, at age 54, the world mourned not only a comedic icon but an advocate whose candor about his illness had become a legacy of its own.”

Netflix also stated that the documentary will include “never-before-heard testimonies from Perry’s sister Mia Perry Bowick and his lifelong best friends,” although the press release did not elaborate further on which friends will feature in the series.

Additionally, The One About Matthew Perry will feature “unreleased photos and videos from the Perry family’s private archive,” and “Firsthand memories from his creative collaborators and friends who adored and supported him are woven with candid new details on his private struggles.”