Spring has finally sprung, at least according to the clocks going forward…Maybe not the weather!
A common question I get asked is how to make sure the lawn is keep in tip-top shape.
And that’s today’s post is about.
Let’s get cutting…
Lush and healthy grass is pretty much guaranteed if you conduct proper lawn care in spring. However, not all homeowners are aware of how to do it efficiently and effectively.
We all know that our lawns need sunlight, water and nutrients, but how exactly should you go about doing all of it?
Take a look at my simple guide below to ensure a successful spring job.
Mow the Grass
Spring is when your lawn grass goes back to a period of active growth. It will focus on root development in early spring before switching to grass growth in the latter stage of the season.
However, you must be careful when you choose the mowing height. Cutting high grass doesn’t mean having to use the lowest setting immediately – doing so stresses the grass. Use the highest setting in early spring.
The GTech Falcon is a good example of a cordless, electric mower which allows you to adjust the cutting height very easily.
And if you want to strim the edges or cut the hedges, check out my other reviews of this hedge trimmer and this edge strimmer.
As the growth rate of the grass increases, you can increase the frequency and the mowing height. However, you should not exceed cutting more than a third of the grass length each time.
Look after your tools…
Maintaining your lawn mower is important for ensuring a good cut. Check the parts such as the air filter and the spark plug if they need to be repaired or even replaced.
Clean your mower and get rid of any dirt and dried grass clippings. Keep the blades sharp to ensure clean, crisp cuts since blunt ones could expose your grass to diseases.
Overseed Thin Grass Patches
Winter isn’t the best time for your lawn. Upon the arrival of spring, you might see thin patches of grass. These can be the result of nutrient deficiency, plant disease or even a pest infestation.
Thankfully, you can recover most areas without having to remove the affected area of turf. Overseeding is a process whereby you sow new seeds where there’s currently existing grass.
Don’t forget to apply topdressing on the surface before scattering the seeds.
Rake Your Lawn
It’s totally normal for your lawn to look less appealing than you’d expect in the late winter. Voles could have dug up several tunnels under your lawn and killed off the roots of your grass.
Another culprit is the snow mold disease, which can lead to clumps of grass turning a dull shade of pink or gray. This disease spreads quickly among nearly all grass varieties whether it’s raining, snowing or the temperature is simply cold.
To improve the look of these damaged areas, you have to rake. This procedure will remove the dying and discolored grass blades with ease – allowing the unaffected grass to grow.
Furthermore, raking is also the answer to thick layers of thatch. Only an inch-layer of thatch is beneficial to lawn grass since any more would impact the capacity of the soil to absorb water. Of course, raking also removes any unsightly lawn debris such as fallen leaves, twigs and rocks.
Apply Fertilizer
A common yet significant mistake homeowners make is to apply fertilizer in early spring. This isn’t recommended for two reasons.
- Your lawn might still be feeding off of a slow-release fertilizer applied back in late autumn.
- The grass isn’t ready for the fertilizer. It’s still busy establishing its root system while building energy reserves. Using fertilizer at this point forces the grass to grow its blades early even if the roots are still weak.
Therefore, the best time for fertilizing is in late spring. Your grass has slowed down the production of energy reserves and started on leaf development by then.
An indicator that your grass is ready for a fertilizer application is when the grass has a lush shade of green and you’ve already reduced its length through mowing.
Avoid Using a Lawn Roller Early On
The accumulation of snow, ice and water over the winter would have likely led to uneven sections around your lawn. Similarly, voles and moles might have created slopes and depressed areas.
While using a sod roller seems like the most practical solution in early spring, you should avoid it.
Rolling the lawn now would lead to heavily compacted soil since the ground hasn’t thawed properly. Wait until it’s late spring when the soil is no longer wet and soggy.
In fact, you can also skip rolling the lawn if constant rainfall occurs in late spring since this will also level the surface by itself.
Weed Control
Apart from your grass, pesky weeds will also grow and spread during spring. A weed infestation can be costly and tiresome to fix, so you should apply a pre-emergent herbicide early on.
This will prevent the seeds from germinating in the first place. If weeds do grow in your lawn, you can either pull them up or apply a post-emergent herbicide. Just remember to include the roots when you manually remove the weeds.
In conclusion, you should know when and how to take care of your lawn in spring. Apply fertilizer and roll your lawn in late spring. Mow your grass at the highest setting and use your rake to remove debris and thick patches of thatch.
I hope this guide to Spring lawn care helped you. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a comment here.
