Grow a Healthier and Happier Lawn this Spring
The early spring is a crucial time for yard cleanup and mowing. The weather is still cool, but the days are getting longer and warmer. This provides the perfect conditions for your lawn to grow strong and healthy. If you want to have a lush green lawn this summer, then follow these 10 tips!
1: Clean any Winter Debris from the Yard
The first step in early spring lawn care is to clean any winter debris from the yard. This includes leaves, branches, and pieces of trash you might not have noticed buried under the snow. You don’t want these items to remain on your lawn and damage the grass.
Once you’ve cleaned up any trash, branches, or other similar objects, you can use a rake or leaf blower to take care of any remaining leaves. Direct them into a central spot on your lawn and dispose of them in a large paper leaf bag or black contractor bag.
2: Aerate Your Lawn
Aerating your lawn is a great method for improving the overall health of your grass. It helps with water drainage and irrigation, reducing soil compaction, circulating oxygen, and promoting nutrient absorption.
Aerator tools are available in a variety of forms. These can range from motor-powered machines to simple handheld tools or as sandal-style attachments for the bottom of your shoes.
3: Seed or Sod Over Dirt Patches
Winter weather can create dirt patches on your lawn. If you notice any, then you’ll want to seed or sod over them to fill in the gaps and create a level surface. You can do this yourself or enlist a professional to handle it for you during a lawn care appointment.
4: Avoid Walking on the Lawn After Seeding
When seeding your lawn, it is best to avoid walking on it for at least two weeks. This will help the seeds stay in place to germinate properly. After fourteen days have passed, you can start to walk on the lawn, but be sure to avoid stepping on the newly-seeded areas.
You should also keep pets and children off of the new patches of lawn until the area is fully grown. You may also choose to purchase short fencing materials to erect around your new grass to prevent animals or people from walking over these areas.
5: Get Rid of Weeds Early
Weeds can quickly overtake a lawn and ruin its appearance, and they are likely to re-emerge as the weather warms. Remove weeds that you see early on to eliminate their chance to grow and spread. This can be done by hand or with the help of weed killers or herbicides. When handling these chemicals, thoroughly read manufacturer directions and be sure to avoid plants that you want to keep.
It is important to read the manufacturer’s directions carefully before using any type of weed killer, and always wear the appropriate safety gear (goggles, gloves, facemask, etc.). After you are done using these chemicals, be sure to wash your hands and any exposed areas of your skin that could have been in contact with the chemical. This can help remove the chance of irritating your skin.
Be sure to check your weather forecast before applying any weed-killing solution. Wait until after rainstorms before applying these products, as they can run off from rainfall and harm other plants.
6: Wait to Fertilize Until The Weather Gets Warmer
Fertilizing your lawn too early in the early spring can actually do more harm than good. Instead of absorbing, the fertilizer can end up sitting on the grass blades if the ground is too hard, leading to burn spots.
Wait until the weather gets warmer (ideally above 60 degrees Fahrenheit) before fertilizing your lawn. This will provide the best conditions for the fertilizer to be absorbed by the soil and help your lawn grow healthy and strong. If you feel that the ground is too hard, try watering it for a day or two before fertilizing.
7: Water the Lawn in Non-Freezing Temperatures
Different parts of the country warm sooner than others. When the temperature is below or near 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it is best not to water your lawn. This can cause the water to freeze and damage the grass. You should also check the weather forecast before watering your lawn to ensure that the temperature will be above freezing when the water hits the ground.
8: Start Mowing the Lawn As Soon as You See Growth
Mowing your lawn consistently is an important part of keeping it healthy. You should start mowing as soon as you see the grass growing. This will help keep the height of the grass down and promote a healthy growth pattern. Be sure to never cut farther than one-third of the blade at a time, and only mow when the grass is dry.
9: Manage the Grass Clippings
When you mow your lawn, clippings will be produced. You can manage these clippings by either mulching them back into the lawn or bagging them up for disposal. Leaving grass clippings on your lawn can risk thatch build-up.
10: Prep Your Lawn for Warm Weather with a Professional Lawn Care Service
At Grasshopper Gardens, we provide the most complete range of lawn care services to residents in the New York Capital Region. If you are looking to save time and improve the health of your lawn, contact us today to learn more about our early spring lawn care services.