- Rake the Yard. Avoid walking or working on your lawn until after the spring thaw, to prevent damaging the grass. ...
- Aerate the Soil. Another way to reduce thatch and the effects of compacted soil is to use a core aerator, which removes plugs of soil so more air, water ...
- Fertilize the Grass. Apply spring fertilizer about three weeks after the grass starts greening or following the first two or three mowings.
- Seed and Lime the Lawn as Needed. Plant grass seed in bare spots in your lawn or wherever growth is sparse. ...
- Water the Lawn. Spring irrigation varies by region. In general, grass needs an inch of water per week, whether from rain or a spring lawn care routine with a ...
- Mowing and Lawn Care Tips. Before mowing in spring, inspect your lawn mower and perform any necessary maintenance, such as changing the oil or spark plugs.
- Dispose of Lawn Clippings as Needed. It's acceptable to leave grass clippings on your lawn unless they begin to form a thick thatch layer.
- Rake. Spring raking removes lingering fall leaves and grass blades that did not survive winter. ...
- Overseed. Fill bare or thin spots in the lawn by overseeding. ...
- Aerate. Vital for a truly healthy lawn, aeration is the solution for compacted soil. ...
- Dethatch. ...
- Weed. ...
- Fertilize. ...
- Water. ...
- Mow.
What are the best tips for spring lawn care?
Yard cleanup Part of spring lawn care involves clearing away the ravages of winter. Equipped with your rake and pruning shears, take an exploratory stroll around the property. Look closely for any plants that didn’t survive. Prune damaged or dead branches from trees and bushes, and remove twigs or leaves you find lingering on the grass.
Why is spring lawn care important?
Tackling spring lawn care provides a just-right dose of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise-and sets your lawn on its way to season-long glory. Spring lawn chores aren’t difficult, but they do play a vital role in getting your grass on track for a healthy, productive growing season. Early Spring Lawn Care Tips Late Spring Lawn Care Tips.
How do I prepare my lawn for mowing in April?
Give your lawn its first feed with a spring/summer fertiliser. Grass growth will start to increase in April so you might need to mow a little more frequently. As growth speeds up you can start to lower the mower by a setting each cut.
What happens if you fertilize your lawn in the spring?
Too much fertilizer in spring can lead to disease and weed problems. And if you have, indeed, already fertilized in late fall, your lawn is still "digesting" that fertilizer in spring. For those who prefer weed-free lawns, spring grass care is as much about weed prevention as it is about fostering healthy lawn growth.
What should I treat my grass with in the spring?
Soil pH changes over time, so retest yearly until your results are balanced. Afterwards, an established lawn can be tested every three years or so. Spring and fall are the best times to add lime to a lawn that needs it. Use soil test results to know how much lime to apply and follow the directions on the lime package.
What do I need to do to my lawn in the spring?
Early SpringEarly Spring. Tune up your mower. ... Clean up. Walk around and pick up twigs, branches, and any trash that winter (or the kids) tossed onto your lawn. ... Repair bare spots. ... Wipe out dandelions. ... *don't apply to newly seeded areas until after the 4th mowing; wait 4 months to plants seeds after applying.
What is the first thing you put on your lawn in the spring?
Lawn weeds (especially crabgrass) are the first seeds to germinate in the spring, and aerating the lawn stirs them up and gives them an ideal home.
How do I treat my lawn in April?
LawnsLightly fertilize all cool-season lawn grasses (such as fescue and bluegrass). ... Begin post emergent weed control.Apply pre-emergent herbicide or corn gluten to prevent crabgrass and other annual weeds.Top-dress lawns and patch bare spots.Lawns will be very soggy, so treat them gently and avoid too much traffic.More items...
What is the best fertilizer for early spring?
Best Lawn Fertilizer for Early SpringNitrogen helps with the production of chlorophyll, a chemical needed for photosynthesis. (This element often requires the highest volume for your lawn.)Phosphorus helps your lawn develop healthy roots and stems. ... Potassium helps your lawn resist drought and disease.
What should I put on my lawn now?
Spring Lawn Care PlanClean Up. Kick off the growing and mowing season with a quick spring cleaning. ... Mow High. Double-check your mower deck height, and position it to cut grass at the highest possible setting for your grass type. ... Apply Fertilizer. ... Beat Weeds. ... Patch and Thicken.
How do I fertilize my lawn in the spring?
Fertilize lightly in early spring with either slow-release or quick-release fertilizer. Time your fertilization schedule to use up all the fertilizer before the onset of hot summer weather, when cool-season grasses often go dormant.
When should I start treating my lawn?
0:338:26When To Start FERTILIZING or SPRAYING in Spring ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you did you're fertilizing in the fall last year and you're sort of on my program of prettyMoreSo if you did you're fertilizing in the fall last year and you're sort of on my program of pretty heavy fall fertilizing for cool season lawns that should carry you over into the spring. And should
When should I apply spring fertilizer to my lawn?
When To Apply Spring Fertilizer. Here's the short answer: Early Spring. Cool season turfgrasses grow most actively in the spring, due to the combination of optimal temperatures and rain in most regions. This makes early spring fertilization very important, since the turf requires the most nourishment during this period ...
What fertilizer do you put on your lawn in April?
By the way, a 20-5-10 lawn fertilizer is a good basic mix to use in spring. Slow-release lawn fertilizers break down their nutrients over a longer period of time, so you can wait longer between applications.
What month should I scarify my lawn?
When is the best time to scarify a lawn? Light scarification or removing the thatch can be done in spring, around the month of April, when it's getting warmer. In spring the growth and recovery rate of your lawn, and all your plants, is the highest.
Should you aerate your lawn in March?
It is March, so spring aeration is upon us. To best prevent weeds with core aeration, you will need to aerate before spring weeds start to germinate. Weeds begin to germinate when the daily average soil temperature reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This generally happens around late March or early April in Ohio.
What to do with lawn in spring?
Part of spring lawn care involves clearing away the ravages of winter. Equipped with your rake and pruning shears, take an exploratory stroll around the property. Look closely for any plants that didn’t survive. Prune damaged or dead branches from trees and bushes, and remove twigs or leaves you find lingering on the grass.
How to dethatch dead grass?
Dethatch the lawn by giving it a good once-over, using either a lawn rake with stiff tines or a special dethatching rake ( view on Amazon ).
Is it important to cut corners in spring?
All are important. Remember that cutting corners now could mean that at the peak of summer, you’ll be spending your weekends making up for spring lawn care oversights. In other words, it’s in your best interest to act now.
What to do when your lawn is bare?
Overseeding is the process of sowing seed over existing grass. Apply a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (starter fertilizer) when you overseed.
Why is aerating the lawn in spring not recommended?
Generally, though, spring aerating is discouraged because the aeration holes provide a perfect spot for weed seeds to germinate. Lawn weeds (especially crabgrass) are the first seeds to germinate in the spring, and aerating the lawn stirs them up and gives them an ideal home.
What does spring mean on a lawn mower?
Spring also means it's time to get out the lawn mower and give it a once over. Start it up; stubborn start-ups are a sign that it might be due for a tune-up. Give your mower a tune-up once a year. In three easy steps, you can get your mower back in tip-top shape.
What to do if your lawn mower needs a tune up?
If your lawnmower needs more than a tune-up, then consider getting a new one . Among the key tune-up tasks is sharpening the mower blade. A regular sharpening will ensure the blade severs, rather than tears, the grass plants, leading to a nice green lawn rather than one with ragged brown tips.
Why is my lawn getting compacted?
If your lawn gets heavy traffic, such as lots of running and playing in the same spot, this can cause soil compaction. If you see moss, which thrives on compacted soil, you can get rid of it, but you need to look deeper into its root cause. In this case, it's usually compacted soil that needs aeration .
How long after grass sprouts can you fertilize?
Five weeks after the grass germinates and sprouts, you can begin a normal fertilization routing using quick-release nitrogen fertilizer. It is possible to apply seed only to the visible bare patches, but it is also quite common to overseed the entire lawn to ensure that the lawn remains thick and healthy.
When should I fertilize my lawn?
However, many experts recommend a lighter feeding in spring and a heavier one in late fall for cool-season grasses. Too much fertilizer in spring can lead to disease and weed problems. And, if you fertilized in late fall, then your lawn still has fertilizer to feed on in spring. The Spruce / David Karoki.
How to start a cold mower in spring?
Note, too, that a cold mower can be hard to start in early spring. Warm it up by placing it in the sun for an hour or two prior to starting. Kick it up a notch by placing a dark trash bag over the engine while it’s soaking up some rays. (Don’t forget to remove the bag before you start the mower!) Clean up.
How to prevent weeds in a garden?
Toss any weed-free material you might dig out onto planting beds as mulch or add it to your compost pile. Apply mulch. Once the soil has warmed, refresh your mulch. Shredded mulch provides a polished finish to planting beds, but it also helps prevent weed growth by blocking access to the sun.
What is the best blade height for a lawn mower?
Most turf types thrive with a 3- to 4-inch blade height, which usually corresponds to a mower’s highest setting. There are a few exceptions: Bermuda grass and creeping bentgrass like to keep a low profile, while Zoysia grass and Centipede grass enjoy a happy medium.
Is it hard to do spring lawn care?
Spring lawn chores aren't difficult, but they do play a vital role in getting your grass on track for a healthy, productive growing season. Tackling spring lawn care provides a just-right dose of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise—and sets your lawn on its way to season-long glory. Spring lawn chores aren’t difficult, ...
How to get rid of dead grass in summer?
There should be some dead grass on your soil around this time, so try to remove as much as you can. Using a garden towel, break up the soil and add an inch of compost to it afterwards.
Does walking on grass make it green?
Nothing beats waking up every morning to the smell of a fresh, green and healthy lawn. Walking on your grass sans footwear is a feeling unlike any other. However, making sure that the grass on your yard stays lush and green from all year round will require plenty of regular maintenance. Yes, it takes a lot of hard work and you always have ...
Do you have to change the spark plug on a lawn mower every year?
You won’t necessarily have to change your mower’s sparkplug every year, but changing it is quite a simple task. Doing it every year will also help remind you of the last time you changed your sparkplug. If you have some gas leftover from the winter, you might want to replace that with some fresh gas.
When is the best time to take care of lawns?
Autumn is often the busiest time in the lawn care calendar as you help your lawn recover from the heat of summer and prepare it for the extremes of winter.
What to do after scarifying a lawn?
Make sure you employ a good recovery program after scarifying. You should also overseed to fill in bare patches left by these invasive treatments. Serious gardeners should top dress their lawns. Also, if you want to sow a new lawn or lay turf, now is the time.
When is the best time to cut worm casts?
November marks the winding down of the lawn care calendar. Keep on top of worm casts by brushing them back into the lawn and removing fallen leaves to reduce their surface activity. If the weather is still good (neither frosty or wet) then set the lawn mower high and give your lawn its last cut of the year.
What is summer lawn maintenance?
Summer lawn maintenance is about keeping on top of the work you did during spring and is really a time to enjoy the longer days in your garden as you relax, with friends and family.
Does lawn take up more time than other plants?
Your lawn takes up more time than any other plant in your garden. So much time in fact, that many people are put off by the work load. By breaking that workload down into a lawn treatment schedule it becomes much less intimidating. Follow this lawn care calendar and you can have a beautiful looking lawn all year round.
Which states have warm season lawns?
States with warm season lawns include: South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas.
What is the best temperature for grass?
Cool season grasses thrive in cool humid and cool arid areas of the country where the temperatures stay around 65 to 75 degrees during the majority of the growing season.
What is transition grass?
Transition Grasses (Blend) States with climates that fall between the cool and warm season zones are in what is called the "transition zone". Here, many people have a blend of both warm and cool season lawns to maintain a green and healthy lawn year round.
What do you need to wear to use insecticide?
In most situations, it is recommended that you wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed toe shoes with socks, chemical resistant gloves, and goggles. In areas where ventilation is poor, a manufacturer may recommend you wear a mask or a respirator. We have put together two different safety kits that will make selecting the correct safety gear easier for you.
Dethatching
Soil Testing
- To grow grass successfully, you need the right soil. Most varieties thrive in conditions that are neither acidic nor alkaline. Methods exist to raise or lower soil pH, but you’ve got to know what you’re dealing with. Purchase a soil test kit for around $10 from your neighborhood garden store, or send a soil sample to your local extension office.
Yard Cleanup
- Part of spring lawn care involves clearing away the ravages of winter. Equipped with your rakeand pruning shears, take an exploratory stroll around the property. Look closely for any plants that didn’t survive. Prune damaged or dead branches from trees and bushes, and remove twigs or leaves you find lingering on the grass.
Aeration
- In high-traffic areas, the soil beneath grass gradually becomes compacted and inhospitable to grass roots. Aeration reverses the damage done. Here, using a specialized tool (view on Amazon), wine cork-size plugs are drawn out of the lawn surface, giving roots room to spread and allowing air, nutrients, and moisture to penetrate the soil.
Weed Treatment
- Weed control ranks high among spring lawn-care priorities: If you don’t act against weeds now, before they emerge, you’ll spend the summer battling them—and it’s not a fight you’re liable to win. Prevent weeds from even sprouting by applying a pre-emergent herbicide or explore alternative treatments free of harmful chemicals.
Seeding
- On any bare patches of ground, skip the herbicide and opt instead for grass seed. Be aware, however, that if you’re planting grass in the spring, it’s going to need lots of TLC during the hot summer months—that is, consistent watering and regular weeding—and you’ll most likely have to seed again in the fall.
Equipment Maintenance
- Before the lawn season gets into full swing, inspect all your outdoor tools, including the mower. If necessary, take the machine in for service or give it a tune-up yourself: change the oil, install new spark plugs, and replace the air filter. Also, make sure to have fuel on hand in preparation for the first grass-cutting of the year.