what treatment does my lawn need this spring

What Do I Need To Do To My Lawn In The Spring?

• Lawn Mowing. To get ready for the year for mowing; if you’re the DIY kind of person, check your spark plug, oil and make...
• Feeding. Well, don’t rely on Mother Nature to take care of the first watering. As soon as the temperatures stay above...
• Watering. Also, to get the lawn to have a good start you need to feed it. You may...

Full Answer

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.

What is involved in spring lawn care?

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.

When is the best time to treat a lawn in spring?

As commercial landscapers, people often ask us how to treat a lawn in the spring, and our reply is not as much how, but when. Living in Columbus, Ohio, it could warm up to 70 degrees in February and snow as late as April, so it’s imperative to time it right and wait until your lawn is ready. Too early and you could crush or kill new grass.

Can I fertilize my lawn in the spring?

Fertilizing in the Spring. If you properly fertilized your lawn in the fall, there is probably no need to apply another layer of fertilizer in the spring. Cool season grasses in particular are good at holding on to fertilizer from the fall and using it all winter.

What should I treat my grass with in the spring?

Fertilize the Grass Apply spring fertilizer about three weeks after the grass starts greening or following the first two or three mowings. Apply too early and you risk feeding weeds and creating fertilizer runoff. Water your lawn a few days before applying fertilizer to avoid burning the roots.

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.

What should I put on 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 are the steps for spring lawn care?

Follow these spring lawn care tips to ensure your yard is lush and green this summer.#1: Give your lawn mower a tune-up.#2: Remove winter debris from your grass.#3 Aerate Your Lawn.#4: Start overseeding your lawn.#5: Assess Your Soil.#6: Enact weed prevention.#7: Prevent lawn disease.#8: Mow and grass-cycle your lawn.More items...

What is the best fertilizer for early spring?

In the spring, apply a 20-5-10 fertilizer mix. Be careful not to apply to early as fertilizer can easily burn vulnerable grass. Keep in mind that there are other things you can do before it's time to fertilize. In late May or early June, before the heat of the summer arrives, apply some slow release nitrogen.

What month Should I fertilize lawn?

Ideally, the ground should be around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on where you live, March to April is the best time to fertilize your lawn. It's also best if your yard is watered a few days before you want to apply the fertilizer, whether that's from rain or a sprinkler.

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.

When should I apply 10 10 10 fertilizer to my lawn?

Apply the first dose in early spring when you see the first new growth. Add new doses at 30-day intervals. You may choose to add one fall dose if the growth is particularly slow. For ornamentals and other plants requiring a balanced NPK fertilizer, add the first dose in early spring after the risk of frost has passed.

When should I start treating my lawn?

Give it Nutrients to Grow in the Spring. But you can help your lawn recover from the harsh weather with fertilizer treatment first thing in the spring. After aerating, as soon as the snow melts and outside temperatures reach an average of 55°, give your grass a healthy snack to energize growth for the spring.

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 ...

How do I green up my lawn in the spring?

0:142:37Early Spring Green-Up Tips and Tricks - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRight in the spring. If you are going to fertilize you want to use less than half a pound ofMoreRight in the spring. If you are going to fertilize you want to use less than half a pound of nitrogen. Which is a very small amount it's just a little tasting to get the grass.

When Should I spray my lawn in the spring?

The general rule is to apply your pre-emergent herbicide treatment after the ground has thawed from the winter but before the temperature of your soil reaches 55 degrees, as that is when crabgrass begins to germinate. Other weeds will germinate when the soil temperature is between 55 and 65 degrees.

Why do you set your lawn mower to the highest possible setting?

Setting your mower to the highest possible setting for your grass type allows the blades to grow thick and develop a deep root system. This method also crowds out weeds, putting you well on your way to cultivating the most enviable backyard on the block.

What is the problem with grubs in the summer?

Another invader may be lurking just beneath the surface of your lawn. If you experience an influx of beetles in the early summer, you may have a problem with grubs — the larvae of these beetles — which feast on the roots of grass and plants.

What is the best time to take care of a lawn in spring?

Early spring lawn care ensures a fresh-looking, healthy lawn for the summer months and a lush and green lawn you can enjoy during the nice weather. As the growing season begins, your grass will be in prime condition to thrive come spring – if taken care of properly with correct spring lawn maintenance. When it comes to early spring lawn care, you ...

Why is spring the best time to care for lawns?

That could be a sign of lawn disease. That’s why spring is the perfect time to focus on preventing lawn disease and keeping your grass healthy. Proper lawn disease prevention can rejuvenate your yard. Our Lawn Maintainer Care program will help prevent lawn disease and lawn pests throughout the year.

What is grass cycle?

Grass-cycling is the process of leaving grass clippings on the lawn. Instead of bagging the clippings, let them spread out on your lawn to recycle grass elements back into the soil and to help your lawn retain more water. This process can help give your yard a boost at the beginning of the spring season.

Why choose a lawn doctor?

Why Choose Lawn Doctor? Spring is the time to get your lawn in optimal shape and ready for the summer season. Early spring lawn care ensures a fresh-looking, healthy lawn for the summer months and a lush and green lawn you can enjoy during the nice weather.

How does soil enrichment help your lawn?

Soil enrichment can also reduce damaging salts from the root zone and improve soil aeration. #9: Watch your thatch level. When soil becomes compacted over time, it restricts the grass’s access to vital nutrients and makes it difficult for the soil to absorb water. Your lawn can also accumulate thatch.

Why fertilize in spring?

Spring fertilization helps your lawn replenish and build a robust root system. The right time to apply fertilizer and the right type of fertilizer to use both depend on where you live and what the growing conditions are like, so be sure to follow the directions carefully.

Can snow be left on lawn?

Wind, rain, and snow can leave de bris on your lawn. In addition, the snow can hide some of the debris until spring.

What to do if your lawn is brown?

Reseed. Bare or brown areas of your lawn need to be reseeded. After you test your soil condition and correct the pH level (if needed), and you aerate to loosen compacted ground, your lawn is now ready for grass seed.

What to do with dead grass that has been rake?

Thatch consists of small pieces of dead grass. If too much builds up it can create a barrier blocking essential sunlight, air, and moisture from reaching your turf. Once the ground dries out, give your yard a deep raking to remove thatch, leaves and other debris that has accumulated over winter.

What does an aerator do to your lawn?

An aerator removes small plugs of soil from your lawn, loosening the ground and allowing more air, water, and nutrients into the soil.

When is spring in Ohio?

Spring is an important time of year for lawn care and landscaping. The calendar tells us that spring begins on March 21st but if you live in Columbus, Ohio, you know this may not be the case. This article outlined various ways to treat your yard in spring and the importance of timing lawn treatments just right.

Is it too late to apply pre-emergence?

Pre-emergent weed control prevents weed seeds from germinating, that’s why timing is everything. If you wait too long and weeds are already growing, it’s too late. A good rule of nature is to apply a pre-emergent just as the forsythia bushes finish blooming. Use a spreader for even, thorough coverage.

Can you apply pre-emergence to grass seed?

If you plant grass seed you can’t apply a pre-emergent because, along with preventing weeds, it will also stop any new grass from growing. You can, however, fill in bare spots after applying pre-emergent, but you must wait 12 weeks for the weed treatment to run its course.

Can you fix your lawn with fertilizer?

If it’s too late and the damage is done, don’t think you can fix everything with a quick dose of fertilizer. Applying fertilizer will only make matters worse, possibly burning the already vulnerable grass. Spring is an important time of year for lawn care and landscaping.

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, ...

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.

Lawn Mowing

To get ready for the year for mowing; if you’re the DIY kind of person, check your spark plug, oil and make sure you have fresh gas in the tank and test it out. If it sounds off it may need to be serviced, either by you or a professional. After sitting through the winter gas that is still in the carburetor can gum up and cause a blockage.

Feeding

Next are you wondering, “When do I start watering?” Well, don’t rely on Mother Nature to take care of the first watering. As soon as the temperatures stay above freezing, (about Mid-March to April) you should start your water program.

Watering

Also, to get the lawn to have a good start you need to feed it. You may choose to call a professional company to handle all the aspects of fertilizing and insect control for both the lawn and trees or you may be the DIY person who finds joy and pride caring for your property.

Preventative Control

In later spring — like Mid-May to June you’ll be needing to apply a grub control preventive to help keep Billbugs, Sod Web Worm and Cranberry Girdler from turning your lawn into an all you can eat buffet. Again you can either do it yourself or have a professional company apply it for you.

Pruning

You may have a few trees whose branches have been damaged by winter winds and snow, and need to be pruned. Depending on the trees you can either trim them now or wait until fall. Maple trees, for example, will weep sap badly if pruned in the spring.

Conclusion

By addresses these areas of your yard you should get off on the right foot and be able to enjoy the season. Nothing makes the summer more enjoyable than having a beautiful lawn where you can play with your kids and enjoy quality time outdoors with friends and family.

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 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.

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.

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 and nutrients can reach the grassroots.

Fertilize the Grass

Apply spring fertilizer about three weeks after the grass starts greening or following the first two or three mowings. Apply too early and you risk feeding weeds and creating fertilizer runoff.

Seed and Lime the Lawn as Needed

Plant grass seed in bare spots in your lawn or wherever growth is sparse. Consider seeding while applying a slow release nitrogen fertilizer. Early spring and fall are ideal times for reseeding.

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 garden hose, sprinkler or irrigation system.

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. Make sure your lawn mower blade is sharp to guarantee a clean cut. Be safe, and always remove the spark plugs before doing any work on your lawn mower.

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. Then remove the clippings and dethatch your lawn as needed.

How to get your lawn to turn green?

It can be tempting to get out the lawn tools and attack your yard just as soon as it is warm enough to go outside without a coat on. Be patient, though, and let your lawn wake itself up gradually. If you spend too much time on your lawn before it is fully green, you run the risk of compacting the grass or killing new shoots before they have a chance to mature. Wait until your lawn has turned mostly green before you begin mowing or aerating in the spring.

Is spring lawn care more time intensive than fall?

Spring lawn care is much less time intensive than fall lawn care. If you prepared your lawn properly in the late fall, there should be very little for you to do once the weather begins to get warm again.

Dethatching

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Soil Testing

Aeration

Weed Treatment

Seeding

Equipment Maintenance