Spring is arguably the most important season when it comes to ensuring a healthy and beautiful lawn year-round. As winter comes to a close, this period is your opportunity to ensure the most fruitful springtide possible for your yard. With that in mind, we’d identified the three most important steps that you can take to prepare your grass for continued beauty and health.
1.Debris Removal and Crabgrass Control
When it comes to your lawn, you don’t want to wait until spring for a good cleaning. In fact, the earlier the better, so get out their as soon as the weather accommodates it. Start by picking up all of the large matter, such as dead tree branches. Then, you want to give the lawn a good raking. This gets rid of leaves and the like but is also very important to undo matting and to:
• Get air flowing through the grass and turf
• Allow grass blades to grow more freely
• Fend off disease and insect infestations
• Eliminate snow mold, which is a kind of fungus
Once the yard is well-raked, you should apply a pre-emergent crabgrass control herbicide. While this can be done in early spring, late winter is even better particularly if crabgrass is a common problem for you. Be mindful that if soil temperatures reach about 55 degrees Fahrenheit, then you have waited too long. The crabgrass will have begun to germinate and thus pre-emergent control won’t work.
2.Core Aeration and Fertilization
It is a good idea to have performed a late-fall fertilizer, which can be applied as early as late October or as late as early December. Then, you’ll want to aerate and fertilize again in spring, and while you don’t want to do this in winter, a general rule is once again the earlier the better.
The soil needs to be moist for proper aerating, so tackling the job after a rain shower or after you’ve watered the lawn is ideal. This depends on your machine, but most only cover a small area per pass, so it is generally necessary to make multiple passes particularly over the sections likely to be most compacted.
Once the soil has warmed up to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, this a great time to fertilize your yard. Opt for granules and a slow-release formula. The idea mix will depend on your local climate. If you determine that overseeding is necessary this spring, then this a good time to go ahead and do that as well.
3.Prune along with Early and Frequent Mowing
Late winter is also an excellent period to trim your trees for dead branches. Experts advise hiring a professional to perform a safety prune once every three years. Prune all of your bushes and the like, and then, choose and lay down a heavy mulch to delineate between your yard and your various beds.
Perhaps the biggest mistake homeowners make in late winter and early spring is not mowing early enough and often enough. Start mowing in late winter as soon as the weather accommodates it. In addition, do not mow once a week, which is generally a bit too long for early spring. It can stunt the roots. Instead, mow once every five days up until the sixth week of spring comes to a close.
Ahh. Spring is in the air, and you’re well on your way to a lush and green spring lawn. Be mindful that winter can wreak havoc on a yard. The general advice provided above is important, but you should inspect your entire lawn for signs of damage. Re-seed damaged areas where needed, and if the harm is particularly severe, you can remove those particular sections and rebuild them.
