Spring Cleaning for Lawns

Lawns are generally healthy during the winter. However, they do need a little love to stay that way. If you follow these simple steps, your lawn can survive the winter and be healthier than ever when the first signs of spring emerge.

Mowing
Properly cutting high grass down to an equal height is essential for a healthy-looking lawn. This is the most important step in lawn maintenance. There are no shortcuts. And, it’s worth noting that using a mulching mower is essential for saving on time and money spent on fertilizing, as clippings will be recycled into the soil. It also makes less noise than other mowers, making it safer for kids’ play areas.

Edging
The second most important step in lawn maintenance is edging. It’s a way to define and enhance the appearance of the lawn and flowerbeds. To edge your grass: Simply trim along hard-surfaced areas, such as walkways and driveways, with an edger attachment on your mower. When you’re finished, use a weed whacker to trim the edges of grass along curbs and sidewalks.

Raking
Fallen leaves can also be raked up with leaf-raking gadgets. And, keep in mind that aerating is an essential process for loosening compacted soil that may have resulted from raking or mowing over thick layers of leaves. Aerating also helps discourage the development of disease and pests by increasing airflow through your turf, which can result in a healthier lawn.

Fertilizing
It is best to fertilize once a month, from April to September. Use a label-specific fertilizer made up of slow-release nitrogen or organic fertilizer for best results.

Aerating
During the spring, your lawn experiences an increase in foot traffic. This can compact the soil and make it harder for water, air, and nutrients to reach the roots of the grass. Aerating involves poking holes into the earth to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate down to where your grassroots are located.
Before aerating, it is important to keep your grass mowed and avoid fertilizing within three weeks before or after aerating.

Watering
When you water your lawn, be sure to do so early in the morning. It’s best not to water at night because this tends to promote fungus and mold growth. Additionally, try to stay away from watering on windy days because water may end up damaging other parts of your property.

Other Tips

1. In the spring, it’s best to apply a pre-emergent herbicide in February and March before crabgrass starts to sprout. Then, use a weed preventer throughout the summer months. This one-two punch will keep crabgrass from setting its roots.

2. In early spring, be sure to level out any bumpy spots on your lawn. This can be done prior to aerating and seeding.

3. Make sure you have a good mower that is clean and sharp. Also, remember to keep your blades nice and high. A dull blade will tear the grass blades and leave brown edges.
There are some other tasks that can be done in the spring, such as hedge trimming, fertilizing, aerating, and seeding. Now that you have this information, make sure you give your lawn the love it needs to survive another winter!