A lush lawn in the summer is a point of pride for many homeowners in Chicago’s North Shore. If you’ve ever wondered how others pull it off, the important thing to know is that the critical work starts in early spring. A handful of spring measures like pre-emergent weed control, aeration, early fertilization and overseeding make most of the difference.
Why Is Spring Lawn Care So Important?
As the ground thaws following the end of winter, your lawn begins to recover from the stresses of the colder months. The softer ground means that your lawn is ready for early fertilization. If you’re dealing with pre-emergent weed issues, particularly crabgrass, then you also will want to treat the lawn for those issues. The goal is to stop weeds from germinating at all. Generally, these measures are most effective once the soil temperature reaches 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. In this part of the country, that usually happens by mid- to late-April. Getting an early start on weed control measures also makes it possible to perform a second application in late May or early June. This can be very effective in targeting some weed types that may germinate later in the year. Experienced property owners can eyeball the local plants for signs that the soil is ready for early spring lawn treatments. Maple trees producing leaves are a slightly leading indicator that the time is close so you can begin planning. If you see the yellow bloom of forsythia, then the soil is ready. Likewise, eastern redbud tends to bloom around the same conditions. If you see lilacs blooming, then the soil temperature is probably past the target, and spring treatment needs to get moving immediately because it’s likely a bit behind schedule.
Aeration and Overseeding
While weed control treatments are important for preventing the germination of things like crabgrass, the best long-term solution is to give your grass the best start to each season. Aeration and overseeding strengthen your grass. Aeration and overseeding are usually fall tasks, but if your lawn is in poor shape, spring is a smart exception. In that scenario, you want to perform both jobs in the spring. The aeration process almost always comes first. The idea behind aeration is to mechanically remove small cores from the soil, leaving behind holes. These holes let air, nutrients and water all get into the soil to promote better grass growth. One of the strongest signs that a lawn requires spring aeration is thatching. Thatching happens when dead materials and organic matter accumulate. For example, last fall’s dead leaves will accumulate between the grass and the soil. Normally, the biome in your soil breaks these things down, with living things like worms and fungi consuming the dead materials. However, when this process fails, the thatch begins to build up. Your lawn should have some thatching, up to about an inch deep. Once it gets deeper than this, the thatch prevents water from getting into the soil and rejuvenating your grass. It also can become a breeding ground for plant diseases and pests. Thatch prevents fertilizer and pre-emergent weed control products from penetrating the soil, too. Take a stiff rake to your lawn in areas that look dense or troubled. If you struggle to pull the rake out, then there’s a good chance the thatching of your lawn is bad enough that spring aeration is necessary. You should also consider spring aeration if your property suffers from heavy foot traffic. This compacts the soil. Similarly, many clay-heavy soils are naturally compacted, and spring aeration makes a big difference in breaking up these soils. You may want to explore spring aeration for parts of your lawn that collect lots of water after heavy rains since these areas like to compact, too. Spring overseeding is a bit trickier of a choice. Particularly, you have to be careful about performing overseeding if your lawn requires a lot of pre-emergent weed control measures. This is because the same things that inhibit weed germination can also prevent young grass from establishing itself in a lawn. Overseeding in the spring typically works best when there are specific problems in the lawn. Natural thinning and bare spots call for early overseeding. The same goes for spots that suffer wear and tear from regular foot traffic. You may also want to overseed in the spring if your lawn has recently suffered pest or disease damage. Additionally, early spring overseeding is a good preventative step if your lawn has erosion problems that could further undermine the quality of the grass if you don’t establish something soon. Notably, aeration and overseeding often have synergistic effects. The creation of small holes for aeration gives the new seeds better soil contact. If your lawn is in bad shape, performing this work in the spring can get things rolling before summer sets in.
The Value of a Multi-Prong Strategy
You may have noticed that many of the most common spring lawn care methods interact with each other. For example, aeration can encourage better fertilization of the soil. Not only do the small holes from the aeration process accommodate fertilizer, but they also allow the biome in the soil better access to new nutrients. Similarly, strengthening your lawn with specific measures in the spring encourages resilience in the summer. Especially when heat and drought conditions set in, you want your grass to be as healthy as possible. Healthy grass puts down deeper roots. This means the grass can access reserves that are further under the soil, ensuring the grass will stay greener. Likewise, stopping stubborn weeds in the early spring gives your lawn room to grow stronger. There is also a compounding effect since healthy grass discourages weed growth. Your goal should be to develop a multi-prong strategy that lasts for several years. As your lawn improves, the benefits of healthier grass become self-reinforcing. You can then turn to a maintenance strategy that focuses more on treating weaker patches and high-traffic areas annually. With the right strategy, you can create a positive feedback loop that produces greener and denser grass with deeper root networks. Lawn Squad® offers trusted care at a price that won’t break the bank. We tailor formulations for each property, so you can be sure that your lawn gets the fertilization it needs. We also use pre- and post-emergent weed sprays that serve as lines of defense against problems like crabgrass. You can turn to us for advice about controlling fleas, ticks, fire ants and moles, too. We even offer tree and shrub care services. We take pride in serving the communities of Chicago, IL and its North Shore region. Numerous customers have happily left glowing reviews for our lawn care team online. In addition to residential services, we perform lawn care for commercial customers. Early spring is the perfect time to get a jump on pre-emergent weed control, fertilization, aeration and overseeding in your North Shore yard, so contact Lawn Squad® today.
