As the cold weather starts to dissipate and warm days are in sight, numerous people are planning to spend more time outdoors. One outdoor activity that many will partake in is maintaining the lawn. To get a head start on the success of making your lawn the envy of your community, here are some top tips for properly prepping it for spring.
Clean Up Lingering Debris
One of the absolute best places to start preparing your lawn for spring is by removing any lingering debris. Debris, like leaf piles and branches, can attract excess moisture, which can be damaging to the growth of your lawn. It’s best to remove all this debris as early on in the spring as possible to give your lawn the best chance of success moving forward.
Remove Unwanted Thatch
The next important step to take is to remove unwanted thatch from the surface of your lawn. This is a spongy-like material that sits on top of your grass and is comprised of undigested organic matter. If this layer sits on your lawn, it can prevent necessary moisture and nutrients from penetrating down into the soil for your grass to grow properly strong. You can remove thatch from your lawn with a rake, or you can have a lawn care professional use a dethatcher machine to remove all the unwanted thatch from your lawn.
Aerate Your Soil
Another great step to prepare your lawn for the upcoming year is to aerate your soil. Think of this as like acupuncture for your grass. This process creates a bunch of tiny holes in the soil that make it much easier for moisture and nutrients to penetrate the roots of your grass. It’s typically best to hire a lawn care professional to use a specialized aeration machine to prep your lawn, as this will ensure the best outcome.
Overseeding and Fertilizing
Every year, it’s important to apply new grass seed to your lawn as this helps to create more density and strength to smother out potential weed growth throughout the year. Known formally as overseeding, a professional will evenly apply seed throughout your entire lawn. During this process, they’ll also apply an initial fertilizer boost. This is necessary to give your lawn the essential nutrients it needs to grow quickly and remain strong.
Slow-release fertilizer is ideal for early spring applications. It provides a steady supply of nutrients over time, promoting consistent growth without overwhelming your lawn or risking nutrient runoff.
Getting this fertilizer early on is an absolute necessity to help ensure that your grass can grow up before weeds start to take over your lawn. Timing is key — wait until soil temperatures reach around 55°F, that is when the grass begins growing actively and can absorb nutrients effectively.
Fertilizing before this point can lead to wasted products and minimal results. Once your grass gets tall enough from its initial growth spurt in the spring, it will be more resistant to weeds and more likely to smother out any additional growth that occurs.
Apply a Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Along the same lines of helping to minimize weed growth in your lawn, it’s important to apply a pre-emergent herbicide. The solution helps to prevent the germination of weed seedlings, which can go a long way in helping your grass to grow strong and remain more resistant to weeds. The timing of application for the pre-emergent herbicide is crucial to its overall success.
It’s best to wait until the soil temperature reaches 50 degrees Fahrenheit. You want to apply it within the first couple of days, as weed germination can take place after a week of the soil being at this temperature.
Get Inspected for Lawn Diseases
As the weather warms up, your lawn might start showing signs of diseases it caught during the colder months. It’s important to have a lawn care professional inspect your lawn to identify any that are present.
If the professional makes a positive finding, they will apply treatment straight away because these diseases need to be treated as early as possible to prevent further damage to your lawn. Remember that your lawn is very delicate in the spring season before it gets its initial boost of growth. A small disease can turn into a huge problem in a short amount of time.
Get Treatment for Insects
The best time to get treatment for insect invasion of your lawn is before they ever show up in the first place. If you know that you regularly experience issues with pests like fire ants and mole crickets, then it’s best to have a professional treat your lawn to prevent them from coming in the first place.
Fire ants can make it miserable to enjoy your lawn, as they will terrorize family members and pets. And don’t forget about those pesky mole crickets. They tunnel underground, and they will chew up the roots of your grass and leave dead patches all over your yard.
Be Mindful With Mowing Practices
While many homeowners get excited at the prospect of jumping on their lawnmowers for the first time in the year, you need to be mindful of your mowing practices with respect to the health of your lawn. Realize that your lawn is going to be short in the early spring as it was in a dormant state throughout the cold winter months.
Aim to increase the height of your mower blade for the first mow of the season. Once your new grass seeds reach a height of about 3-4 inches, you can go ahead and return to your normal mower setting. A good rule of thumb is to remove about one-third of the grass blade with each mow for the optimal health of your lawn.
Water Appropriately
Another key to growing a great lawn in spring is to ensure that you practice proper watering techniques. Early in the season, after your new grass seed is laid down, you’ll want to invest in daily light watering practices. This will ensure that all your seeds have proper moisture to germinate without rotting out.
Once your new grass reaches a height of 3-4 inches, you want to switch over to weekly watering. Aim to apply about one inch of water to your soil for optimal growth of your new grass. Established grass should only receive this weekly deep watering for optimal growth and health.
Pay Attention to Potential Problems
As your lawn starts to develop for the spring season, it’s important to be mindful of any potential changes that can signal a disease or pest infestation. Some of the most common signs of lawn diseases include discoloration, slimy growths, and dead grass. Some of the most common signs of a pest infestation in your lawn include ant mounds and tunneling in the soil.
You’ll likely see a lot of loose soil lying on the surface if you have pests like mole crickets in your lawn. If you notice any of these signs of oncoming disease or a pest infestation, it’s necessary to get them treated right away to prevent further damage to your lawn.
Exceptional Lawn Fertilization Service
Lawn Squad® offers exceptional lawn fertilization service to the Central Georgia community. We can also help with all your weed control, aeration, overseeding, lawn disease, and pest control needs. Simply call us today to book your next service appointment with one of our lawn care team members.
