As spring arrives, it’s time to add lawn mowing back to your to-do list. Here’s a concise guide featuring 10 essential spring lawn care tips from LawnStarter to help keep your yard lush and green.
1. Clean Your Yard
Kickstart your lawn care by clearing away winter debris. Use a rake or leaf blower to remove leaves, dead plants, rocks, and other debris to rejuvenate your yard.
2. Control Weeds
Spring is prime time for weed prevention. Apply pre-emergent weed killers before weeds sprout and post-emergent weed killers for any that have already started growing.
3. Overseed if Necessary
If your grass has thinned or developed bare spots, overseeding can help. This should be done before dethatching and aerating for best results.
4. Feed with Fertilizer
Maintain healthy nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels with slow-release fertilizer applied in the spring. Be cautious not to overfertilize, as it can lead to more lawn issues.
5. Spread Mulch
Mulch helps protect your soil from temperature extremes and weed growth. Early to mid-spring is ideal for spreading mulch, and you can choose from various organic and inorganic types.
6. Check Your Tools
Inspect your lawn care tools after months of storage. Ensure lawn mowers, edgers, trimmers, and other equipment are in working order. For mowers, check the battery, oil, spark plugs, air filters, and perform tune-ups as needed.
7. Start Mowing
LawnStarter suggests mowing every other week in early spring, preferably in the mid-morning when the grass is dry. Change your mowing pattern and avoid cutting more than a third of the grass height. Different grass types have optimal mowing heights.
8. Edge Your Lawn
Edging gives your yard a neat appearance. Early spring is ideal for edging as the soil is more workable.
9. Water Your Lawn Properly
Proper watering is crucial. Water your lawn between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m., and reduce watering in early spring. Avoid underwatering to prevent grass death, and avoid overwatering to prevent fungal diseases and shallow root growth.
10. Treat Pests
Spring brings out many outdoor pests. Various pest control options are available, and hiring a pest control expert can be a good choice if you’re uncomfortable handling pests yourself.
By following these tips, your yard will stay healthy and vibrant throughout the season. Read LawnStarter’s entire article here.