Spring is vital to having a beautiful lawn, since that’s when you start your lawn care in earnest. We are here to make sure you get a proper start with our lawn care steps to follow this spring!
Apply your rake
The first of the lawn care steps to follow this spring is to remove any thatch from your grass. Thatch is formed from clippings, dead grass and leftover fall leaves, and can really hurt your lawn if unattended. It won’t just threaten the perfect looks of your lawn, either. It can seriously stifle the growth of new grass, and make it uneven. As such, it is in your best interest to remove it, but you will need to do it gently. If you rake your lawn too hard, it will damage the healthy grass as well. And then you are just making more problems for yourself down the road than you are fixing!
Remove any leftover winter debris
In spite of raking being the first of the lawn care steps to follow this spring, it will not actually take care of all the debris that ends up in your lawn. Branches, rocks, and more can all end up in your grass. And they are all a pretty big impediment to later lawn care steps. As such, you will unfortunately have to roll up your sleeves and go over your lawn yourself. It is particularly important to get any large rocks out of the way. This is because they can be downright dangerous if your lawnmower catches on them. This is also a pretty good thing to do if you are moving into a new home with a dog, to secure a nice environment for your furry friend.
Aerating the soil of your lawn
The next of the lawn care steps to follow this spring is to aerate your lawn. You might be able to skip this step if you don’t use your lawn much. However, if you tend to spend a lot of time on the grass, or if you have pets or kids, then it’s a must-do. This is because frequent foot traffic compact the earth, and makes it difficult for water and air to penetrate and reach the roots of your grass. There are two ways to do this, and the first is using a lawn aerator. You might be able to rent one rather than buy the machine at your local hardware store. The second way to do it is manually, using a garden fork. Just push it all the way into the ground, lean it back, and pull it out. Then repeat the process every three to four inches.
Fertilize the soil
The next step is, of course, nourishing your lawn. It is smart to apply lawn fertilization during spring, since it helps boost the growth of your grass. And depending on the fertilizer you use, you can also reduce moss and weed growth in your yard. Now, it is important to get fertilizer meant for spring use, and to properly follow the instructions on the packaging. If you are not certain you can do it right, or are worried about messing with fertilizer, it’s best to look for professional lawn care assistance. That way, you always know your lawn is getting the best care it possibly can.
Touch up your lawn edges
After all that, it is time to shape your lawn a bit better. During the seasons when you can’t really work on it much, your lawn can start to overgrow and infringe on parts of your yard you don’t want it growing on. All you need is an edging tool, and you can cut your lawn’s edges to neat, sharp lines that will enhance its looks. This might also be required if you are moving to a new home and want to tidy up the lawn and make space for a garden. The same tool will allow you to cut out neat little plots for your flowers. Of course, as the moving and storage experts from State to State Move like to point out, remember to plan out a spot for a shed where you can store all your gardening equipment, too!
Fix any bald patches on your lawn
There are many reasons why bald patches develop on your lawn. If you actually use the lawn, the grass can get trampled too much and die out. Or a particularly bad winter can ruin your lawn’s perfect look. Whatever the case, you have two options to fix this. First, there’s overseeding. As the name implies, you are relying on grass seeds and the natural process of growth. This can take a lot of time, and you are not really guaranteed good results. The second, and superior option is using grass plugs. With them, you can restore your lawn in a matter of days. And they are a very cheap lawn care option, at that!
Water the grass if necessary
You may or may not need additional water to liven up your lawn. If you live in an area with little rainfall, then you should definitely start watering your lawn on time. This will also help a lot with dealing with some common summer issues that plague lawns. Of course, make sure not to use too much water. If you over-water your lawn, it is very possible for problems to pop up. Foremost among them are dying grass and the appearance of moss. Again, if you are not sure how much water a lawn actually needs, all you need to do is consult with an expert on the subject.
Caring for your lawn year round
The lawn care steps to follow this spring will set a nice foundation for your lawn for the rest of the year. Do be aware, however, that caring for a lawn is sort of a year-round job. The only time it typically doesn’t require any of your attention is during winter. And even that might not be true if you live in a particularly warm area or see little snowfall. So, before you decide to start a lawn, do your research and then decide if you want to dedicate your time to it!