Top Turf | Lawn Care Specialists

Lawn maintenance in the Spring is neccessary during this special time for your lawn. In the Spring, grass starts to see more growth and organism activity and that means it’s time for some general maintenance tasks. You can facilitate these growth processes while keeping your lawn in excellent shape by taking some steps that will take your lawn maintenance to the next level.

It is normal to expect some weed growth, diseases, and drought effects as your lawn prepares to arm itself against these manifestations. Let’s explore some steps you can take for lawn maintenance in spring so that you are well prepared to handle any difficulties that may arise.

Rake Your Lawn

Raking is especially important in the springtime because it ensures the removal of any dead leaves and grass blades that have accumulated and may be causing detrimental effects to your lawn. If you don’t do anything about them, they will slowly incorporate into your lawn’s thatch layer, which can cause serious problems for your lawn health.

Raking is not just suited for removing dead plants from your lawn but also ensures that matted grass clumps loosen up following the effects of snow mold from the winter season. Snow mold can easily smother new growth in your lawn, and by using a rake with a powerful upward pull, you can remove dead grass to facilitate healthy growth processes in your lawn.

Raking should be carried out when the soil is not moist and muddy because you might risk removing healthy grass crowns that are seeing new growth in your garden.

Overseed Your Lawn

If your lawn has dry patches or thin spots, you can mitigate this problem with overseeding – a process where you place grass seed over healthy patches and sparse patches of lawn to encourage new growth. This is best to do during the warm season because it allows for fresh growth. Fall or autumn is the right time to plant cool-season grass; however, spot-seeding or seeding smaller, specific areas during spring can produce dramatic results.

If you decide to overseed your garden, you should use a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer to facilitate the process. For optimal results, you may also use a quick-release nitrogen feed to provide sustenance for your lawn up to five weeks after overseeding.

Aerate Your Lawn

Aeration is an optimal solution for compacted soil that is causing problems and not allowing for ideal growth to occur. The need for aerating your lawn depends mainly on your soil type and the purpose of your lawn, whether it’s just for decoration or there is sufficient activity on it to warrant aeration.

The best time to aerate your lawn is by late Spring because it allows you to facilitate growth in warm-season grasses by providing adequate airflow to the roots. Fall is the right time for cool-season grass, which is why it’s crucial to be aware of the type of grass growing on your lawn.

If you couldn’t aerate your lawn last season, then you must get to it early as part of your lawn maintenance in spring, and you should be aware of how to aerate properly for optimal results or consult a professional to take your lawn maintenance to the next level.

Remove Weeds From Your Lawn

If your lawn has excess growth of crabgrass, you can apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent the seeds that have accumulated in your lawn from the previous season from germinating. You must get your timing exactly right as it plays a critical factor in preventing weeds from emerging in your garden.

Most herbicide packets that you can buy have instructions at the back, which can help you get the timing right and ensure that you tackle your weed problem. Of course, at Top Turf we beleive in doing the right thing at the right time, and our lawn experts know the right amount to apply at the right time.

Apply Fertilizer to Your lawn

The best time to start applying fertilizer to your lawn is three weeks after your grass goes green, and it might take a two to three times of mowing before this happens.

Timing is crucial in this case also because applying fertilizer during early spring can feed the weeds that have begun to accumulate in your garden, creating a fertilizer runoff effect. Early application of fertilizer to your lawn can also cause lush blade grass growth during a time when the grassroots have not begun the growth spurt that is associated with springtime.

Mow Your Lawn

The best time to start mowing your lawn is when the soil is no longer moist, and the grass blades begin to grow long enough to require cutting. It is important to mow at the correct height for your particular grass type because mowing too low can cause roots to be pulled out from the soil.

If you make the mistake of mowing too low, then you can expect weed seeds to start germinating due to sunlight being better able to reach all areas of the soil.

Incorrect mowing heights may also cause shallow root development, which is a problem because it makes your lawn more susceptible to drought stress.

You should familarize yourself with your grass and and the proper mowing height to avoid making mistakes that can prove detrimental for your lawn. You can also consult a professional to take on all the lawn maintenance services that will leave your lawn looking pristine and well-groomed.

Final Verdict

Although many people enjoy the process of lawn care, lawn maintenance in the Spring requires an investment of time that many homeowners may not have. Lawn maintenance services are available in your area if you do not want to deal with the hassle of keeping your lawn in ideal shape and want to give the responsibility to a professional. Top Turf offers free initial lawn assessments and we’re ready to help you ensure the grass is greener on your side!