Spring Lawn Care Checklist.
Today marks the first day of spring. But before you start thinking about parks, picnics, and cookouts, you should be thinking about your lawn. Our 7 step spring lawn care checklist marks all the tasks you need to complete to get your yard ready for spring.
Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning does not just mean decluttering closets or attics. Spring cleaning also applies to your lawn. The first task of getting your yard spring-ready is a thorough cleaning. Spend an afternoon enjoying the breezy warm weather by walking through your lawn and cleaning up any dead twigs, branches, leaves, etc. Do not forget to spend some time raking up dead grass.
Spring Weed Control
Being able to control those dreadful weeds before they emerge in the summertime is an essential part of a beautiful lawn. Pre-emergent weed control prevents seeds from growing, which prevents these weeds from taking nutrients from your grass. The key is to get pre-emergent weed control on your lawn as early in the spring as possible so it can work fast. Pre-emergent weed control will last a few months, so make sure not to forget to re-apply in the early summer.
Prep Your Mower
Make sure your mower is in optimal shape for cutting springtime grass. Here are some mower maintenance tasks to have your mower ready for spring:
- Make sure the filter is cleaned or replaced.
- Change out the oil by draining the old, dirty oil in a container and refilling with new oil.
- Sharpen your mower blades. You do not want to cut grass with dull blades.
- Clean your mower using water and paper towels or a rag to remove any of last season’s grass clippings.
Dethatch and Aerate
Winter did a number on your lawn. Make sure to get rid of any dead stems and roots that developed over the winter. You can dethatch your yard by hand, using a rake or a dethatcher. Once your yard is dethatched, it is time to loosen up the soil with aeration. Aeration helps water and nutrients reach your lawn’s roots more easily. Aeration can be done with several aeration tools, such as a spike or move-behind aerator. Both dethatchers and aerators can be rented or purchased at any home improvement store, such as Lowe’s or Home Depot.
Fertilization
Fertilization is another step in springtime lawn care. It is essential only to fertilize when the grass is actively growing. Remember: the lawn is coming out of high-stress conditions, and using too much fertilizer before your yard has had time to recover could potentially harm it.
Seed or Sod In Needed Areas
As you are walking through your yard, picking up any debris, keep an eye out for any bare spots of grass. The type of grass you have will determine whether you should seed or sod. You will want to do this early in the spring before the hotter weather slows your grass’ growth.
Mowing and Watering
The final steps of springtime lawn care are mowing and watering. Mowing lengths depends on the type of grass you have. The main rule to grass height is never to cut more than one-third off the top while mowing.
It is ideal to water your lawn 1-2 times a week. Watering your lawn sparingly is more beneficial because this process promotes shallow roots and makes the grass less drought tolerant.
Conclusion
With your spring lawn care checklist in mind, you can now start planning for sunshine and rising temperatures. Make sure to get all your spring lawn care tasks checked off because summer will be here quicker than you think.
While you are taking a break from your spring lawn care checklist, be sure to check out Top 100 Lawn Care Blogs, where you will find many helpful tips on all types of lawn care from companies throughout the industry.
To have us take care of your lawn after your checklist is complete, visit our Tee Time Lawn Care lawn care service page to keep your lawn looking it’s best all year long.