Spring Lawn Care Tips: Refresh Your Green Space
Spring is in the air. Outside your window, the daffodils are blooming, the flowering trees are blooming, leaves are appearing, the grass is growing. Are you giving your lawn the care it deserves? As we celebrate #LawnCareMonth, Mow Better Lawnscapes wants to provide you essential tips to ensure your lawn stays lush, healthy, and vibrant.
Tip# 1: Clear the Clutter
Begin by picking up dead leaves and debris that have accumulated over the winter. Dead leaves can suffocate the soil preventing necessary sunlight and air to reach the grass roots to improve new growth.
Tip# 2: Weed Prevention
Avoid weed problems by applying pre-emergent herbicides in the spring for weed control, make sure to follow the product’s instructions carefully regarding timing and application rates. It’s crucial to apply the pre-emergent before weed seeds germinate to effectively prevent weed growth in your lawn. Remember to water your lawn lightly after application to activate the herbicide and ensure proper distribution.
Tip #3: Fertilize for Strength
Feed your grass with the correct fertilizer for your grass type. If you have Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, or Tall Fescue, use a fertilizer with a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K). For Zoysia or Bermuda, use a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content. N-P-K ratio of 15-5-10 or similar is often recommended for warm-season grasses. This will help replenish your lawn’s nutrients lost over the winter and promote healthy growth.
Tip #4 Mulch Matters
Top off mulch in your garden beds. Don’t add too much mulch though. Mulch’s job is to conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and add a polished look to your landscape. Adding too much mulch can suffocate your garden beds by trapping too much moisture.
Tip #5: Mow Mindfully
As you start mowing again, avoid cutting the grass too low. Keeping it a bit longer helps protect the roots and encourages a fuller lawn.
Tip #6: Mow Frequency
With the influx of rain and warmer temperatures kicking off the spring it is essential that the grass is cut on a weekly basis to maintain a healthy yard, and pristine curb appeal.
Tip #7: Edge Your Beds
Spring is the ideal time to edge your lawn at your driveway, sidewalk, patio, and flower beds. Edging creates a clean, manicured appearance and prevents grass from invading your garden spaces.
Tip #8: Keep Pests at Bay
Spring brings pests like sod webworms, ticks, aphids, and the notorious grub worms. Apply pest control measures if needed; eco-friendly solutions are recommended.
Tip #9: Address Lawn Diseases
“There’s a fungus among us!” Spring rains provide the ideal habitat for fungi like Fairy Ring, Necrotic Ring Spot, Dollar Spot, Snow Molds, Anthracnose, Leaf Spot and Melting-Out, and Rust. Symptoms on your lawn can look like: lesions, discoloration, thinning, and dead patches or rings. Some fungi cause mushrooms, cobweb-like mycelium, or fruiting bodies. Spray a fungicide or call a pro to remove the fungi. Follow these tips to provide a foundation of growth and beauty. Happy Spring from all of us at Mow Better Lawnscapes! #LawnCareMonth
