As The Toro Company (opens in new tab)’s Christina Swanson explains, “Although your grass goes dormant in the winter, once that snow melts it is essential to do some yard work to ensure it can grow to its full potential. Even if you live in an area that doesn’t see brutal winter weather, such as the south, your grass will more than likely still experience some level of dormancy, where it will continue to grow but much more slowly that it does during warmer months. The grass does this in order to conserve water and nutrients, so that when the weather is back to an ideal growing temperature, the grass can once again become lush.” So, to help give your lawn the care it needs so it can flourish all year long, take note of these expert tips. From using the best gas lawn mowers (opens in new tab) to the best edgers (opens in new tab), find out how to prep your grass for the new season and beyond.
7 spring lawn care tips
- Time your lawn prep to perfection While the official start of spring is marked on the 20th March, this might not be the best time to kick-start your spring lawn care regime. According to Christina, mid-to-late April is the ideal time to start prepping your lawn for spring. But why is this? Christina explains: “While it may seem beneficial to get out as soon as the weather begins to warm up, a little patience can go a long way to maximize the results of your work. The best time to start preparing your lawn for spring is when your lawn has mostly greened up. Too much traffic on the lawn before it’s green and actively growing can compact the soil and increase the chances of killing off new grass shoots before they are mature. The best time to start prepping is when the ground temperature is 55°F just under the surface – look for blooming lilacs as a good indication that it’s time to start getting to work.”
- Clean up debris With the windier seasons now behind us (we hope), once your ground has reached the optimal temperature, it’s time to rid it of any old leaves, twigs or debris that might have collected on your lawn. So get your rake out and give your lawn a spring clean. “Collecting leaves and blowing out other organic material helps ensure your lawn is able to get the sunlight it needs to green up quickly,” Christina says. “This is where taking time in the fall to properly prepare your lawn for the winter can come in handy. If your lawn was well- maintained heading into the winter season, it may not need as much work to get it ready for spring.” Plus, raking does a whole lot more than just removing dead leaves. It can rid dead blades of grass and pull out weeds and moss at the same time.
- Remove weeds and moss If raking your grass didn’t remove all of the dreaded patches of stubborn garden weeds and moss – it’s time to get more tactical. And by that, we mean it’s time to aerate your grass. Aerating your lawn gets rid of unwanted plants from growing in your lawn which in turn stop them from using up all the nutrients your grass could be using. It also makes way for air, water and other nutrients to sink itself into the soil – which is something your grass will thank you for.
- Sow your seeds If your lawn is looking a bit sparse, it’s time to give it a boost by sowing your seeds. To do so, make sure you break up the ground surface with a fork and rake it to make the soil fine. If you live in an area with birds, net the area to stop fowl from feeding. You should expect to see growth anywhere between seven to 10 days.
- Feed your lawn It’s probably been a long time since your lawn has been fed. So once you’ve ticked off the anova points, it’s time to fertilize your green space. Feeding your lawn will not only help your green grass get back to its flourishing green self, but it can help to banish weeds and any dreaded moss from taking root. The best time to use fertilizer? When your soil is most or when rain is expected.
- Perform maintenance on your lawn mower When it’s finally time to pull out the mower, make sure to perform a quick spring maintenance on your machine. “Inspect the mower blades, fill your fuel tank, change the oil and air filter, and remove any dirt and debris leftover from the previous season,” Christina advises.
- Cut your lawn Now’s the time to use one of the best electric lawn mowers (opens in new tab) to cut your patch of grass or hop on one of the best riding lawn mowers (opens in new tab) to help you mow a larger area of greenery. And while cutting your grass is actively encouraged as it will help prepare your lawn for spring, just remember to wait until your lawn is ready. As Christina explains: “You can check if the timing to begin mowing is right by waiting for the grass to be at least 2 inches tall, waiting for any fertilizer to soak into the grass, and waiting for potential threats of heavy rain or late season freezing to be minimized. The burst of healthy grass activity in spring will help keep your lawn lush and vibrant for the rest of the year. So use it wisely! By timing your mowing and seeding schedule to make the most of this growth, you’ll enjoy much better results overall.” Discover more guides for the garden… Best chainsaws (opens in new tab) Best hot tubs (opens in new tab) Best swim spas (opens in new tab) Best water heaters (opens in new tab)
