Knowing how to treat your lawn in time for spring can make your turf remarkable during the warm months. Considering most people have goals to make their lawn gorgeous, it is a never-ending job to improve the lawn. Below, we at Matt Myette Landscaping have listed a few tips to help you get your lawn looking incredible. Depending on how old your turf is and the overall condition it is in will dictate if you will need to apply all the suggestions we provided, but these tips will help get the lawn remarkable.
How to Prepare Lawn for Spring
1) Deep Lawn Raking. Small pieces of dead grass are comprised of thatch. A barrier can be created if too much accumulates, preventing the essential air, sunlight, and moisture from penetrating the grass. Once the yard has dried out, give your lawn a deep raking to remove the thatch, leaves, and other debris the winter has collected. It will separate the existing grass shoots and encourage new growth. Always rake first for maximum results if you plan on aerating.
2) Aerate Lawn. New grass will have a challenge taking root if your lawn has become compacted with high-traffic areas. Loosening the ground and using the aerator to remove the small plugs of soil will let the air, water, and nutrients into the soil easily. Aerating does not have to be done every year. Depending on the thatch and compaction of soil, you should only aerate ever 3-5 years.
3) Test the Soil. You can purchase a DIY soil testing kit at a local lawn and gardening store and check the pH level of the soil. If you find the results indicate it is too acidic, you can neutralize it by spreading lime over your lawn. Acid soil can influence the weeds and moss to thrive and the fertilizers will not be nearly as effective. pH scale runs from 0 to 14 and a neutral level is 7. Different grass tolerates different pH levels. Learn which pH level is optimal is best for your specific grass.
4) Fertilize Lawn. The spring fertilizing should lighter than the fall treatment. You are engaging with sensitive new grass shoots that are just starting out so don’t overwhelm them. Once the lawn is green and the grass is actively growing, around May, you can treat the turf with a slow-release, well-balanced fertilizer. The three primary nutrients in the fertilizer are phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium and the soil test will also indicate the soils needs. With the slow release, you can influence growth, increase the health, and reduce the risk of fungus and turf burn.
5) Weeding. Timing is everything, pre-emergent weed control prevent weed seeds from germinating. If you wait too long the weeds are already growing. Just as the forsythia bushes finishes, apply a pre-emergent as a good rule of nature. For thorough and even coverage, use a spreader. The pre-emergent chemical is activated by water and after is soaks in the ground it stays effective for weeks.
6) Reseed. The brown or bare areas of the lawn need to be reseeded. After you have done all the above steps, your lawn is ready for reseeding if it needs it. To make the project easier, use a broadcast spreader when seeding the larger areas. The smaller patches can be reseeded by hand. Do not seed it and leave it alone. Be sure after you seed, you water and fertilize it on a regular basis.
Landscaping & More in Greater Morrisville, Stowe & Lamoille County, Vermont
If you really want to optimize your lawn’s health and aesthetics, call in the experts of Matt Myette Landscaping and let our specialists get your lawn up to par.
