3 Tips For Spring Lawn Maintenance

Posted on: 1 November 2022

After all the snow melts and spring arrives, there is lawn maintenance you must do. This will give your lawn the best start so it will be healthy, lush, and green for you. Keep reading for three tips on how you can do this. 

Test the Soil 

Testing your soil allows you to see if it is lacking in nutrients it needs to be healthy. You can purchase a soil test kit at a garden center or home improvement store to do this yourself. You can also take samples and send them to your local extension office to have the soil tested. 

The pH level of the soil is important as it should not be too acidic. Grass grows best in slightly acidic to normal pH levels. If the soil is too acidic you will have problems growing grass and your grass will not look healthy. Once you determine what your lawn needs you can apply the right type of fertilizer. This will give the grass much stronger roots and allow better water retention in the soil. 

Aerate the Lawn

If your lawn is compacted due to heavy snowfall sitting on it much of the winter or you have an area of the lawn that has a lot of heavy traffic, this can affect the way the grass grows. Rain cannot get through compacted soil down to the roots where it is needed. The fertilizer will also not get to the roots. If your lawn is compacted, you will notice that puddles form when it rains. Try to insert a screwdriver or something like this into the soil. If you find it very difficult to insert, then the soil is likely compacted.

The best way to deal with a compacted lawn is to aerate it. This opens up the soil to allow water and nutrients to get to the roots. You can purchase an aerator to do this yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. There are aerators that punch holes in the ground and others that remove plugs of dirt creating holes. If you choose this type, leave the plugs of dirt sitting on the lawn to break down on their own. 

Weed Control

Another thing to be concerned with is weed control. There are many weeds that can take over a lawn in the spring. This includes crabgrass, goosegrass, dandelions, spotted surge, and nutsedge. Weeds can damage a lawn because they take moisture and nutrients away from the grass. Weeds can also become thick enough that they will completely take over grass. 

One way to control weeds is to treat the lawn using pre-emergent weed control. Do this early in the spring before weeds have time to start growing. There is a spray that allows you to do this easily. You can also hire a professional to provide this treatment for you. 

Contact a lawn maintenance service to learn more.

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