IT’S SPRING and everyone is starting to spend more time outside.
To get your lawn looking healthy and beautiful for all your outdoor activities, we’ve shared a few tips below. The grass doesn’t have to be greener on the other side of the fence.
Clean Up
Start by raking up leaves and debris. This will help get light to your grass, reduce chances of disease and make sure any products you put down will get evenly distributed to the soil.
Reduce Crabgrass
It may be too late to solve this problem this year, but if your lawn has areas that are green in midsummer but brown the rest of the year, you may have a crabgrass problem. Crabgrass is an annual plant that dies off every year, unlike the perennial varieties of grass you want.
Early spring is the best time to head off a crabgrass infestation by putting down a fertilizer with a pre-emergent, which will keep the crabgrass seeds from sprouting while feeding the annual grass. It’s best to water these products right away or apply them right before
rain is expected, because they form a barrier on the soil. Spring is also a good time to put down a season-long grub control product. If the yard shows signs of animals digging or brown patches with root damage, you may have grubs.
Weed
In later spring or early summer, we tend to see dandelions and other broadleaf weeds pop up.
If your lawn is due for a feeding anyway you can use a combo product to fertilize grass and kill these pesky weeds. It’s best to apply this product after a light rain or early in the day when dew is still on the leaves of the weeds. This will help the herbicide work through the broadleaf weeds. If no fertilizer is needed, you can use a separate weed killer, but make sure it is safe for use in the lawn.
Time Your Fertilizer Right
During the hottest and driest parts of the summer, it’s best to avoid fertilizing because this can over stress the grass causing it to “burn out.” Wait until fall to give the lawn one last feeding. This will give it the nutrients it needs for strong roots and help it hibernate over the winter.
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Test Your Soil
The key to getting the most out of fertilizing is correct soil pH. This is especially important if you use organic options. Testing the soil with an inexpensive test kit can help you get a precise reading. (In our area, it’s more likely your soil is more acidic than most grass likes.) If your soil is too acidic, at minimum, apply lime, but there are more advanced products available if you are so inclined. Having healthy soil allows the roots of your grass to make the most out of the nutrients in your fertilizers.
With a little work and the right products for each season, you can have the lawn of your dreams this year.
