Spring Into Action In April
Now its time to pick up the mower if you havent alread,y as well as running the scarifier over the lawn. You want to make sure the grass is growing fully before scarifying though, otherwise you may do more damage than good.
If you feel you need to offer a bit more TLC, now is the time to overseed any bare patches.
Careful here though because if you do overseed, you will limit your options for using weed and feed later in the year. NEVER use weed and feed on newly sown grass seed.
Hopefully you had your mower blades sharpened in Feb or you have bought a new blade. If not, be sure to do this before mowing the lawn.
Take your time when scarifying try not to speed scarify heres why.
Tip No : Mow Only The Top One
The top one-third of a blade of grass is thin and leafy, decomposes quickly when cut and can contribute up to one-third of the nitrogen your lawn needs . While its decomposing, this light layer of clippings also helps slow water evaporation and keeps weeds from germinating. Check out these handy mowing tips.
But the bottom two-thirds of a blade of grass is tough, stemmy and slow to decompose, contributing to thatch. When thick enough, thatch prevents sunlight, air, water and nutrients from reaching the soil. Cutting more than the top third also shocks grass roots and exposes stems, which tend to burn in direct sunlight.
So if two inches is your target grass height, cut it when it reaches three inches. Since grass grows at different rates at different times of the year, every Saturday isnt necessarily the best time to mow. Sometimes you need to mow it more, other times less. The ideal length for cool-climate grasses is three to four inches for warm-climate, one to two inches.
Mow when the grass is dry and avoid mowing in the heat of the day when youre more likely to stress the grass and yourself.
Family Handyman
Sit Back & Enjoy July
Hey Ho! Now were getting hot and humid in the UK as well as seeing the possibility of a hose pipe ban. The goal here is to keep the grass moist. This will be more important if you lawn is right next to a huge Conifer. Thats because they are the beasts taking ALL the water.
Some lawns might be susceptible to chafer grubs or leather jackets. If yours is, then take the time to apply a bug protector/killer
Other than that, simply enjoy the fruits of your labour during late Spring and early Summer.
Also Check: Does Lowes Rent Riding Lawn Mowers
Know Your Irrigation Needs
Lawn irrigation needs vary by grass type. In general, warm-season grasses need about 20 percent less water than cool-season types. Tall fescue, if its healthy, develops a deep root system that gives this grass type the highest drought tolerance among cool-season grasses. Bermuda, centipede, St. Augustine and zoysia warm-season grasses also develop strong, deep root systems that enable these grasses to withstand drought. Other grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass, go dormant during times of drought and revive when irrigation returns.
Learn More: Tips for Watering Your Lawn the Right Way
Service The Lawn Mower
Spring also means its time to get out the lawn mower and give it a once over. Start it up stubborn start-ups are a sign that it might be due for a tune-up. Give your mower a tune-up once a year. In three easy steps, you can get your mower back in tip-top shape. If your lawnmower needs more than a tune-up, then consider getting a new one.
Among the key tune-up tasks is sharpening the mower blade. A regular sharpening will ensure the blade severs, rather than tears, the grass plants, leading to a nice green lawn rather than one with ragged brown tips.
You May Like: How To Start Your Own Lawn Mowing Business
Summer Lawn Care Tips
As the temperatures rise during the summer, it will be more difficult to keep the lawn from drying out, and weeds may become more of a problem as they start growing more quickly.
You can prevent problems by:
- Watering during the morning and evening to prevent evaporation
- Using a combination of drip irrigation and spray heads to maximize hydration
- Applying more fertilizer early, before the lawn becomes too dry
- Applying herbicides to kill crabgrass and weeds
- Applying insecticides to kill grubs and other pests
- Maintaining consistent mowing according to growth and climate
Seed And Lime The Lawn As Needed
Plant grass seed in bare spots in your lawn or wherever growth is sparse. Consider seeding while applying a slow release nitrogen fertilizer. Early spring and fall are ideal times for reseeding.
- Spring is the best time to test your yards pH to determine if your soil is too acidic. Most grasses grow best when the soil pH is between 5.8 and 7.2. If your soil is too acidic, you can see an influx of moss, weeds, diseases and insect pests.
- Use a soil test kit to find your soils pH or ask a county extension agent if he or she can test for you.
- In many parts of the country, lime application can make the soil less acidic and help the grass better absorb fertilizers and nutrients from the soil.
- Soil pH changes over time, so retest yearly until your results are balanced. Afterwards, an established lawn can be tested every three years or so.
- Spring and fall are the best times to add lime to a lawn that needs it. Use soil test results to know how much lime to apply and follow the directions on the lime package.
Tip: Grass planted in spring may need extra watering, weeding and other attention during the summer. Fall seeding requires less fuss.
You May Like: Does Scotts Lawn Fertilizer Expire
Recommended Reading: Where To Dispose Old Lawn Mower
Lawn Care Tip #6 Keep An Eye Out For Lawn Pests And Address Them Immediately
Monitor your lawn and identify any changes in appearance or vigor. A lawn care professional who visits your property weekly and gets to know your landscape will detect changes that could indicate issues like lawn pests.
Again, early identification and treatment is the key to getting your lawn back on track and healthy, and pest issues are often hard for the average homeowner to diagnose. Its best to have a pro on board who is helping you on a consistent basis. Lawn pests arent necessarily a huge problemif they are managed right away .
Winter Lawn Care Tips
During the winter, the grass is dormant and does not require as much care.
You can prepare for spring as early as the first frost by:
- Cutting the grass short in the late fall or early winter
- Aerating and fertilizing before the first frost
- Avoiding excess foot traffic to prevent damage, especially during frosty conditions
Read Also: Lawn Aerator Rental Lowes
How Should I Care For My Lawn In Summer
Keep Your Lawn Watered
Summer gets hot, and some days are incredibly hard on plants. Give your lawn about one inch of water per week in total. Rainfall can take care of a lot of this. As an added bonus, add mulch around flower gardens, shrubs, and trees to lock in necessary moisture.
Mow Your Lawn Regularly
Overgrowth is no good for your lawn, and it can introduce annoying critters and, in some parts of the US, dangerous nuisances like ticks. Mow your lawn every week and monitor the growth. Getting a lawn care service can help you out tremendously.
Lawn Care Tip #5 Manage Lawn Diseases Before They Become Serious Lawn Problems
Take time to notice areas of your lawn that might be struggling. Look for thin or matted turf, brown spots and general indications that the grass is not performing. There is always a reason why. When we identify lawn diseases early, they can be treated effectively so your lawn has the greatest chance of recovering and growing strong.
Don’t Miss: How Much Should I Pay To Have My Lawn Mowed
How To Keep Your Yard Looking Great Year
Just because it is winter, doesnt mean your yard cant still look great. The key to a great-looking lawn year-round is making sure to do your due diligence every season. That means focusing on fertilizer, weed elimination and general lawn upkeep winter, spring, summer and fall.
Winter Lawn Care
During the winter months, focus on stocking up on products so youre ready once warm temperatures hit. Grab some Compare-N-Save Crabgrass & Sandbur Preventer and apply it to your lawn before crabgrass has a chance to grow. This product is a pre-emergence herbicide so it works on weeds that havent grown yet, which is before the weather turns warm and seeds start to sprout.
RM18 Fast-Acting Weed & Grass Killer is also a great product to have to on hand to eliminate those weeds that start sprouting when the weather turns warm. This product starts to work immediately, with visible wilting in 12 hours. Its rainfast in 30 minutes. Keep in mind this product does work best when the weather is above 60-degrees.
Dont forget to clean your tools, tune-up your equipment and sharpen your lawnmower blades.
Spring Lawn Care
Come spring, remove any dead plant material, stray leaves and twigs. Use fertilizer and if you havent put down a pre-emergence – do it now. Use a heavy-duty herbicide like RM43 to spray fence rows and around barns now to keep them weed-free for up to a year.
Summer Lawn Care
Fall Lawn Care
How To Take Care Of Your Lawn Year Round
Regular year-round lawn care and maintenance is essential for a green, healthy lawn. Without it, your grass can become overgrown and more susceptible to all types of lawn diseases and outdoor pests. Seasonal lawn care and maintenance requirements change as temperatures rise and fall, so its important to pay attention to the time of year for proper care. Heres a helpful guide on how to take care of your lawn year-round in Northern NJ.
Also Check: When To Fertilize Lawn In Iowa
Seasonal Lawn Care Programs
Andy’s Lawn Care provides seasonal lawn care programs to our clients in the Cedar Rapids area. We treat lawns in the Spring and Fall to ensure that your grass stays beautiful all year long. In the Spring, we offer thatching and fertilizing programs. We then do aerating and fertilizing in the Fall. Your grass needs constant care and treatment in order to stay healthy and look green and lush year-round.Schedule fertilizing and aerating services for your yard today.
And In The Summertime:
Summertime and the living is easy. Theres just nothing like relaxing outside on a warm summer nightespecially when your lawn looks good. Heres how to help your lawn reach its summertime prime.
- Your lawn is thirsty! Make sure it gets the water it needs, especially in the summer. Longer days mean more exposure to direct sunlight, so be sure to water as often as necessary. Most lawns need at least an inch of water a week. Use a water gauge to determine how often your lawn needs watering, and how much water to give it.
- Keep it trimmed: Your grass will likely grow faster in the summer . Keep it at less than 2 12 inches in height to ensure your yard doesnt start to resemble a jungle.
You May Like: What Is The Best Cordless Lawn Edger
Lawn Care : Your Seasonal Guide To Lawn Care & Maintenance
Letâs admit it a healthy and lush lawn is every homeownerâs dream. It not only improves the general appearance and value of your home but also provides a space for your family and friends to enjoy. Lawn care, like many other home maintenance tasks, calls for proper preparation and planning if youâre to have an enviable lawn throughout the year.
For the best results, you need to use different approaches for different seasons depending on the prevailing weather conditions. In this comprehensive guide, we explain everything you need to know about taking good care of your lawn and keeping it in tip-top condition during the four seasons of the year. Inside, we will show you when to mow, fertilize, seed/overseed, aerate, dethatch, water, and treat.
And thatâs not all.
Weâve also compressed the most important tips into a downloadable infographic. Get your copy below and if possible, even print it out for use as a point of reference whenever you want to prepare for a new season.
Ready? Letâs get started!
Fill In Bare Spots And Overseed Your Lawn
After the heat of summer has passed, you may observe bare spots or thinning areas in your lawn where the grass has died out. Fall is the perfect time to seed these areas since new grass wont need to compete with spring weeds, giving it a much better chance to take root. You can also take this opportunity to overseed your entire lawn, which will set the stage for a thicker lawn next year and naturally crowd out weeds.
Also Check: Does Lawn Fertilizer Go Bad
Add Protective Chemicals In A Predetermined Order:
Not only are lawn chemicals potentially hazardous to the surrounding environment, but they are also designed for use in specific procedures. Haphazardly slathering your lawn in chemicals can work against you.
After starting with fertilizer infused with herbicide, do another round of fertilizer and couple it by spot-killing weeds that have infiltrated your lawn. This cycle should last about 1.5 months.
Maintain A Mowing Routine
For best results, establish a regular mowing routine and keep your mower blade sharp. Its better to mow a little grass each week than to let your grass grow too tall and cut several inches off at one time. Consistent mowing with a sharp blade ensures a clean cut, which helps cut down on moisture loss and prevents disease.
Recommended Reading: Does Scotts Lawn Fertilizer Expire
No More Leaves In November
If youre like me, you despise leaves falling on your lawn. And we have massive trees, which cause me lots of headache. Try to remove the leaves asap as they begin to fall on the lawn.
That way you will make sure the grass can breathe and stay strong.
You can continue to mow the lawn if it still looks like its growing, but expect the growth to be much much slower by now.
How To Get A Thicker Lawn And Keep It
Thicker, lusher, healthier and more beautiful. If those words describe your lawn goals, success may be closer than you think. Transforming thin, lackluster grass into a thicker, healthier lawn isnt difficult to achieve. With three easy stepsor one simple, three-in-one lawn boostyou can get a thicker lawn and put thin grass behind you. Then add three best practices to keep a thicker lawn, and youll enjoy a lawn that looks and feels great for years to come.
How to Get a Thicker Lawn:
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Cordless Lawn Edger
Benefits Of Lawn Fertilization
The key to achieving a beautiful lawn lies in properly educating yourself. Your lawn needs the correct nutrients in order to survive . You need to know what your lawn needs and how often. This will vary depending upon the area in which you live and the grass you have. Additionally, diseases, insects, environmental and weather conditions, and inconsistent moisture levels in the soil can all jeopardize the overall health of your lawn. One of the best ways to combat these potential problems is to provide your lawn with the right nutrients. Thanks to lawn fertilization, providing those nutrients for lawn growth is made possible. Benefits of lawn fertilization include:
When To Fertilize In Warm Season
Fertilizer timing varies based on the type of grass you grow. In general, you want to feed a lawn just as its entering its peak growth. Fertilize warm-season grasses in late spring or early summer, just before grass hits its intense summer growing season. These grasses benefit from a second feeding in late summer.
Also Check: Can I Rototill My Lawn
Want An Amazing Lawn Year Round Lawn Maintenance Is A Must
Simply put, whether it is summer, spring, winter or fall. Maintaining your lawn year round is a must if you want an amazing lawn.
The spring and summer months should be spent watering and fertilizing the grass, while fall months should be spent protecting the lawn from from the cold weather that is inbound.
There are a lot of lawn care tasks to complete, so to simplify the process here are 5 tips for an amazing lawn.
Let’s dive right into tip number 1!
The Joy Of The Lawn Juice In June
Now were coming into the height of the Summer and you defo want to start enjoying your garden by taking a beer or a gin cocktail and chillin in your beer chair.
Not for long though I bet you wont be able to stop yourself from getting up and giving your lawn the once over.
So, liquid feed is a must in the height of the summer. Using liquid means the nutrients will be absorbed by the soil even if the weather is super warm. So, you wont need to worry about scorching the lawn.
Read Also: Murry Lawn Mower Parts
Lawns Need Air To Breathe
Lawns need oxygen as well as water so its important to keep your lawn aerated. Aeration involves perforating the soil at intervals to alleviate compaction, allowing water, air and nutrients to penetrate deep below the surface. The easiest and cheapest method is to push a garden fork into the ground at 15cm intervals over the entire lawn, although for large areas it may be easier to hire a machine to do the hard work so you dont have to. An aerated lawn will also be better at absorbing water rather than letting it run off.
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Anthills On My Lawn
