Easy Steps: How To Prepare Lawn For Spring
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If you are in quest of finding when to start yard work in spring, then you have placed your hands on the right page. When spring is knocking at your door, you can witness it by the small daffodils and crocuses. At the same time, it also warns you to prepare your lawn for the growing season. Spring keeps you and your lawn busy, doesnt it?
Do you think preparing a lawn is not a cup of tea? Well, why dont you stick to this article to discover when to start treating your lawn and how to fix your lawn in spring?
This year, make sure your lawn and lawn mower is ready before you prepare lawn for spring!
When To Add Lime To A Lawn
Lime can take several months after application to break down and change your soil pH. A good time to test your lawns pH and adjust it is when your soil begins to warm in the spring. Lime can also be applied in the fall. The benefit of adding lime to your soil in fall is that both the freeze-thaw cycles and the abundant rain and snow common during the fall and winter months will help break down the lime and start raising the soils pH. Lime should never be applied to a lawn that is stressed or dormant.
Fertilizer For Spring Summer And Fall: What To Apply And When
The proud owners of lush, thick, green grass understand what it takes to get and keep an enviable lawn and fertilizer is their superpower. Knowing all there is to know about how and when to fertilize is their advantage. If you have just had your lawn replaced with thick lush new sod then you want to keep it that way.
Fertilizing your grass isn’t as elementary as sprinkling whatever you have in the shed on your lawn. Fertilizers all present with three numbers that tell us a lot about what’s in the bag. The first number indicates how much nitrogen can be found in a particular fertilizer. The second number represents levels of phosphorus and the third, potassium. Follow this schedule and treat your lawn on a seasonal basis.
Spring
Keep in mind that there are other things you can do before it’s time to fertilize. In late May or early June, before the heat of the summer arrives, apply some slow release nitrogen. This will encourage the grass to rebuild.
A good dose of nitrogen rich fertilizer will also arm your lawn. Fighting off the stresses of summer, traffic, disease, heat, and drought. Fertilizer is its defense. If you can’t stand to sit around and do nothing when the snow melts and the grass that emerges looks like its dead, consider an herbicide. However, herbicides can be harsh on grass, so ensure your herbicide contains a little fertilizer to help your lawn fight the negative effects herbicides can have on grass.
Summer
Fall
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Give Your Lawn Mower A Tune
The first of our spring lawn care tips doesnt even have you set foot on your grass at least, not yet. Youll be mowing your grass regularly all season long, so even if conditions arent perfect to start the rest of your spring lawn treatment regimen, you can get started by getting your lawn mower ready. A prepared lawn mower will help keep your lawn healthy by preventing extremely low cuts or a malfunction that could delay a regular mowing schedule. The needs of your mower may vary depending on what lawn mower maintenance you performed when you were finished mowing in the fall. However, the basic steps include changing the oil, replacing the spark plug and air filter, and sharpening and balancing the blades. This tune-up will help you be ready to start working on your lawn whenever spring arrives. Always read and carefully understand any and all safety information associated with your lawn mower.
Should I Water My Lawn During Fertilizer Application
A common misconception among many folks is that watering a lawn after a fertilizer application period is bad. I honestly cant tell where this bandwagon theorem came from but it is being talked about by some people.
The answer is yes. You should water your lawn in the Spring, especially if you arent getting enough rain but regardless of your rain you should usually water in your fertilizer applications in most cases.
The water will get the nutrients into your soil instead of sitting on top of it dry.
Another reason to water a bit extra around fertilization periods is that your grass will grow more after getting fertilized and that will mean that your lawn will need more water to keep up with the extra growth.
Depriving your lawn of water is a way of starving it. However, youve got to read the application guide of any fertilizer you choose to use. Some of them require you water after fertilization, while others recommend the opposite.
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How To Apply Lawn Fertilizer
There are several ways to apply lawn fertilizer. Using a spreader provides more even coverage than fertilizing by hand. Hand fertilizing often results in burns where the fertilizer is concentrated and pale areas that dont get as much fertilizer as they should.
Broadcast or rotary spreaders are easy to use and dont cause striping like drop spreaders. The advantage to drop spreaders is that there is no chance of overthrow getting fertilizer on streets, sidewalks, or driveways. With a drop spreader, you have to make two trips over the lawn at right angles. For example, if you make your first trip over the lawn in a north-south direction, the second trip should run east to west.
After applying the fertilizer, water the lawn thoroughly. Watering rinses the fertilizer off the grass blades so that they wont burn, and it allows the fertilizer to sink down into the soil so it can get to work. Keep kids and pets off the lawn for the amount of time recommended on the label, which is usually 24 to 48 hours.
Fall Fertilizer Tips To Set Your Calendar By
Fall is right around the corner. That means its time to play football, pick out pumpkins and prep our lawns for the cold winter months ahead. Fall fertilizing can set your lawn up for success year-round, but timing does matter. Drill down on the best practices for fall fertilizer with the experts from Spring-Green, your neighborhood lawn care professionals since 1977. The dates of the first frost in your area will vary by region, but heres what you generally need to know for fall lawn care.
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Will Grass Seed Grow If I Just Throw It Down
The simple answer is, yes. Beyond just throwing the seed out into the lawn and not performing any grass maintenance there is a whole world of lawn care. Even though theseeds will sprout if just thrown on the surface of the dirt there are negative effects of planting the seed in that fashion.
Dont Wait Too Long To Mow The Lawn
Finally, it may seem early, but in most parts of Pennsylvania, grass will be ready for its first trim sometime in April. We recommend that grass be mowed once it reaches about 3 inches in height. By mowing the new green blades when they get to this point, you will prevent the grass from getting overgrown and stimulate continual growth.
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When To Put Fertilizer On Lawns
All lawns need fertilizer in early spring when the grass begins to green up. Your fertilization schedule for the rest of the season depends on the type of grass in your lawn, the type of fertilizer you use, and your climate. Most lawn seed is a mixture of several different types of grasses, and both spring and fall fertilization are appropriate.
The label on a bag of lawn fertilizer will recommend a schedule based on the type of fertilizer it contains. The label is your best guide to how often to apply the product and how much to use. As long as you dont overdo it and avoid fertilizing in the hottest part of summer, your lawn should thrive.
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 soil’s 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.;
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How Do I Prepare My Lawn For Seeding
Remove all debris and any wood, stones or large roots. Use a spade and garden rake to scratch the soil 1 to 2 inches at the surface, then dig about 6 inches deep to remove roots and rocks. Add seeding soil to the top of your existing soil and smooth with the rake.
Prep Your Sprinkler System
If youre in a new home, or just want to see what can be done to improve the condition of your soil, the Sedgwick County Extension office can do a soil test. It takes about 2-3 weeks to get your results, which will include nutrient and pH levels, as well as suggestions for improving both. Knowing the make-up of your soil will allow you to adjust fertilization and watering to ideal levels.
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The Ideal Lawn Treatment Schedule In Michigan
Caring for your lawn involves many different steps and treatments. Without fertilization, the grass will be weakened. Without weed control, you will have an issue with problem weeds growing in your yardand the list goes on.
At Turf Tech Fertilization, our lawn experts have devised a treatment schedule that can be administered throughout the year to keep your grass in tip-top condition. If you are in Lowell, Ada, Cascade, and the nearby areas of Michigan, learn about the ideal lawn treatment schedule for your yard.
Why You Should Lime Your Lawn In Spring
Although it may not feel like it in many parts of our great country, it is, technically, officially spring in Canada. We made it, folks! Lawn care season is just around the corner.
;Early spring is an ideal time to lime your lawn, and is a great way to further improve your soil after;performing a core aeration on your lawn.;If your lawn is wilted or dormant, never apply lime; instead, wait for a time when the lawn is actively growing like early spring or fall.
Regular liming can do a wealth of good for your grass. With a number of benefits, calcitic lime is;a welcome addition for every home lawn, especially those that need a little TLC.
With baseball starting and Easter coming fast, it’s hard to deny that spring is here.;That means it’s time to start mentally preparing for the lawn care season, even if your grass won’t see any action for a few weeks yet.;
Here’s why spring is the perfect time to lime your lawn
Balance Soil pH;
When soil is acidic, it becomes extremely hard to;grow healthy grass. As the soil acidity gets worse, plant essential nutrients become unavailable for the plant to uptake, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – the three macro nutrients required for healthy growth. Neutralizing soil pH effectively frees up these essential nutrients, giving your lawn a better chance;to thrive.
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Water Deeply But Not Too Often
- Too much watering can lead to poor growing conditions and disease problems.
- Water only when your lawn needs it, usually no more than once a week when there is no rainfall.
- Apply at least 2.5 cm of water. Put a tuna or pet food can on your lawn to measure how much you’ve watered. Stop watering when it’s full.
- Consider the soil type and surface features. Grass growing on compacted, fine soil or on slopes needs lighter, more frequent watering.
Dispose Of Lawn Clippings As Needed
It’s acceptable to leave grass clippings on your lawn unless they begin to form a thick thatch layer. Then remove the clippings and dethatch your lawn as needed.;
Tip: If you use chemicals on your lawn, do not add the clippings to a compost pile.;
Effective DIY lawn care during spring can save you time and effort later in the year. Follow these lawn care tips to make sure that your grass is greener.
When determining how much grass seed or mulch you need, don’t guesstimate, calculate. Know exactly how much you need with our project calculators.;
Tools
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Tips To Help Your Lawn Grow
Its fall and time to fertilize your lawn. Why not fertilize your lawn in fall? Your lawn care routine should include fertilizing your lawn in the fall to strengthen the roots of your plants and lawn, so they can thrive next spring.
First, you need to know the formula of fertilizer. This formula is made up of three numbers such as the 5-10-5. The first number is nitrogen. This promotes leaf growth and lawn blade growth. The second number is phosphorus. The third number is potassium. It promotes cell function as well as absorption of trace elements. What do you fertilize? What time? What? Lets begin with your lawn.
When Is The Best Time To Apply Fall Fertilizer
Depending on the fertilizer formula you use, you may want to feed the lawn once or twice. Some formulas recommend an application around Labour Day and again 6-8 weeks afterward, and others recommend just one application 2-3 weeks before the first hard frost. Both can be effective. Its always best to follow the recommendations on the product packaging.
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Spring Lawn Fertilizer Timing
Step 1: If you are planning a simple 4 Step plan, be it from Jonathan Green or Scotts, your first application of spring fertilizer will also contain a crabgrass pre-emergent. This means you need to get this applied before your soil temps hit 55 degrees. So target early spring .
Step 2: The second spring application is generally a weed-and-feed fertilizer. Step 2 is applied 6-8 weeks after Step 1. The timing here is around Memorial Day or approximately two-to-three weeks before the first day of summer.
Special Problems: Rocks In Lawn
Here in New Hampshire, we get a lot of sand, salt, and gravel pushed onto our lawns from snow removal. Its very difficult to get out with a rake alone!;If you have a similar problem, look into a rock sweeper or paddle sweeper, which is fantastic for getting into grass and scooping out small rocks or sand without harming the grass itself. Move acorns, walnuts, rocks, mulch, and pine cones from lawn to driveway or sidewalk for easy pickup, all without hurting the lawn. The paddle is pricey, so you may also want to rent from your home improvement store to try it;out.
Its hard to imagine how this type of tool works so below is a quick video .
With the five spring lawn care tips above, youre all set for a great start to the;season!;;
A special thanks to Jason Wilk, Product Manager at ECHO, for providing his expert lawn care advice for this;article.
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What Should You Do For Your Lawn In The Spring
I received the following question last week through the Cooperative Extension Ask the Expert system.; It illustrates how confusing the lawn care industry is to homeowners trying to do the right thing on their lawns:
I have a turf-based lawn. I intend to weed and feed in early March. I know that my lawn needs a pre-emergent to control Bermuda/crabgrass. However, there are also other weeds, e.g., clover and other varieties. What weed control do you recommend and when should it be applied?
First, forget about weed and feed products.; They do not make sense for your lawn.; Apply most of the fertilizer your lawn needs in the fall and if anything, only apply ½ lb of nitrogen/ 1000 square feet in the spring.; Apply that small amount of fertilizer in March and no later than April 15.; Apply weed control later in the spring; so bundling those two products will not work.
They also mention clover and other weeds.; Clover is not an annual, so a preemergent herbicide will not control it.; Instead, use a broadleaf herbicide specific for clover control once the clover is green and growing, but still young and susceptible to chemical control.; When you use selective herbicides, you must know which weed you are controlling.; For example 2,4-D products will control dandelions but not clover.
If you want to learn all about managing a healthy lawn, visit the Delaware Livable Lawns website.; Learn how you can make your lawn livable.;
