
Whatever the season, it takes much care and attention to make your lawn look its best. That’s why it’s important to get the timing of your lawn care tasks right every year!
Fall is the perfect time to fertilize and improve your grass’s health and appearance. A little work now will pave the way for a lush, green carpet when temperatures warm again next spring.
Spring
Spring is the time to begin preparing your lawn for an all-star summer season. After a winter of neglect, your lawn needs the right care to look its best and start the season off right.
Early spring is the time to aerate your lawn, which is essential for allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots of your grass. Aerating also alleviates thatch, a thick layer of dead plant matter inhibiting root development.
Adding top dressing after aeration helps improve the drainage of your lawn. It helps ensure that it receives enough water and nutrients from rain or sprinklers, especially if your garden is prone to dryness in the spring.
In addition, this layer will help protect your grass from diseases and weeds that may be present in the soil. However, you should have https://erbertlawns.com/lawn-service-areas/thornton/ test the soil for any nutrient deficiencies before working with it.
In addition, if you notice weeds starting to sprout on your lawn, research and apply a pre-emergent herbicide before they can grow into a problem. It will prevent them from germinating and causing damage to your grass.
Summer
Summer can be a busy time of year for lawns. Kids are out of school, and parents want to spend more time in their yard. They also may be hosting family gatherings and entertaining guests in their yards.
As well as being fun, summer is also a great time to prepare your lawn for the coming season. With the right lawn care, your grass will thrive throughout the season.
Mow Early and Low:
During the spring, it’s important to keep your lawn mowed at a low, but not too short, height to promote good growth. It also helps reduce the stress your grass will feel during hot weather.
Cut High:
When grass growth slows down in the early summer, it’s a good idea to mow your lawn higher than normal. It will help prevent weeds and encourage thicker and deeper roots.
Mow With a Sharp Blade:
A dull mower blade will cause more damage to your lawn than a sharp one. It is why it’s a good idea to sharpen your mower regularly in the spring and summer.
Apply Fertilizer:
During the summer, feeding your lawn with a slow-release fertilizer is a good idea. It will provide the nutrients your lawn needs to remain healthy and vibrant throughout the season.
Water Deeply:
Keeping your lawn moist is essential during this hot, dry time of year. It’s important to water deeply and aerate the soil when you do so.
Mulch:
Adding mulch to your lawn during the spring will help it look beautiful and retain more moisture in the soil. The mulch will also help your grass stay greener longer by reducing the need for watering.
Remove Moss:
During the late spring and early summer, removing moss from your lawn is important. Moss can be a real nuisance in wet and shaded lawn areas. Clearing moss infestations through scarification (vigorous raking) and chemical treatments is best. It will help protect your lawn from grubs, a damaging and invasive insect that can kill the grass.
Fall
Fall is a fantastic time to restore your lawn before the onset of winter. The weather is still warm enough to promote grass growth, and it’s not as hot as in summer, which is beneficial for aeration and root development.
It’s also an excellent time to overseed your lawn, as warm soil temperatures, ample moisture, and cool nights are ideal for re-establishing a healthy lawn that will thrive next spring.
You should aerate your soil in the fall to loosen compacted layers, which can interfere with airflow and water penetration to the lawn’s roots. You should aerate your soil at least once before planting to ensure the proper amount of fertilizer is put down, and you should aerate again when you start overseeding to give your grass a stronger base to grow on.
Once you’ve aerated your soil, fertilize it to ensure your lawn has a strong, healthy root system ready to survive the harsh winter months ahead. Look for a fertilizer rich in nitrogen, which encourages blade growth, and potassium, which builds up cell walls and root systems to fight off the cold.
You can also rake fallen leaves and mulch them to give your lawn organic matter. Leaves are great for breaking down into a nutrient-rich compost that will nourish your grass, and they can help keep your yard looking its best throughout the winter.
Winter
If you live in an area where it can get quite cold during winter, preparing your lawn for the season ahead is essential. It can mean mowing less often, aerating the soil, or applying a pre-emergent herbicide to control weeds that might grow in the spring.
It is also important to remove any weeds that have appeared on your lawn over the autumn. Having a weed-free lawn in the spring is essential for a healthy yard and can be easily done by applying a pre-emergent herbicide.
Another thing you can do to prepare your lawn for winter is to aerate it before the first frost date. Aeration will give your lawn a chance to breathe before it goes dormant, and will also relieve any compaction that may have built up during the summer.