Essential Lawn Care Tips for Spring 2024

Spring is the perfect time to give your lawn some TLC and get it ready for the warmer months ahead. A healthy and lush lawn can enhance the curb appeal of your home, provide a space for outdoor activities, and improve the quality of the air you breathe. But how do you achieve a beautiful lawn in spring? Here are some essential lawn care tips from Handy Andy Lawn Care that will help you prepare your lawn for spring.

Key Takeaways

• Mow your lawn regularly with a sharp blade and adjust the height according to the type of grass you have.
• Fertilise your lawn with organic or synthetic fertilisers to provide nutrients and boost growth.
• Weed your lawn with pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides to prevent and kill weeds.
• Aerate your lawn with a core, spike, or plug aerator to improve air, water, and nutrient penetration into the soil.
• Overseed your lawn with the appropriate grass seed to fill in bare patches and improve density.

Mowing Your Lawn

Mowing your lawn is one of the most important lawn care tasks in spring. It helps to keep your grass healthy, neat, and uniform. Here are some tips on how to mow your lawn properly in spring:

• Use a sharp blade to cut your grass cleanly and prevent tearing and browning.
• Adjust the height of your mower according to the type of grass you have. As a general rule, you should never cut more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. For cool-season grasses, such as fescue, bluegrass, and ryegrass, the ideal height is 2.5 to 3.5 inches. For warm-season grasses, such as bermuda, zoysia, and centipede, the ideal height is 1 to 2 inches.
• Mow your lawn frequently in spring, as the grass grows faster in this season. You may need to mow your lawn once or twice a week, depending on the weather and the growth rate of your grass.
• Leave the grass clippings on your lawn, as they act as a natural mulch and fertiliser. They decompose quickly and return nutrients and moisture to the soil. However, if the clippings are too long or wet, you may need to rake them up and compost them, as they can smother your lawn and cause disease.

Fertilising Your Lawn

Fertilising your lawn is another essential lawn care task in spring. It provides your grass with the nutrients it needs to grow strong and green. There are two types of fertilisers you can use for your lawn: organic and synthetic.

• Organic fertilisers are made from natural materials, such as manure, compost, seaweed, and bone meal. They are environmentally friendly and improve the soil structure and microbial activity. However, they are slow-release and may not provide enough nutrients for your lawn in spring.
• Synthetic fertilisers are made from chemical compounds, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They are fast-acting and provide a quick boost of growth and colour for your lawn in spring. However, they can be harmful to the environment and the soil life if overused or applied incorrectly.

Here are some tips on how to fertilise your lawn in spring:

• Choose a fertiliser that is suitable for your type of grass and the soil condition. You can use a soil test kit to determine the pH and nutrient levels of your soil. You can also consult a lawn care professional, such as Handy Andy Lawn Care, for advice on the best fertiliser for your lawn.
• Apply the fertiliser according to the label instructions and the recommended rate. You can use a broadcast spreader, a drop spreader, or a hand-held spreader to distribute the fertiliser evenly over your lawn. You can also water your lawn after fertilising to help the fertiliser dissolve and reach the roots of your grass.
• Fertilise your lawn in early spring, when the soil temperature reaches 55°F and the grass starts to grow. You can also fertilise your lawn again in late spring, before the summer heat arrives. However, do not fertilise your lawn too often or too much, as this can cause excessive growth, thatch, and disease.

Weeding Your Lawn

Weeding your lawn is another important lawn care task in spring. It helps to prevent and control the growth of weeds, which can compete with your grass for space, light, water, and nutrients. There are two types of herbicides you can use for your lawn: pre-emergent and post-emergent.

• Pre-emergent herbicides are applied before the weeds germinate and emerge from the soil. They form a barrier that prevents the weed seeds from sprouting. They are effective against annual weeds, such as crabgrass, chickweed, and spurge.
• Post-emergent herbicides are applied after the weeds have emerged and are visible on your lawn. They kill the weeds by affecting their growth or metabolism. They are effective against perennial weeds, such as dandelion, clover, and plantain.

Here are some tips on how to weed your lawn in spring:

• Choose a herbicide that is suitable for your type of grass and the type of weeds you have. You can use a selective herbicide, which targets specific weeds without harming your grass, or a non-selective herbicide, which kills all vegetation it contacts. You can also consult a lawn care professional, such as Handy Andy Lawn Care, for advice on the best herbicide for your lawn.
• Apply the herbicide according to the label instructions and the recommended rate. You can use a sprayer, a hose-end applicator, or a spot-treatment applicator to apply the herbicide to your lawn. You can also wear protective gloves, clothing, and eyewear to avoid contact with the herbicide.
• Apply the pre-emergent herbicide in early spring, before the soil temperature reaches 55°F and the weed seeds start to germinate. You can also apply the post-emergent herbicide in late spring, when the weeds are actively growing and have not flowered or seeded. However, do not apply the herbicide when the temperature is above 85°F, when the grass is stressed or dormant, or when the wind is strong, as this can reduce the effectiveness of the herbicide and cause damage to your lawn.

Aerating Your Lawn

Aerating your lawn is another beneficial lawn care task in spring. It involves creating small holes in the soil to improve the air, water, and nutrient penetration into the root zone of your grass. This helps to relieve soil compaction, improve drainage, reduce thatch, and enhance root growth. There are three types of aerators you can use for your lawn: core, spike, or plug.

• Core aerators are machines that remove small cores or plugs of soil from your lawn. They are the most effective and recommended type of aerators, as they create larger and deeper holes that allow more air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of your grass.
• Spike aerators are devices that poke holes in the soil with spikes or tines. They are less effective and not recommended, as they create smaller and shallower holes that can actually increase soil compaction and reduce air, water, and nutrient penetration.
• Plug aerators are tools that cut and pull out small plugs of grass and soil from your lawn. They are similar to core aerators, but they also remove some of the grass along with the soil. They are useful for overseeding your lawn, as they create spaces for the new grass seeds to germinate and grow.

Here are some tips on how to aerate your lawn in spring:

• Choose an aerator that is suitable for your lawn size and soil condition. You can rent or buy a core or plug aerator, or hire a lawn care professional, such as Handy Andy Lawn Care, to do the job for you. You can also use a spike aerator, but only as a supplement to a core or plug aerator.
• Aerate your lawn when the soil is moist but not wet, as this makes the soil easier to penetrate and reduces the risk of tearing the grass. You can water your lawn a day or two before aerating, or aerate after a rain.
• Aerate your lawn in a crisscross pattern, covering the entire lawn area. You can also make multiple passes over the areas that are more compacted or have more thatch. You can leave the cores or plugs on your lawn, as they will break down and return nutrients and organic matter to the soil. You can also rake them up and compost them, if you prefer.