Have you had enough of winter yet? I know that I have. And, I don’t even live in an area that gets a lot of snow. Still, chilly days and cold nights are enough to get most of us looking forward to the return of warm weather. Judging by the national weather map there is plenty of warmth spreading across the country. Spring is nearly here!
My neighbors are busy with their lawns and I’m just about finished with my winter clean up, picking up the last of the twigs and leaves in order to see what I have to work with this spring. It isn’t a pretty sight. Bare spots are evident. Weeds are plentiful. Not many signs that grass will win out unless I do something about it. And quick too.
Fortunately, most people welcome yard work this time of year. Few insects to deal with and the heat of late spring and summer is still far away. Importantly, how well you tackle your lawn now will determine whether you’ll be a slave to it later, particularly during the warmest months when you’d rather be looking at green grass instead of fighting it.
5 Steps To Getting Your Lawn Spring Ready:
1. Clean it up. From one end of your property to other, remove all debris that has accumulated throughout the winter months. Pick up sticks, bag leaves, clean up nut shells, throw away trash.
2. Rake it over. Thatch and other debris needs to be removed from your lawn. A tine rake or mower with dethatching blade attachment can do the work for you.
3. Feed your lawn. Now that your lawn has been freed up from all constraints, you’ll want to give it some nutrients in order to help strengthen your lawn’s roots. Time to apply fertilizer to give your lawn its first feed of the season. If you detect crabgrass then make sure that you pick up a combination fertilizer with a pre-emergent to control that problem. Overseed as well.
4. Prepare your mower. Unless your lawn mower has a dethatching blade, you won’t be needing it for a few more weeks. But this is a good time to give your mower a tune up, replacing the oil, filter, spark plug and checking the wires for connectivity. If your blade has dulled get it sharpened. If your mower is on its last legs, consider shopping for a replacement. Reference your lawn mower’s manual before tackling your mower maintenance project.
5. Plan your season. With one eye to the future, what will your lawn need between now and November when it begins to return to its dormant state? If the thought of weekly maintenance has you unnerved, consider turning a portion of your lawn over to a natural area. Birds and wildlife will be grateful and you’ll have a smaller area of lawn to contend with each week. Contact your local cooperative extension office for guidance.
Enjoy the warm weather—your lawn is ready to come back to life, one of the surest signs that a long winter has finally ended.
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Photo Credit: Leonardini
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