Pre-Spring Lawn Maintenance| How to Revive Your Grass After Winter

Spring is just around the corner, and also getting ready to change or start your lawn maintenance routine. Consistently staying on top of your seasonal lawn maintenance tasks will help promote healthy grass growth, discourage weeds, reduce pest infestations, and improve the conditions of your soil as well! However, what are the most important things you should focus on for your pre-spring lawn maintenance routine? This helpful blog will explain what you should do and why it is important.

Assess Any Winter Damage Before Lawn Maintenance Work

Check for Signs of Winter Damage

Before you start getting ready to start your lawn maintenance work, you should first check the current state of your lawn. It may be in good condition or slightly battered from the cold, wintry weather throughout the last few months. Are there brown or dead patches? These are usually a result of snow mold, ice damage, or excessive foot traffic. Frost can also discolor your grass. If you notice any thin or bare spots, it may be due to overwintering pests. You can determine the best approach to restore your lawn by effectively assessing it. As long as you know the damage and what caused it, you can provide the best treatment for your lawn in the future.

Check Your Soil’s pH, Nutrient Levels, and Grass Roots

Besides the visible damage your lawn may have incurred, there are other subtle signs you should be aware of. Your soil’s health may have been compromised, so conduct a soil test around late winter or early spring before the growing season starts. By collecting a small sample using a soil testing kit, you can see if the pH levels of the soil need to be restored. Soil pH levels greatly influence the nutrient availability and overall health of your lawn for your grass. They also directly impact the health of your grassroots. If your lawn doesn’t receive the right pH levels, your lawn will greatly suffer.

Kickoff Spring Your Lawn Maintenance By Preparing Your Soil

Aeration & Fertilization

The best way to remedy any problems your lawn may have when it comes to improving its nutrition and promoting root growth is aeration and fertilization. For aeration, you should prepare the lawn for warmer months. This will help grass seeds germinate successfully. By aerating the soil, you can loosen any compaction, which allows better water and nutrient absorption. It’ll also physically affect your lawn by reducing the number of puddles in it and making it more resilient. Spring is the best time to aerate, especially if you planted warm-season grasses. Aeration can be done every 2-3 years to maintain good soil health. You might want to do it annually if you have high-traffic areas or clay soils.

Fertilization and Weed Control

Another powerful tool you can use for your lawn maintenance this spring is to fertilize your grass. You must get the timing right. For example, cool-season grasses can get a small amount of slow-release fertilizer in early spring. This is only if you miss fertilizing it in the fall. You can start fertilizing warm-season grass around late spring when the grass is fairly green. It is best to fertilize when your grass is actively growing to ensure healthy growth. This also prevents it from aiding weed growth, which will directly compete with your lawn.

Spring Lawn Maintenance Restoration Techniques

Dethatching

Dethatching is a great technique to help restore your lawn’s health. It involves removing the layer of dead grass, roots, and organic matter that can accumulate between the soil surface and grass. Thatch can harm your lawn’s health if it grows in excess, so it is best to get rid of it. Removing thatch can improve your lawn’s root growth, enhance nutrient absorption, promote drainage, reduce pests that make thatch their home, and help you prepare for overseeding. When you perform dethatching, you should use a power rake or vertical mower to remove thatch. You can also aerate the soil after your detaching is done to help lessen any soil compaction. Don’t forget to water your lawn thoroughly as well.

Consider Sodding!

If you have a busy schedule this spring and your lawn maintenance to-do list seems to be getting longer and longer, consider sod as a viable option. With sodding, you’ll be able to get immediate results, flexible timing, and a nice, green lawn that is fully grown. Sod installation does have its distinct process apart from growing your lawn. A process that can’t afford to be botched. You need to make sure the soil is good, know how to lay down the sod, as well as trim and fit it, roll and press it on the ground, and make sure to water it consistently. It can also be more expensive than just restoring your original lawn. Still, once the initial labor and installation costs are over, you won’t need to worry about maintaining it attentively when performing pre-spring lawn maintenance every week. If you hire a professional, it will make the process even easier and quicker, as well as getting access to high-quality sod if you go with a reputable company.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope we’ve thoroughly informed you about what it takes to have a nice, fresh lawn this spring. You must take advantage of the nice weather in this window to take care of your lawn. It can seem like a lengthy list of tasks between aeration, fertilization, and dethatching.

Fortunately, you can go with a landscaping company that can help you out! If you’re looking for a one-time lawn maintenance job to help restore your lawn or a continuous routine maintenance plan, Mastergrass is the one you need! We are not just mowing masters but experts on all things that involve lawn care. With our masterful lawn maintenance skills, we’ll get your lawn into tip-top shape this spring. Contact us today to get your lawn looking fabulous and fresh this spring!