Spring Lawn Care Tips
Although we are home builders by trade, we want our homeowners to be thrilled with the complete package: their custom Niblock home, upgraded fixtures, etc. and yard. Yes, yard! With that being said it’s time to get started on the spring lawn maintenance in order to prevent weeds and prepare the soil for a rich, green lawn this summer.
Spring is a sensitive time for your yard – the soil is spongy, the plants are tender, and the weather is unpredictable ( take the freezing cold temps we had this morning for example). So here are a few things that you can do to your yard now to help better prepare it for the upcoming summer:
Controlling weeds: Spring is the best time to prevent weeds by using pre-emergent weed control. This works by preventing weed seeds from germinating. Pre-emergent herbicide works for about 3 months, so plan on a 2nd application during the summer months.
Seeding and Planting: If your focus this spring is on filling in bare spots or establishing a new lawn, time your activities according to the type of grass you have.
—Cool-Season grasses such as Fescue, Blue Grass, and Rye are best planted in the fall. Spring is a great time to patch those bare spots where grass may not have grown.
—Warm-Season grasses such as Zoysia, St. Augustine, Centipede, and Bermuda thrive in the heat and go dormant during the winter. Late spring is the best time to plant this type of grass.
Watering: Once your grass starts growing, you’ll need to make sure your lawn gets at least 1″ of water per week.
Insect Control: Spring is a good time to address problems with fire ants. Nothing is more painful than stepping on a giant mound bare foot!
Aeration: This is best done during your lawn’s peak growing season. For warm-season grasses, this means early to mid-summer. For cool season grasses, aeration is best saved for fall.
For more great information on Fall lawn care tips, visit our Friends at Yard Day to read their latest article, “Good Fall Lawn Care Tips for the Sake of Spring and Summer!”