Winter hasn’t been the nicest here in the GTA, find out how to get your lawn ready this spring.
Another step by step guide on how to prep your lawn this spring! This past winter we have experienced weather that was tough on our lawns and gardens. We had very little snow cover, with sporadic swings in temperatures. The problem this causes for our lawns is that they are not protected by a blanket of snow all winter. This leaves them exposed to the harsh winter elements. This exposure makes the lawn susceptible to winter injury caused by frequent freeze thaw cycles and desiccation. Needless to say, there may be some lawn restoration work to be done this spring. Following these simple steps will help restore your lawn back to health in no time.
- Spring Clean-up – Once the snow has melted and the ground has firmed up, clear the lawn of any debris that has accumulated over the winter i.e. sticks branches, leaves or garbage. Then give the lawn a hard and thorough raking. This will help to remove any damaged grass and thatch that could potentially contribute to further issues down the road. Raking increases the lawns access to oxygen, water and nutrients throughout the growing season.
- Mowing – First, make sure your mower blades are sharp, this will allow for a clean cut rather than a shredding of the leaf blade which adds additional stress to the lawn. As soon as growth begins start mowing. Mowing height should be set between two and three inches. Higher mowing frequency in the spring is common. Twice per week is not uncommon but once should be the minimum.
- Aerating – Aerating is a cultural practice performed in the spring or fall which involves removing cores of soil from the existing soil profile. Aerating your lawn will decrease compaction, increase surface drainage, remove thatch, increase oxygen levels and allow your lawn better access to water and nutrients.
- Over seeding – After raking, you may apply an even layer of seed to the entire lawn. This will help thicken up any thin or damaged areas. A thicker lawn will choke out unwanted weeds and weedy grasses such as crabgrass in the summer. We recommend using a cool season blend that contains species of Kentucky Blue, Perennial Rye, and Fine Fescue.
- Fertilizing – Apply a light spring fertilizer application. This will feed the lawn with a steady supply of nutrients throughout the recovery stage. Fertilizing in the spring increase growth, thickness, colour and root development. Promoting overall plant health during this time will decrease weed and insect infestations as well as increase drought and heat stress tolerance.
The steps listed above should be integrated into your lawn maintenance program every year. Home owners need to take a more proactive approach to lawn maintenance and an emphasis needs to be put on overall plant health all season long. Put in the extra time and effort early so your lawn is the envy of everyone all summer long.
Another step by step guide on how to prep your lawn this spring! This past winter we have experienced weather that was tough on our lawns and gardens. We had very little snow cover, with sporadic swings in temperatures. The problem this causes for our lawns is that they are not protected by a blanket of snow all winter. This leaves them exposed to the harsh winter elements. This exposure makes the lawn susceptible to winter injury caused by frequent freeze thaw cycles and desiccation. Needless to say, there may be some lawn restoration work to be done this spring. Following these simple steps will help restore your lawn back to health in no time.