Tips to Get Your Lawn Ready for Spring
Spring is just around the corner, and many homeowners are wondering if they’re ready to get their lawns and gardens ready for the season of warmer weather ahead. You can take multiple steps this winter to get your property looking its best when spring arrives and it’s time to start spending time outside again. Here are tips to get your lawn ready for spring.
5 Tips for Spring Lawn Care
If you want your lawn to come back strong in the spring, it’s important to start preparing your lawn now during this time of year. The following five tips will help you get your lawn in shape before the weather gets warmer and the grass grows again.
1) Rake up leaves and debris
One of the first things you need to do when getting your lawn ready for spring is to rake up any leaves or debris that has accumulated over the winter months. This will help minimize the chances of weeds coming back and will make your lawn look nicer. You should rake in a criss-cross pattern to ensure you get all of the leaves out, then move on to blowing off any remaining leaf piles. Letting them stay on top of the ground could mean more seeds will germinate in the springtime if they haven't already. And this can lead to more work later on down the line!
Terms of, hiring lawn service in Georgetown can be a good way to ensure your lawn stays healthy and clean throughout the year. And with some companies offering guarantees, you're never going to regret signing up for their services!
2) Test your soil
Testing your soil is a good place to start. It's important that the pH level of your soil is in balance and it will help you know what type of fertilizer you need. A soil test kit can be purchased at any garden center, but here are some things to look out for:
- The color should be brown or black. If it's red, this indicates acidic soil and the pH level is too low.
- You should see earthworms if you dig down into the dirt. Worms eat the dead plant matter on top of the ground and turn it into nutrients. If there are no worms, that means there is not enough organic material in the soil which makes it difficult for plants to grow because they're missing essential nutrients.
- There should be green plants as well as other vegetation around your yard. That signifies that there's enough oxygen circulating in the soil from fresh air from above.
3) Reseed or aerate your lawn
To give your lawn a fresh start and make it even more green and healthy, you may want to consider aerating or reseeding the lawn. Aeration removes thatch, which is the buildup of organic material that blocks water, nutrients, and air from reaching your grassroots. Reseeding is done by spreading new seeds over an existing lawn to increase its density.
If your yard suffers from any bare spots or patches, then this is a great way to revitalize the lawn. A few things you should know about seeding are that it should be done when the soil temperature has risen to 50 degrees Fahrenheit and if you’re going with a rye-grass seed mix, then this can be applied up until mid-May.
4) Fertilize your lawn
Apply fertilizer in the early spring, as this is when your lawn will be growing the most. Choose a fertilizer with an NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) of 4-1-2 or 10-3-3 because these types are known to promote healthy growth. Fertilizers should be applied at an amount of 1 pound per 1,000 square feet. For example, if you have a large yard of 5,000 square feet, you would need 10 pounds of fertilizer.
If you have a small lawn, say 500 square feet, use 2 pounds of fertilizer. Check soil pH: A soil test can tell you what pH level your soil is at so that you can apply lime if it’s too acidic or add sulfur if it’s too alkaline. It’s important to know how much nutrients are available in the soil so that plants receive just enough nutrients but not too many that could cause them to become toxic.
5) Water your lawn
It's important to water your lawn regularly during the hot summer months. Without enough water, your lawn will start turning brown and dying as soon as the weather starts warming up. To make sure you don't forget, set a reminder on your phone or write it in your calendar. You can also set up a regular sprinkler system so that it waters automatically, or you could hire someone else to do it for you. If you're thinking about getting an irrigation system installed, there are several factors to consider when looking for one: what type of yard space you have (flat or sloped), how much water pressure your house has (the higher the better), and whether or not you want something simple with no bells and whistles or something more high-tech.