Getting Your Lawn Ready for Spring in 5 Easy Steps

Nothing says spring better than freshly mowed lawns, new-born lambs, and daffodils. What’s more, if you live by the motto of the early bird gets the worm, then you’ll likely already have your spring garden plans underway. There will be a garden tidy-up to consider, lawn mower maintenance, and trying to pin down your favourite lawn mowing expert who takes care of everything for you.

If you can’t wait for that pleasant spring weather to roll in, melting away the winter depression, then why not start planning today? Here are a few tips for getting your lawn ready for spring. Be the envy of your entire neighbourhood.

Step One: Raking & Seeding

Winter can be quite a rude house guest. It rolls in, sets up camp for three months, then leaves a trail of destruction once it moves on. You’re left with tatty lawns, leaves everywhere, and dead patches of lawn that succumbed to the mud, rain, and weeds. As it has probably been some time since you’ve ventured into the yard, the first things you will need to do are lawn raking and seed application. 

Raking involves removing dead grass and leaves that winter left behind. The process removes that pesky thatch layer but also loosens up any grass matting. Avoid raking if your lawn is wet and muddy. Start scattering seeds on weather and pet-damaged grass.

Apply a slow-release fertiliser to go with it, then after a month or so, apply more. The quicker you patch up those bald spots, the better your lawn will look come summer.

Step Two: Aerate, Aerate, Aerate

Did we say it enough? You have to aerate your grass. Spring would have to be the best time of year for grass aeration. Aerating offers your lawn a chance to breathe, while also promoting water flow, nutrient distribution, grass growth, and oxygenation.

Such a labour-intensive task is one you may like to leave to the professionals, but you can also buy aeration tools to do it yourself. After all, DIY is in our DNA.

Step Three: Weeding

Not everyone enjoys weeding, which is why there’s no harm in hiring someone who has a passion for it. However, it can be a necessary part of getting your lawn ready for spring. Over winter, your lawn may lie dormant, but the first smell of spring can send all the weeds on a crazy growth spurt. Head to your local garden store to pick up some herbicide, then get to work.

You’ll want to get rid of your crabgrass, thatch, clover, and dandelion. If you’d prefer not to use a herbicide, then set time aside to digging them out by hand. If you have a postage stamp lawn, it won’t be a significant undertaking.

Step Four: Fertilising

You may have applied fertiliser when you were taking care of bald spots, but that’s not the end of it. Your grass is recovering from the rude appearance of winter, and it might need a helping hand to get it back to its former health. Apply fertiliser once after every two lawn mowing sessions.  

Step Five: Water

If you live in colder, wetter climes – such as Southland, then step five is not usually necessary. The ground will probably already be moist or well-hydrated. If you live further up the country though, there’s no harm in giving the lawn a quick sprinkle. 

What’s more, watering your lawn at the beginning of the spring can be a trial run. After winter, you need to work out whether your irrigation and sprinkler systems are still working. If you have any problems, it offers ample time to repair them or buy new ones.

Post-Winter Recovery

Your lawn is now in the best possible position to tackle spring and any other month to follow. However, have you forgotten something? Your lawn mower has been locked in the tool shed for months, and it’s time to drag it out. Sharpen the blades, change the oil, and check the fuel. If you’ve let the mower fall into disrepair, it might be time to call the friendly team who can get the job done with no hassles.

Conclusion

If you want the best-looking lawn on the street, then it’s not going to do it on its own. You need to start at the very beginning of spring, preparing and caring for your lawn, so it’s fighting fit to tackle the season head-on. There’s no better time than today to get your gardens and lawn spring-ready.