Preparing Your Lawn For Spring

What’s the first thing people see when they pull up to your home? It’s your lawn. A healthy green lawn can make all the difference when it comes to good front yard first impressions. It’s still winter, and your grass is fast asleep, but that doesn’t mean it’s not in need of some care. Take advantage of these tips to ensure your lawn wakes up happy and healthy in the spring.

Fertilize

Many grasses including Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescues like to be fertilized twice during the offseason. They like a boost of nitrogen early on, and then another meal high in phosphorous later in the season. Of course this depends on the climate where you live. More southern grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia go dormant in the winter, and won’t take in any fertilizer. The best way to prepare your lawn is find out what your grass needs. Consider getting a soil test.

Fill In The Patches

The winter can be an excellent time to put down new grass seed. The seeds won’t take if the ground is completely frozen though. If you live somewhere cold then save your seed for the first thaw. If not then consider planting something that germinates quickly like perennial ryegrass. You can also “overseed”. That’s when your put extra grass seed on top of an otherwise healthy lawn. This adds an extra boost.

Keep The Leaves Off

Raking leaves is an autumn activity right? Usually yes, but more leaves and debris might sneak onto your lawn later in the season. Keep them off. Dead leaves make a good fertilizer if they’re chopped up in little bits, but whole leaves can suffocate a good front yard. To prepare your lawn for spring, keep it clear of leaves and let it breathe. They can cause moisture to linger and promote mold.

Aerate

Make sure your grass is getting enough oxygen and water. You can ensure this by poking little holes all over the lawn with a pitchfork. This allows the air and water to get into the root zone. You can also buy commercial aerators designed exactly for this.  You can even get aerating shoes!

Kill The Weeds

Now is a great time to get rid of those pesky weeds. If you want to really prepare your lawn for spring, then apply a general weed killer to your lawn. After all, the weeds are weaker in the offseason. Carfentrazone is an excellent chemical that works well in colder temperatures.

Just because the grass is asleep doesn’t mean you have to ignore it. Prepare your lawn for spring and make sure it wakes up happy. Just fertilize, lay down some new grass seed, keep the leaves and weeds at bay, and aerate. That way you’ll be doing everything you can for your grass and your home.

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-Jeff Cook

Jeff Cook Real Estate

Charleston, SC