Spring Lawn Care Tips
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make in the spring is only mowing their lawn once a week. This stunts the roots of the grass, which prevents it from reproducing. To avoid this problem, homeowners should aim to mow their lawn every five days for the first six weeks of spring. Depending on the weather, this should be enough to promote a lush and full lawn. After that, homeowners should mow only once every two to three weeks to keep the grass healthy. Check This Out!
Grass-cycling
One way to ensure a beautiful, healthy lawn is to follow a grasscycling routine. Grasscycling is a lawn care technique that involves frequent cutting of the lawn. The clippings fall between the standing blades and decompose, providing nutrients and moisture. Longer clippings can also be used as mulch, and they can add a hay-like look to your lawn.
Grass-cycling is an eco-friendly way to reduce waste. Instead of raking the clippings to a trashcan, grass-clippings decompose into compost, a free fertilizer for your lawn. This method also increases the volume of soil, which promotes healthy root growth and grass health. The process reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, which often contain toxic runoff and pollute waterways. Grass-cycling also saves you time by avoiding the hassle of collecting grass clippings and hauling them to the garbage disposal.
Grass clippings contain 75% to 85% water, and they easily decompose. When left on a lawn, they add natural nitrogen to the soil and make it healthier. Grasscycling also prevents thatch and saves time. It is also environmentally friendly, which means you will have a beautiful, green lawn in no time. And, what’s more, grasscycling is more convenient.
Soil aeration
If you’re a homeowner who’s considering soil aeration for your lawn this spring, you may be wondering how it can benefit your lawn. The good news is that aeration is simple and effective. Plug aerators break up compacted soil to restore moisture and nutrients. These machines should be used where the soil is more than half an inch thick or where a layer of thatch is visible. Soil that’s hard to dig is an indication that it needs aeration. If your soil is composed of heavy clay or is constantly being driven over, plug aerators may be necessary.
Aeration is especially beneficial to lawns that receive a lot of foot traffic. More foot traffic means more compacted soil and fewer open spaces for root growth. Therefore, aeration allows the soil to receive more air, which in turn benefits grass plants. The increased flow of oxygen allows for better root development, better water absorption, and better development of the top layer of soil. Likewise, aeration is effective in preventing runoff of fertilizers and pesticides.
Overseeding
If you’re interested in improving the look and feel of your lawn, you can begin overseeding your grass in early spring. Depending on your climate, you may want to use a variety of different types of grass seeds. In areas with mild climates, cool-season grasses can be successfully overseeded during spring, and these varieties will flourish in cooler climates. However, if you’re in the south, cool-season grasses should be overseeded in late spring, when the air temperature is still 70 degrees.
Overseeding is best done when soil temperatures are cool. This is because seeds germinate better when the temperatures are cool. Seeding cool-season grasses in the fall is a great idea, since the cooler air will help to stimulate new growth. Warm-season grasses need warmer temperatures to germinate. If you’re considering overseeding in late summer or early fall, the best time is between early spring and early summer.
Weed control
Weed control in spring is essential to preventing overgrowth of weeds. Once the ground warms in the spring, weeds germinate and begin growing. This is the time to use pre-emergent products, which are applied to the soil before the weeds even germinate. Using a pre-emergent weed killer will kill weeds before they emerge from the soil.
Liquid weed control is the most effective type of herbicide during the spring months. Its high phosphorus content makes it ideal for use on lawns, while slow-release formulas are best for treating weeds on the lawn. Applying a general herbicide spray during this season can kill grass and may not work well in your yard. The timing of weed control in spring is vital to avoiding any unwanted weeds and ensuring the health of the grass.
Another type of herbicide is used to treat weeds after they have germinated. The best time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide is before the ground has warmed and the temperature has reached a comfortable 55 degrees. The temperature is important because this is when crabgrass and other weeds will germinate. To determine the exact temperature of the ground, you can use a soil thermometer. The temperature should be measured several inches below the surface of the soil. If the temperature is higher than 55 degrees, the pre-emergent herbicide will be ineffective. Next Page…