We all have the neighbor with the perfect lawn. Every time we drive by, we’re a little jealous, wishing we could have a lawn that looks that good! We think that they must spend a lot of time working on the lawn for it to look so green. But the truth is having a healthy lawn doesn’t take much time and isn’t as difficult as you might think.
Let’s look at some lawn care tips and tricks you can do over a few weekends in the spring and summer that will pay off with a lawn that looks simply amazing!
Evaluate and Prepare
Decide what your goal is. Are you fixing a thin lawn? Filling bare spots? Raising pH? Figure out what your lawn needs and prepare a plan. If you’re performing maintenance as opposed to rectifying a problem, schedule your treatments. Spring is the perfect time to add lime to adjust pH, fertilize to ensure early season growth, and of course pick up any leaves, tree branches, or other debris that may have accumulated over the winter.
If you’re over-seeding your lawn to thicken it for summer, make sure you apply chemicals first to let them work into the soil before you spread your grass seed. If you’re using a weed and feed blend, keep in mind it can harm tender young shoots. So feed, lime, and spread any bug and weed killer, wait a few days, and then water before seeding.
Set a Schedule
The best time to over-seed or patch your lawn is late summer to early fall. Spring is the second-best time. As spring approaches, consider your seeding and fertilizing schedule and purchase your supplies. Often you can find early season deals that can save you money if your buy all your supplies early.
Prepare the Area
Give your lawn an early season mowing. Cut it extra short and remove the clippings so the new seed contacts soil and gets the necessary sunlight and water it needs to germinate. This is an important step.
Use a metal thatch rake to remove clippings, thatch, and debris. This will also aerate and loosen the soil. Once you’ve spread the seed, you’ll need to wait a few weeks for the new grass to establish itself because cutting it too soon could damage or kill the new shoots.
Test Your Soil Quality
If simple thinning is not your lawn’s only issue, test the quality of your soil before you seed in order to make corrections. If your lawn is particularly troublesome or compacted, you’ll need to do a more thorough aeration than simply raking it with a thatch rake. Rent a rolling aerator to deeply puncture and loosen the soil.
If you are patching bare spots, use a product that combines a premium seed with fertilizer to give your lawn an additional boost.
Apply Seed Correctly
Use a spreader and apply the seed at the manufacturers recommended over-seeding rate. Use the right spreader for the job. If you’re patching a small area, a hand held crank spreader can make it a fast and easy process. For a large area, use a drop or broadcast spreader. For very small spots, you can seed by hand. Make sure you distribute the seed evenly.
If you’re ready to get your spring lawn care underway, stop by Old Station Outdoor and Landscape supply. We sell Jonathan Green premium lawn care products. Jonathan Green products feed your lawn and the soil to give you the perfect lawn, every time! Visit our website to learn more about our premium lawn-care products.
