Spring is Here!

Spring is here ! With summer right around the corner you might be wandering what you can do to prepare your yard and keep it healthy and in shape for the heat of the upcoming summer months. Spring is one of the most important times to perform lawn maintenanceand getting your yard off to a good start this season requires nothing more than attention to a few details. Here are a few essential tips to help your yard resist the devastating effects of the sun, pests, weeds, and heavy foot traffic.

Debris Removal is the first step. Remove any debris that has accumulated in the yard and rake up any matted areas in the lawn. Doing so will encourage airflow throughout the lawn and help prevent disease and insect infestation.

Aeration promotes healthy formation of the root system. Roots are the lifeline of your lawn. Aeration allows grass to breathe and also enables water and other nutrients to reach the root system . For warm-season grasses, aerate in early spring and for cool-season grasses, like ryegrass or bluegrass, you can wait until autumn. Aeration should be performed every couple of years, and more frequently for higher traffic areas.

Fertilization is an important part of maintaining a good lawn. Fertilize your yard according to the type of grass you have. Lawns have two peak growing seasons throughout the year, apply fertilizer at these times. Scale back your fertilization about a month before peak summer temperatures. For cool-season grasses you should fertilize your lawn during early spring, after winter dormancy, and early fall. Fertilizer with higher nitrogen concentration is ideal during autumn application. Warm-season grasses flourish during summer months. Nitrogen rich fertilizer should be applied in spring, when the first shows signs of vibrancy. These grasses should be fertilized again in late summer.  

Deep irrigation is optimal for root penetration. Brief and frequent watering encourages shallow root penetration . Most grass needs around one inch of irrigation weekly during peak growth. A single deep irrigation once per week is much more helpful in developing deep roots to assist your lawn in withstanding the heat of the summer months. The best times to water our lawn is early morning or at night.  

Reseed is most beneficial prior to your grass’ peak season of growth. After tilling the soil, spread your seed as evenly as possible. Use a standard fertilizer along with the over seed, switching to nitrogen-rich fertilizer once the seeds germinate. This will ensure robust growth. Water these reseeded areas as you do normally with the rest of your lawn.  

Regular Lawn Maintenance helps with proper growth and health of your grass. If done improperly, mowing can be detrimental to the life your lawn. Never cut more than one third of the height of your grass in one pass. If it is very tall, make two cuts , spacing the cuts a couple of days apart to avoid leaving large clumps of moist grass clippings on your lawn. Frequent springtime mowing will strengthen the grass roots, making the plants more hardy and resistant to the elements. Raising the cutting height of your mower as summer approaches allows the grass to provide necessary shade to the soil, keeping it moist and primed for perfect lawn growth.

Following these few steps will ensure you have a beautiful, healthy lawn that will last throughout the summer heat and continue to look great. With these simple few steps, you can be the envy of your neighborhood with a lush, inviting lawn that everyone is sure to enjoy. If looking for a lawn maintenance service, visit www.vinesgardening.com.