7 spring lawn care tips experts swear by

There’s nothing quite like the first weeks of spring after a long, cold winter. If you’re a homeowner, this also means restoring your lawn to a state of bounty with spring lawn care. But before you begin picking out blooming flora, it’s time to repair your lawn from any wintertime damage or snow mold and prepare it for the season ahead.

Depending on where you live, this could be an especially cumbersome task or something that you can tackle over a weekend. Regardless, spring lawn care is a fundamental step in maintaining and nurturing your yard’s vitality.

“Spring lawn care is crucial because it wards off weeds and repairs damage accrued during winter, which, in turn, promotes growth,” said Colby Cosby, landscaping expert at Yardzen, a landscape design service. The added perk? It helps make your lawn especially attractive, he continued.

From mowing and dethatching to overseeding and aerating, it’s paramount that each lawn care step is addressed in the proper order to ensure optimal results. 

Below, learn more about spring lawn care, including how to revitalize your yard after winter and important steps to reap the best results.

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What should spring lawn care look like?

Spring lawn care requires several steps and methods to prepare your yard for the seasons ahead. According to Cosby and Janice Parker, a landscape designer based in Greenwich, Connecticut, if lawn care is neglected for too long — or entirely — you’ll encounter issues such as dreaded bare spots or pesky lawn weeds, including crabgrass. 

Set up your yard for success by jumpstarting your spring lawn maintenance in early spring. With the ground moist, it’ll be easier to till and treat the lawn, both experts said.

Follow these seven crucial steps for the spring lawn care your yard deserves.

Clean up

This DIY step sets the stage for all that follow. Whether you’re picking up rogue sticks or raking up fallen leaves, it’s crucial to make sure that your lawn is clear. “Debris shades the grass as it starts to grow and can damage your lawn mower,” Parker explained. “Matted leaves will encourage fungus and wet spots.” All of this can also contribute to the yellowing of your lawn, Cosby echoed. 

Fertilize

The growing season is more robust with fertilizing. “Fertilizer is food for a growing lawn,” Parker added. “Wait a few weeks as your lawn starts to grow before fertilizing in order to avoid feeding the weeds.” Parker recommended fertilizer with potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus for the grass’s root system.

Use an organic lawn fertilizer that will break down slowly over the season to replenish the entire soil ecosystem. “Do not apply when it’s very hot outside,” Parker said. As the temperatures rise, grass tends to go dormant. By fertilizing, you’ll encourage growth at the wrong time. What’s more, the soil will not absorb the fertilizer nutrients and can end up as runoff in the storm system and the water supply.

A nitrogen fertilizer should encourage grass blade growth. “Don’t go heavy until later in the summer, as you don’t want to overfeed emerging weeds in the spring,” Cosby said. 

Clover thrives in low-nitrogen soil. Nitrogen-based fertilizer may address clover growth if you want to eradicate it from your lawn. However, clovers are a sign of a healthy lawn and encourage natural pollinators. 

Weed

From here, you will likely want to do some weed control. This can include everything from crab grass to nutsedge or dandelions, Parker said. Weeds can compromise the soil integrity, which might negatively impact the ability to grow new grass, she continued. Regardless of the type of weed, Parker said it was important to pull weeds early and often to stop root growth from sprouting.

Dethatch

Similar to decluttering your lawn from fallen debris, dethatching takes the cleanup treatment a step further. “A key component of spring lawn care that’s [often] overlooked is dethatching, which is removing the layer of dead grass, roots and other debris that can accumulate on the soil surface,” Cosby said. “The reason dethatching is so important is it allows water, air and nutrients to reach the grassroots.”

Aerate

Once the lawn has been dethatched, you can aerate it, which helps the fertilizer, oxygen and water reach the grass roots, Parker said.

Further, your lawn can become compacted over time, whether it be from foot traffic, letting the dog out or mechanical equipment. If you see compaction when the water pools — a sign that the yard is not draining after rain — you should probably look into aerating your lawn. To aerate your lawn, wait until the soil is moist then run an aerating machine over the lawn several times. Allow the soil plugs to dry, then turn over the ground with a rake or similar tool.

Reseed

When it comes to lawn care, timing is everything. For example, the ideal time for reseeding is early spring or late fall. “Basically, use cooler and wetter months to limit the amount of water needed,” Cosby said.

Once the lawn has been aerated, reseeding replenishes the grass seed. “Do this early and be sure to keep the area watered for quick germination,” Parker added. “Lightly mulch to protect the seeds and discourage weeds.” 

Be sure reseeding is wrapped up before late spring. If you’ve decided to skip reseeding, Cosby recommended using organic, preemergent herbicides, such as corn gluten, which can stop weeds from germinating in the first place.

Water

Similar to reseeding, optimizing your watering schedule requires close attention to the season, the current and upcoming weather and how your grass is faring. “Watering schedules should be adjusted seasonally or even monthly,” Cosby said. “Timing is based not just on weather conditions but type of grass and how long the lawn has been established. The soil should be moist at all times but never muddy or puddling. Using a moisture sensor can be useful.” You can also perform a soil test by checking to see if the ground is mushy underfoot, Parker advised.

If you live somewhere that receives a decent amount of rain, you may not need to give our sprinkler a ton of extra work, but drier climates on the West Coast may require extra watering sessions. If your lawn is thinning out or turning yellow, it’s likely that your lawn is overwatered, Parker said.

What’s next?

Once you’ve tackled and treated your lawn’s various needs, it’s crucial to continue caring for it, even after the intensive work is over. In addition to monitoring an ongoing watering schedule, mowing your lawn regularly will also help revive the grass blades. 

Also care for your lawn mower, ensuring that the blades remain sharp throughout the season.