When (and How) to Start Preparing Your Yard for Spring
- Posted by livewell in Landscaping Tips
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Spring isn’t officially here until March 20, but if you’re like most of us here in the Capital Region, you don’t wait for the calendar to tell you to get out into your yard. The thermometer does that. Mid-March is the perfect time to start assessing what your yard needs to look its best this spring and summer.
We’ve pulled together a few tips to help you get started.
Tip #1: Let the Ground Dry Out
Perhaps the most important tip is to let the ground dry out before you go traipsing around your yard. This is especially important if you plan to use a wheelbarrow or other wheeled lawn and garden machinery. If the ground is too wet, the wheels will tear up your grass.
Tip #2: Do Some Spring Yard Cleanup
Take a walk around your yard, and pick up any branches or twigs that fell over the winter. Look for any trash or debris that blew into your yard as well. Toss anything that isn’t grass. This is a perfect project to get your kids involved in and get them outdoors and away from their screens.
You can also take this time to rake leaves out of your yard and help reduce thatch. You can also rake leaves out of your garden beds, and remove any dead perennial stems and leaves as well. However, you won’t want to mulch your beds until the perennials and bulbs have popped through the soil and made it clear where they are.
Tip #3: Apply Pre-Emergent and Fertilizer
Early in the spring is the best time to apply a crabgrass pre-emergent and fertilizer combination like Scotts® Turf Builder® Halts® Crabgrass Preventer with Lawn Food. Be sure to follow the directions on the bag that coincide with the spreader you have. By doing this, you can keep crabgrass out of your yard all summer long. You can do this the same weekend you do the yard cleanup, as it doesn’t take much time.
Tip #4: Know When to Mow
That fertilizer will perk up your grass right away. Knowing when to mow new grass, sod, or just when to mow for the first time in the spring is the key to a healthy lawn. Refer to Rule #1, and don’t mow when your yard is soggy from spring rain. The wheels from Your lawn mower, whether it’s a push mower or a lawn tractor, will leave big ruts.
Mow when the yard has dried out a bit, and mow when the grass is 2”-3” in length. The main thing is you don’t want to cut off more than 1/3 of the grass blades at a time. This may mean mowing twice a week to keep up with the fast growth of spring.
Tip #5: Consider Hiring a Lawn Care Service
If all of this sounds like too much work, or you’d rather spend your time doing something more enjoyable, consider hiring a lawn care service. Many of them are advertising specials right now. The amount you spend on chemicals, lawnmower upkeep, and gas may be more than you think it is, making a service a reasonable expense.
Dream It. Build It. Live It.
If while you’re out looking around your yard you decide it’s time for some outdoor living upgrades, we can help. We specialize in custom pools, patios, decks, and outdoor kitchens. You deserve luxury outdoor living at its best. To turn your yard into your own outdoor oasis, schedule a consultation. Either fill out the contact form or call 301.720.1000 to get started.
We work with homeowners in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia.
