Your Spring Lawn Care Plan

Spring is around the corner, and to get a lawn you love this season, there are a few simple steps you can take to prepare your lawn for spring. Whether you are figuring out how to grow grass, determining the best crabgrass killer or thinking about weed control, having a plan before you start with spring fertilizer can help waste less product and time while also being more effective.

Take inventory

Take a few minutes to walk your property early in the season to mentally prepare and get a new perspective on your yard. This is especially important if you can’t see your entire lawn from your windows and have been giving the yard a passing glance as you hunker down for the winter.

No need to do anything just yet–just walk your property, look around and check the condition of the yard. While you’re at it, take a quick inventory of your supplies, like your rakes and hoses, to be sure they’re in good working order. If not, order new ones now so you’re ready when the season starts.

Apply pre-emergent

One of the best things you can do for your lawn before it starts to grow is to apply an organic, corn gluten-based pre-emergenty like Weed Wipeout. This prevents crabgrass and other weeds from growing and it means a lot less back-breaking hand-pulling later in the season. Pre-emergents can be tricky, so check out our guide to getting pre-emergents right.

Tune up your mower

Most mowers aren’t properly maintained. Think of your mower as a smaller version of your car: running it without a tune up is asking for a fairly expensive piece of equipment to fail. Mowers should be serviced at least once every other year. Do it early in the season to make sure you get a quick turnaround.

To find a mower tune up, google “outdoor power equipment service” or ”landscaping supply store.” Make sure the service includes an oil change, new spark plug, a new oil filter and a blade sharpening. 

Rake your lawn

Most people think of raking their lawn during their fall cleanup, but raking in the spring is equally important. Go over the lawn and don’t be afraid to really scrape it up. You won’t hurt it, and if you do it right you’ll rake up a lot of thatch (a buildup of dead roots and grass). Thatch can block fertilizers from being absorbed by your lawn. 

This is also another chance to check your lawn for issues. Remove any debris or sticks that could dull your mower blade. Pro tip, if you’re just not in the mood to rake: a blower can get you 80% of the results with much less effort.

Consider spring overseeding bare patches

Overseeding is the practice of adding seed to an existing lawn. Seeding in the fall is usually more effective, and most guidance will instruct you to hold off until then. But, if your lawn is in really poor shape and your bare patches are larger than a basketball, weeds will outpace grass growth in those areas. 

Overseeding in that instance can help crowd out weeds over the season. It costs a little more to do it in the spring as well, but sets you up for better results. Check out our guide to seeding for a step-by-step on how to spring seed.

Pull weeds

If you've missed the window for pre-emergent, it's time to think about other ways to get rid of the weeds on your lawn. It’s kind of a pain, but there’s no substitute for getting out there and pulling weeds in the spring. (If you have kids, this is a great time to put them to work!) Early in the season, your main culprit will be dandelions. You’ve got two options: if you really want to get serious about your weed control, you can dig out the entire root. Otherwise, just snap the yellow flower off to prevent the dandelion from going to seed (and spreading to the rest of your lawn).

Mow the right way

Is there any better sign of spring than the first mow? Remove the bag from your mower and recycle the clippings back onto your lawn. Recycling (or mulching) the clippings provides nutrients back into your soil that break down over time. Grass is loaded with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, all of which are important for your lawn to stay healthy–so this is a chance to replenish those nutrients, absolutely free. Our mowing guide has more tips on this frequent maintenance activity that can really make an impact on your lawn.

Now it’s time for your lawn care plan to start. This year, make it an all-natural, simple process with Lawnbright. You tell us about your lawn, we customize a plan and tell you exactly what you need to use, when. Our all natural lawn care products, including weed control, fertilizers, soil conditioner and more are customized to your specific lawn (literally, the very soil under your feet), delivered to your door, and will give you a lush lawn by fall. Get your custom lawn plan here.