Weeds compete with grass for nutrients, water and sunlight. Regular weed control helps ensure that lawns have access to all the resources they need to thrive.
A soil test can tell you how much sand and clay are in your soil. A soil test can also tell you about the humus content, which increases soil’s ability to hold and capture moisture. Contact Pops Lawn Care for professional help.
Spring
Lawn care practices like dethatching, aeration, overseeding, and weed control are more effective during spring. Proper lawn care in the spring sets up your grass for a successful season and reduces time spent on maintenance throughout summer and fall.
A healthy lawn requires routine mowing and watering along with strategic fertilization and weed control. Weed control prevents annual weeds from overtaking your turf while fertilization supports vigorous grass growth. Spring is the best time to apply pre-emergent weed control, which prevents weeds from germinating in the first few weeks after they sprout.
Begin the season by raking to remove dead leaves, sticks and other debris that accumulated over winter. Raking also loosens matted grass clumps caused by snow mold, which can smother new growth. This is the ideal time to overseed bare spots and apply a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. Overseeding in the spring is preferred for cool-season turfgrasses, while reseeding warm-season turfgrasses is more appropriate in late summer (or later further north).
Before you work on your lawn, it is important to check that the soil has sufficiently warmed and dried. A simple test to perform is to grab a handful of soil and squeeze it. If you can’t squeeze water from the soil, it is still too wet to work.
Depending on the results of your soil sample and nutrient needs, amend your soil with the proper blend of fertilizers. It is recommended that you use a granular slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. This will help prevent over-fertilizing and is safer for the environment because it releases the nutrients into the soil slowly, rather than allowing them to leach into local waterways.
It’s also the best time to conduct a watering audit. Check that the sprinklers are properly calibrated, so you are not over-watering and damaging your lawn. Also, make sure the irrigation system is set up to abide by any municipal water restrictions. If you notice the sprinklers are not delivering an adequate amount of water to your lawn, then adjust your irrigation schedule accordingly.
Summer
Summer’s hot temperatures and dry conditions stress lawns, leaving them susceptible to disease. A consistent lawn care routine designed for the season helps your grass overcome these challenges and thrive.
Lawn mowing, watering and fertilization practices are critical during the summer. Knowing your grass type and soil type guides mowing height, watering frequency and fertilization strategies.
Weekly mowing at 2-3 inches is ideal for most grass types to promote vigorous growth and resist heat-stress. Keep in mind that mowing too short stresses the lawn and reduces its ability to absorb moisture. Avoid mowing wet grass, as it creates clumping and uneven cuts.
Periodically aerating your lawn loosens compacted soil, allowing water and oxygen to flow more effectively. Aeration also minimizes the need for chemical fertilizers.
Fertilizing in early and late summer provides a boost of nutrients to your turf as it grows actively. The key is to choose a slow-release formula that releases nutrients into the soil over an extended period of time, providing a more sustainable source of nutrients than traditional quick-release fertilizers.
Weed control is an important part of summer lawn care, as fast-growing weeds compete with grass for sunlight and water. Regular hand pulling and spot spraying keeps weeds in check throughout the summer.
Maintaining your landscape is another essential aspect of summer lawn care, as healthy trees and shrubs add dimension to your yard while supporting the health of your grass. Fight outdoor pests with targeted treatments for ticks, service-feeding insects and fire ants to protect your family and pets from disease.
Fall
If your lawn was looking a little rough at the end of summer, you can get it back in shape with fall lawn care. As the weather cools, weeds and other unwanted plants start to slow down. This is a great time to focus on mowing at the proper height, aerating and fertilizing. A pre-emergent weed control application will also ensure that those same weeds don’t come out in full force next spring.
Cool-season grasses, such as bluegrass and fescue, need to be maintained until they stop growing in late October or November. It is also the best time to overseed these types of lawns with winter rye, which helps them turn green faster in spring.
Raking and mulching leaves is another important autumn lawn maintenance practice. Leaves left on lawns block sunlight and can smother the grass, causing it to thin and weaken. It’s a good idea to use a leaf blower or mulching mower to chop up the leaves to dime-sized pieces before you put them in the compost pile. The microbes in the soil will break them down into natural compost for your lawn in a few weeks.
September is a great time to aerate your lawn, as well. Aerating relieves soil compaction, improves water and nutrient movement in the ground and prevents thatch buildup. You can aerate by using a rake or spike aerator, but experts recommend a core aerator, which removes plugs of earth from the ground.
Fertilizing is also a vital part of fall lawn maintenance, especially for northern regions with cool-season grasses. A light application of a low nitrogen fertilizer in early September or late fall (October or November) will help the grass recover from summer stress, prepare for winter and green up quickly in spring.
Be sure to clean and sharpen your mower blades to save on gasoline costs and prevent damage in storage. It’s also a good idea to get your equipment in order for winter storage, such as draining fuel and oil from the engine and changing the air filter. This will keep your equipment running smoothly and help prevent it from rusting over the winter.
Winter
Despite the dormant state of your lawn, winter is no time to take a break from best lawn care practices. In fact, it’s a critical time to ensure that your grass is healthy and ready for spring growth. A few key lawn maintenance techniques include aeration, soil care, and mowing.
Proper irrigation is vital to a well-maintained lawn. However, winter lawns require different watering schedules due to reduced evaporation rates and cooler temperatures. Watering should occur early in the day to help limit moisture loss and promote a deeper root system. Overwatering during this period can create a breeding ground for fungal diseases and contribute to root rot.
Aerating the soil is another essential lawn care practice for winter. Aeration breaks up compacted soil, allowing for improved airflow and nutrient absorption. It also reduces the risk of snow mold, a turf disease that is particularly prevalent when lawns are covered with snow for extended periods.
Maintaining an ideal mowing height is also important for a healthy, vibrant lawn. As the mowing season winds down, gradually reduce the mowing height to a point that will prevent snow mold and other issues but not shock the grass. Lastly, clearing debris from the lawn such as fallen leaves and sticks on a regular basis helps to keep sunlight and oxygen flowing freely throughout the grass.
The final aspect of a quality lawn care program involves fertilization and pest control. Choosing a fertilizer high in potassium and low in nitrogen is important for preparing the lawn for cold weather conditions and helping to strengthen its resilience against fungus and other disease issues. An integrated pest management approach is also beneficial to protect the lawn from insect infestations such as grubs, sod webworms, chinch bugs, and billbugs.