Coming out of winter, it is not uncommon for lawns to look in poor condition. Harsh winter conditions can take their toll, even on healthy lawns.
In this article, we’ll talk about post-winter lawn care, including steps you can take to help revitalize your lawn. We’ll also talk about steps that should have been taken before winter so you can better prepare your lawn next year.
We will cover the following tips:
1. Early Spring Applications
2. Water in the morning
3. Cut tall grass at first
4. Make a plan for fall
How to revive lawn after winter
Before we get into our four tips on what you can do to help revive your lawn after winter, we want to talk about the importance of a late fall fertilization service (what people often call “wintering”).
In terms of how your lawn “wakes up” in the spring, this is honestly the most important service you could have performed. This final fertilizer application is a late fall lawn treatment, which is actually done from late October to early December. It happens that his name is often associated with winter as it approaches.
The benefit of winterizing is that it will allow your lawn to absorb the nutrients it really needs and store them until spring. What many people don’t know is that a late fall (or early winter) treatment is what helps your lawn recover in early spring. That early color seen on a healthy lawn can be attributed to a winter lawn fertilizer.
Obviously, this is a proactive step and you may be reading this article and haven’t done it. It’s important to make a plan for next fall (which we’ll talk about in our tips) so you can be prepared for the future.
How to Revitalize Your Lawn After Winter
Whether you applied late fertilizer or not, you can also use the following tips to help wake up your lawn in early spring.
#1: Early Spring Applications
As you begin lawn care for a new season, you should make sure your lawn receives significant applications of fertilizer and weed control in early spring. Early fertilization treatments help provide your lawn with a boost of nutrients it needs as it emerges from dormancy and begins actively growing again.
It is also very important that you do not miss the opportunity to apply pre-emergent controls in early spring to prevent crabgrass. For this product to work properly, it must be applied to the early spring before the crab has germinated.
This is because crabgrass pre-emergents work by forming a barrier that prevents germination in the first place. There is a window of effectiveness that you don’t want to miss.
After all, the last thing you want is for your lawn to emerge from its dormant state and be invaded by crabgrass. This is a key time to focus on prevention.
#2: Water in the morning
It is also important to follow a spring watering regimen.
While spring is typically a rainy season, you’ll want to pay attention to how much water your lawn receives from the rain. This can be easily done with a rain gauge.
Lawns need one to two inches of consistent water per week. If Mother Nature does not provide enough, you can supplement with morning watering.
The morning is the best time to water because it allows enough time for the grass to dry and absorb as much water as possible before evaporation. But also avoid leaving excess water on the grass overnight, which can cause disease.
#3: Cut high at the beginning
As your grass wakes up and begins to actively grow again, you will soon be able to mow again as well.
Mowing the lawn can be a stressful experience, especially when it’s just emerging from dormancy. That’s why you’ll probably want to adjust your cutting routine and start “cutting high.”
The shorter you cut the grass, the more stress you will put on it. We always recommend being diligent about not cutting your grass too short. But this is especially important during times of high stress (such as periods of drought or when emerging from torpor).
Always mow grass with sharp blades and a level cutting deck. Take advantage of this first part of the season to ensure you are prepared with quality equipment.
#4: Make a plan for fall
Finally, even though you are at the beginning of a new season, it is important to think about the future. If you have bare areas in your lawn after winter, you will need to seed those areas to fill them in.
However, we strongly recommend against seeding your lawn in spring for a couple of key reasons.
On the one hand, planting in the spring will mean that we will not be able to apply crab control products. Crabgrass pre-emergent products will kill new grass.
But sowing in spring is also difficult since the hot, dry season is just around the corner. Summer is the most difficult time of year for new grass to grow and it may not survive the heat.
Instead, make a plan to aerate and overseed in the fall. We know that if you have dead grass after winter, it can seem like a long time to wait until fall to plant. But it’s important to trust the process. You don’t want to end up shooting yourself in the foot by wasting time and money planting in the spring. And you certainly don’t want to end up with a lot of crab in your lawn because you weren’t able to properly address it.
As we mentioned above, fall is also an important time for spring lawn care because that is when we apply the “greenhouse.” That final application of fertilizer will help set your lawn up for success next spring.
Choosing Comprehensive Lawn Care in Cincinnati, Dayton, OH, and Northern Kentucky
Spring is a really important time to get your lawn off on the right foot. That’s why it’s important to partner with a lawn care company that has your back.
At Oasis Turf & Tree, we can help you bring your lawn to its full potential, eliminating the guesswork and hassle.
Regardless of the season, you’ll know we’ve got you covered. In time, he’ll see his lawn perform at its best and become the envy of the neighborhood, and he’ll know he chose wisely.
If you’re ready to take the guesswork out of whether your lawn is getting the treatments it needs, learn more about our comprehensive lawn care program for your home in Dayton, Ohio, Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky. Do not hesitate to request quoteThen sit back and relax while you enjoy your lawn without worry.
Image source: mower
