Spring is a crucial time for lawn care, setting the stage for a lush, healthy lawn throughout the warmer months. With the right approach, you can ensure your lawn thrives, providing a beautiful green space for relaxation and enjoyment.
Knowing what your lawn needs this spring and treating it correctly will bring a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Here are our essential spring lawn care tips to help you get started:
Clean Up
Winter can leave behind a mess of fallen leaves, twigs, and debris, which can block out sunlight, suffocate grass, and encourage lawn disease. Begin your spring lawn care routine with a thorough clean-up. Rake away dead leaves, remove debris, and clear any obstacles that could hinder grass growth. If left unattended, accumulated debris can lead to damp, compacted areas that encourage moss and fungi growth. Grass clippings should also be collected and removed after mowing to keep your lawn looking its best.
Mowing
Regular mowing is key to achieving a lush lawn, but timing and technique are crucial.
Before the first cut of the year, ensure your mower blades are sharp for a clean cut.
Lawn maintenance is about paying attention to the finer details, and the sharpness of your mower blades plays a big role. Mowing with a dull blade will roughly rip through your grass, meaning it will begin to pull the grass up by the roots rather than trimming it – creating some ugly patches in your lawn. This will also leave your lawn more susceptible to disease and pests.
For the initial mow, set the mower to a higher cutting height, trimming just the top of the grass. Gradually lower the cutting height over the following weeks. Avoid scalping the lawn, cutting it too low, as this can stress the grass and make it vulnerable to weeds and diseases.
Your lawn should be maintained between 25mm (1”) and 50mm (2”) in length. During dry periods or in shaded areas, it’s best to increase the cutting height to promote healthier growth and retain moisture.
Aeration & Scarification
Aeration and scarification are essential annual lawn care practices that improve the overall health of your lawn. Aeration helps relieve soil compaction and enhances air, water, and nutrient circulation to the roots, promoting stronger grass growth. Scarification removes thatch and moss buildup, allowing the grass to breathe and absorb nutrients more effectively.
Spring is the perfect time to schedule aeration and scarification to set your lawn up for success. Speak to GreenThumb to learn more about our Machine Work services and how they will enhance your lawn’s resilience and appearance – Book A Free Consultation – GreenThumb
Treating Bare Patches
After enduring the harsh winter, your lawn may have developed bare patches. To encourage new growth, rake the affected areas to loosen the soil, sow quality grass seed, and lightly cover it with topsoil. Keep the area moist by watering regularly. For successful germination, the ground temperature should be above 5°C.
GreenThumb’s Overseeding and Top Dressing treatments can provide the nourishment and protection needed for healthy grass development. This process enhances lawn density, filling in patchy areas and promoting long-term growth.
Weed Control
As the weather warms up, weeds will begin to emerge, competing with your lawn for nutrients and space. Many weed seeds remain dormant in the soil over winter, while others spread from nearby areas. Consistent treatments are necessary to keep weeds at bay and maintain a healthy, uniform lawn.
GreenThumb’s weed control treatments effectively target common lawn weeds, preventing them from taking over your grass. GreenThumb’s tailored solutions ensure long-term protection, keeping your lawn weed-free and in top condition.
Checking for Lawn Pests
Spring is the time to watch for signs of Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs, which can cause significant damage to your lawn. These pests feed on grass roots, leading to yellow or brown patches and thinning grass. Other indicators include birds pecking at the lawn in search of grubs.
If you suspect an infestation, GreenThumb offers targeted treatments to combat these pests, preventing further damage and restoring your lawn’s health. Addressing the problem early can help avoid costly lawn repairs later in the season.
Managing Moss Growth
Moss thrives in damp, shaded, and compacted areas, often taking hold after a wet winter. It competes with grass for nutrients and space, leading to a weak, patchy lawn. To reduce moss, it’s essential to address the underlying causes. Scarification, proper mowing practices, and the application of a balanced fertiliser can significantly improve lawn health and prevent moss from returning.
GreenThumb’s specialised treatments help control moss while promoting stronger, healthier grass growth. A well-fed and aerated lawn is naturally more resistant to moss, ensuring a greener, more vibrant appearance throughout the season.
Book a free lawn consultation
Taking care of your lawn requires time and effort, but GreenThumb can make it easy with their expert treatments and care plans. Whatever problem your lawn is facing, GreenThumb’s tailored solutions will ensure you have a green space to relax and unwind this year.
If you have any questions or would like GreenThumb to help improve your lawn, book your free lawn consultation here: Book A Free Consultation – GreenThumb
