Set Your Lawn Up For Success This Spring

All of us are spending far more time at home with the on-going pandemic. Maybe yard work is something you’ve neglected or meant to learn more about but never had the time. We’ve compiled a list of lawn care tips to try this spring, so your yard is the green oasis you’ve always dreamed of.

professional core aeration

Lawn Care Ideas

Aeration

Over time, the soil becomes compacted from thatch build-up, foot traffic, and other environmental factors. Aerating your lawn once a year keeps the soil loose enough that air, water, light, and nutrients can penetrate the soil and nourish the grass’s roots. Aeration, or core aeration, is the process of removing small plugs of soil from your lawn using a specialized machine. These cores are left on the surface and will break down naturally like compost. The series of small spaces give your grass room to breathe, making it stronger and more resilient. The ideal time to perform core aeration is late summer or early fall.

Thicken Turfgrass

If you notice thinning or bare patches of grass, you don’t necessarily have to start over from scratch with new sod. Hydroseeding and overseeding are both options that will address problem areas of your lawn. Hydroseeding involves laying down seeds within a specialized mixture, or “slurry,” that nourishes the seeds. Overseeding is exactly what it sounds like: turfgrass seed is scattered over the surface of the soil. Both are good for thickening your lawn. However, if you plan to aerate, overseeding is often done in conjuncture with this service. Overseeding nicely compliments aeration since the grass seeds can easily pill in the gaps left behind.

Set Your Mower To The Proper Height

While this may seem like a common-sense part of any lawn care program, many people don’t realize just how important mowing can be. Mowing grass too short or too long can create problems down the road. Mowing too close to the earth can allow weeds to sprout. Weeds thrive in direct sunlight, so keeping your grass at the proper height casts enough shade that weeds can’t grow. Conversely, longer grass can trap too much moisture – the ideal environment that molds, mildew, and fungi thrive in.

Test The Soil

Lawns need three things when it comes to fertilizer: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. When purchasing fertilizer, you will see these things displayed in a series of three numbers. For example, 2-3-5. Nitrogen helps plant leaves and stems grow strong. Phosphorus nourishes roots, flowers, and fruits. Potassium helps plants tolerate environmental stressors like droughts. Having a soil test performed will help you learn what your plants crave and, more importantly, if the soil will be receptive to it. If your soil pH level leans to the spectrum’s acidic end, it won’t be receptive to fertilizer. In other words, you would be wasting money applying fertilizer that the grass won’t be able to use. If your soil needs a balance, don’t worry. A simple lime application will correct the pH level and, in turn, make it, so plants utilize any nutrients you give them.

woman testing soil

Get Spring Lawn Care Done Right – Call Showcase Lawn Works

Make this spring the season you finally get the yard of your dreams. From fertilizer to weed control, the experts at Showcase Lawn Works will set your yard up for success. Get a head start planning your dream backyard today! Call 717-354-3226 or contact us online. For more lawn care inspiration, check out our blog, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook!