Due to crazy winter weather, you may have neglected your lawn. However, a beautiful property requires year-round care. You can do many things to help your grass recover from the long, harsh winter. The grass is hardy and can quickly recover with a bit of help. Our Kingsport lawn maintenance service company, Promier Landscapes, assures homeowners how they can ensure beautiful grass this spring. So, today we share seven tips for keeping your lawn healthy during the winter for a vibrant lawn come springtime.
1. Fall cleanup
When you finish fall yard work, double-check that you remembered everything. Then, rake or mulch the leaves and put away sprinklers, hoses, garden furniture, toys, and decorations that aren’t suitable for wintertime use. During the winter, grass mats and clumps covered with debris could cause mold or pest development due to excess moisture from rain and snow, harming or killing grass.
2. Protect your lawn
You may assume that you will use your lawn sparingly during the winter. But you’d be surprised! You’ll likely walk on your lawn more than you realize. Therefore, protect your lawn from foot traffic and snow until spring. Then, clear your driveway, walkways, and paths so people can walk safely. Our Bristol lawn maintenance services company warns that shoveling snow onto grass or creating snow mounds that block passages and force people to walk on grass is a bad idea. Instead, break up ice clumps and spread snow to hasten melting as winter winds down because snowdrifts make it harder for snow to melt and may block the grass’s spring sun.
3. Mow the lawn
Don’t be surprised if your lawn looks sad after the snow melts because it struggles during the cold, harsh winter. Fortunately, early spring mowing prepares grass for the growing season. So, when the ground is dry, mow the dead leaves and grass. Then, remove any thatch with a rake to increase airflow across the entire plant surface. Remember, the muddy ground makes it easier to rip out older and younger grass blades and can harm your turf.
4. Help the grass breathe
Our lawn maintenance services company in the Tri-Cities area explains that aerating and seeding the lawn during active growth can speed up its recovery. An aerator makes tiny holes in the earth to loosen the soil so oxygen and nutrients can reach grass roots and boost growth. Aerating the grass in the spring will give it more room to grow and prevent it from becoming too compacted. Additionally, aerating your lawn will help it recover after an atypical winter when temperatures change and the ground freezes and thaws often.
5. Overseed for spring growth
Few homeowners know that grass thrives with a companion, seeds. Overseeding refers to sowing grass seed over the existing turf to make up for natural thinning during the winter. Overseeding will also promote new growth, keeping your lawn lush year-round. While you can aerate and overseed in the spring, it’s best to do it in the fall to avoid the elements and weed or crabgrass competition. If you sow seeds in the spring, the first week of April is ideal, and you should monitor your lawn often, remembering to water it before it gets hot.
6. Overseed for spring growth
Since plants often go dormant in winter, fertilizer isn’t necessary and is common among winter or spring grasses. However, early spring fertilizers may help the lawn recover from winter’s harshness. Our Johnson City lawn maintenance services company explains that if you want your grass to grow fast in spring, aerate it once the snow melts and the temperature reaches 55 degrees. Then, fertilize your lawn with a nutrient blend that grass roots can absorb. Finally, the plant absorbs and stores it or uses it as food. If you have the right equipment, fertilizing your lawn can be easy and efficient.
7. Don’t wait to mow the lawn
Even though April may seem too soon in some of the Tri-Cities areas, it’s the best time to cut the grass, especially once it reaches three inches. Cutting the grass when the blades are this long will keep it from growing too tall and encourage growth.
Lawn Maintenance Services in Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, Tennessee
Spring is an influential season where you can dramatically improve your lawn’s health and appearance. Using the tips above could result in the perfect yard this summer. If you have questions or need Kingsport lawn maintenance services, call Promier Landscapes at (423) 872-2988 or contact us online to discuss your lawn maintenance needs.