Winter is finally over. Accordingly, we've put together five basic steps to get your lawn ready for summer. One caveat: be sure to let the soil in your lawn thoroughly dry out from winter snow or rain. The soil should be firm when you step on it and not leave any indentations. Once it is dried out, you can get to work.
Remove Debris
No matter how well you cleaned off your lawn last fall, it's inevitable that debris will accumulate over the winter months. Now is the time to clear out all dead leaves. You can do this with a rake or better yet, by using a blower. A blower is easier on the grass and doesn't pull it out by the roots if you happen to pull the rake over the grass a little too roughly. Don't forget to pick up any sticks or twigs that the blower doesn't move.
Clean Out Garden Beds
Remove any dead or dried out plant materials from your vegetable or flower beds. Even if you trimmed off the spent growth last fall, it's almost inevitable that parts of some plants will die off over the winter months.
Now is also a good time to trim or cut back any plants that were left standing because they provide interest in the landscape during the barren winter months. A good example is decorative grass plants. Their seed heads and golden, faded foliage add a little spark to an otherwise barren winter landscape. But now that spring is here, it's time to remove them by cutting the plants down to just a few inches above ground level. They will soon fill in with new spring growth.
Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Annual lawn weeds start to grow as soon as spring temperatures are reliably at 50 degrees F. or above. Now is the time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide to stop these weeds from germinating. The best way to do this is to use a drop spreader. You put the herbicide into the hopper and then walk a grid across your grass. Don't reseed your lawn now though, because the pre-emergent herbicide will prevent the seeds from germinating. Reseed later in spring or better yet, in fall.
Apply Pest Control to Your Lawn
If you have problems with insects in your lawn or are plagued by flies and mosquitoes during summer, spring is the time to have a professional like Turner Pest Control attack the problem. They will spray your lawn to help prevent flying insects from hatching so you have fewer flies and mosquitoes later in the year.
They can also treat a wide range of pests known to wreak havoc in lawns. Most of these pests remain undetected until the damage is already done. These professionals can inspect your lawn to determine how many and what kind of damaging insects have taken hold. Early detection and treatment means fewer problems as the hot weather wears on.
Mow Often
As the grass begins to grow in the warmth of spring, you'll need to cut it more often than you do during the summer months. Unfortunately, once a week is not often enough to keep the enthusiastic spring growth in check. Experts recommend that you mow the grass every five days until late spring, when you can resume a weekly schedule.
When the heat of summer arrives, don't forget to adjust the cutting blades higher to leave the grass a little longer during hot weather. This helps shade the roots, which keeps them cool. It also helps to keep the grass from drying out too quickly.
When you are cleaning up your yard and getting it ready for summer, don't forget to have a professional inspect it for insects that can cause you problems when hot weather finally arrives.
