“Right now, the thing to do would be put down fertilizer and pre-emergence for crabgrass,” said Steve Fry, owner of Nu Lawn in South Vienna. Pre-emergent herbicides work by stopping weed seeds from germinating, which keeps pesky crabgrass at bay.
Make sure you take this step as soon as possible.
“Get the proper rate of pre-emergence applied before April 1,” said Andrew Ziehler, owner of Ziehler Lawn and Tree Care in Centerville. “It’s much easier to prevent crabgrass than it is to control it once it has infested your lawn.”
Use caution when treating with these chemicals.
“Do not apply pre-emergence to any areas you plan on seeding this year,” said Ziehler. The herbicides “will interfere with seed germination,” and new grass won’t grow.
Perform early maintenance
High winds and melting snow during the winter months can leave yards cluttered and in need of some basic repair. “Something you might want to do is go out and rake all the debris from your yard,” Fry said. “This helps the grass get a good start.”
Debris like leaves and twigs is unsightly and can keep air from flowing to grass properly.
Crabgrass and debris aren’t the only unwanted lawn pests. Routine weeding is a key part of spring lawn care.
“Stay on top of weeds using a liquid weed control,” Ziehler advised. “Remember that some weeds need multiple applications in order to control them.”
Get a soil test
The sheer amount and variety of lawn chemicals at garden and home improvement stores can be overwhelming. How do you narrow the field and avoid buying products that could harm your lawn?
“Have your soil tested by your county extension or an industry professional,” Ziehler said. “This will make sure that you can apply the correct amount of product that your lawn needs.”
Contracting with a professional lawn care service is another way to avoid making costly mistakes. Lawn care companies routinely test the soil in their service areas.
Whether you decide to hand things over to the pros or tackle them yourself, “the time to get started is right away,” Fry said.
Fill in bare spots and fertilize
Thanks to last year’s drought, you may have a few more bare spots than usual this spring.
“If there are any places that don’t green up, you’ll need to do some seeding,” Fry explained. “The best time to put seed down is in April.”
To help your grass, old and new, reach its peak, make sure you choose a fertilizer that’s appropriate for your lawn.
“We recommend using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to help feed the lawn consistently through the growing season,” Ziehler said.
When fertilizing the yard, stay eco-conscious and “blow off or sweep up any fertilizer that is on the street, sidewalks or driveways to minimize runoff.”
Start watering in May
The good news is you don’t need to worry about dragging out the sprinkler just yet. “Watering isn’t usually necessary until later on,” Fry advised.
Ziehler agreed, but cautioned that watering shouldn’t be left until summer.
“Start watering in May before you think you absolutely have to,” he said. “Once the ground begins to dry out, it is extremely hard to catch up.”
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