The warmer weather of spring is here and that means the world is greening up.
Want your lawn to be one of the things that turns green this year? Make sure you're doing at least the basics to ensure a healthy lawn this summer.
Tune-up the lawn mower
Spring means it’s time to dust off the lawn mower that’s been sitting in the garage over the winter months and get it ready for the upcoming season. Whether you have a riding mower or a walk-behind, these tips will keep your mower running smoothly.
- Replace spark plug
- Replace oil filter
- Clean the air filter
- Sharpen the blade
When To Start Mowing
Start mowing in the spring when your grass reaches a height of about 4.5”. Make sure that you never cut more than one third of your grass’ overall height, and don’t cur the grass shorter than 3”. Read later on what to do with the leaves that are leftover on your lawn from the winter.
Fertilizing and Seeding Your Lawn
Depending on what type of grass you have, you’ll want to apply specific treatment to your grass. Below are some general guidelines that will get you going in the right direction.
- Apply a spring fertilizer
- Apply a pre-emergent weed killer and a pest control. If you have pets, be sure the bags are marked as “pet-friendly.”
- Water the lawn. It’s thirsty. And chances are, the treatment you’re putting on your lawn will require it.
For those of you with sprinkler systems, you’ll want to check a few things before watering after the system was dormant during the winter.
Extra Green Lawns
Your lawn can be green in more ways than one! Don’t bag your leaves - mulch them! Instead of sending your leaves to the dump, let them help your lawn naturally by mulching them.
A Michigan State study shows that mulching the leaves is an acceptable alternative to bagging them. Or, if you prefer getting your leaves off the grass, you can add them to your compost.
Also consider fertilizing your lawn with your own Compost Tea. Now that’s “green” tea!