It is that time of year when the snowy days turn to rainy days, trees start to bud, the robins appear, and the grass begins to turn green – all common signs of spring. And with spring, comes the responsibility of caring for your lawn, which is especially important at this time of year.
To save you some time this spring and to make spring lawn care easier, here are some tips on what to do and not to do this spring:
DO:
- Inspect your lawn mower prior to your first mow of the season. This is a great time to give the mower a good clean, remove any debris, old clippings, and ensure the gas cylinder is full. Also, it is a good idea to check if your blades need to be sharpened.
- Rake your grass to remove dead grass and debris. To help the environment, place dead grass in your green bin to be composted or in your own compost.
- Mow high. Cutting grass too short is one of the most common lawn care mistakes that homeowners make. The height of your grass should be 2-1/2″ to 3″ after cutting.
- Overseed your lawn every 3-4 years to help your lawn maintain a healthy appearance. We offer overseeding services in our Calgary and Red Deer locations. Learn more about our overseeding services here.
- Aerate your lawn once per year. Aeration improves the overall health of your lawn and helps it breathe. We offer spring and fall aeration services in our Calgary and Red Deer locations. Learn more about our aeration service here.
- Do water your lawn. Just as us human beings need water daily, so does your grass. This is especially crucial in the summer when temperatures are at their hottest. Early morning or late evening are the most ideal times to turn on the sprinkler.
- “Leave grass clippings on your lawn. Grasscycling returns nutrients to the soil, discourages weeds and keeps moisture. Grass clippings are free fertilizer to help your lawn grow greener.” (Source: City of Calgary)
DON’T:
- Don’t misapply fertilizer. “Fertilizer is a great tool to help maintain the lawn, but the nitrogen in fertilizer can also burn the lawn as the temperature goes up.” (EMB) At Earth Smart Property Solutions we understand fertilizer, as that has been our specialty since 1994.
If you are not comfortable applying fertilizer or are unsure about what your lawn needs, we offer lawn fertilizer services. Our fertilizer focuses on 3 key ingredients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. This blend features both fast and slow release nutrients that will keep your lawn fed until our next visit. To learn more about our lawn fertilizer packages , click here: https://earth-smart.ca/weed-control-lawn-fertilizer/
- Don’t set the height of your mower too short. “As a general rule, no more than a third of the grass blade should be removed during a single mowing. Removing too much of the leaf surface affects root growth, draws on stored energy in the roots and essentially starves the grass.” (Source: SF GATE) The ideal height to mow is around 3 inches.
SOMETHING ELSE TO KEEP IN MIND
Did you know that “During spring and summer, your water use can jump by 30 to 40 per cent because of outdoor watering activities.” (Source: City of Calgary) Be cognizant to when and how often you water your lawn. Make sure to keep a timer handy so your lawn isn’t being overwatered.
We hope this helps you get more lawn ready this season!
If you don’t have time to properly care for your lawn this spring, please contact your local office and our team of experienced professionals can provide more information on our services or click here to request a quote.
Sources:
City of Calgary, Water Conservation
Scotts, Spring Lawn Care Tips
EMB, Tips for Spring Lawn Care Do’s and Don’ts
SFGATE, Damage to Grass Cut too Short
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