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CartCross Every Task Off the Spring Lawn Care Checklist. Here’s How.
By Scotts
You’ve taken the first step to becoming a lawn care expert and we’re proud of you for it! Good lawn care can help boost mental health and wellness, beautify and add value to your home, and can be incredibly rewarding. Lawn care can also be time-consuming and stressful – but that’s where we come in. We’re the lawn care experts and we want to take away some of the stress out by providing a comprehensive checklist of how to get a beautiful, enviable lawn this spring and set you up for success throughout the year. Whether you’re a grizzled veteran or a new “Yardener”, we hope this list includes some great information and gives you the kick you need to go out there and grow with confidence.
What To Do in Early Spring
When: Approx. March-April (Depending on region)
Average Daytime Temps: 7-12˚C
On your mark, get set – GO! Now that the snow has melted, the days are longer and your family is eager to get back outside, this means it’s the perfect opportunity to get started on the lawn of your dreams. Well, we’re here to help!
Here is a simple step-by-step list that should see you on the road to success!
Step 1. Get Your Lawn Mower Ready
What You’ll Need:
Mower oil, air filter & spark plug
Did you know that a poorly maintained mower can actually harm your lawn?
A mower with dull blades can “rip” the tip off your grass blades, inviting pests and disease. Give your mower some TLC before you get out there. This means you should get your blade sharpened and give your mower a good cleaning! Why is cleaning so important? The dirt left over from last season may bring mould to your lawn, which could spread over time.
If necessary, don’t forget to change the oil, air filter, and spark plug – take care of the things that take care of you!
Step 2. Clean Up
What You’ll Need:
Although all those leaves & brush helped protect & feed your lawn during the winter, it’s now time to give it some air! Make sure you go around your lawn and rake up and either compost or dispose of all of the leaves, branches and twigs that have appeared over the winter. Dig deep too – this is a great opportunity to pull up thatch (dead grass) and will ensure your lawn gets access to spring rain, sunlight and all the great nutrients you’re about to feed it.
Step 3. Recover & Protect Your Lawn
What You’ll Need:
Any Scotts® lawn spreaders
Here’s the fun part! Using a Scotts® Lawn Spreader, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® GreenMax™ Lawn Food in the early Spring. This will help promote strong grass roots and ensure an early green-up. Since Scotts® Turf Builder® GreenMax™ Lawn Food contains a 5% iron charge it means it can give you a quick and deep green in as little as three days. See? The season has barely started and you’re already the envy of your neighbours.
If you have weeds present from previous seasons, apply some Scotts® Turf Builder® Weed Prevent to your lawn early in the season. Although this won’t kill any weeds you currently have, this will help prevent new weeds from popping up on bare spots that may have formed over the winter. Typically, if there is a weed present, there are several more you just can’t see yet!
PRO TIP: Make sure you follow the directions on the labels, they have some great information on the best times to apply, how to apply and the spreader rates to ensure success!
Step 4. Mow High
What You’ll Need:
You’re going to be tempted to mow your grass low. We know you don’t want to be mowing your lawn every week and you’re trying to shortcut this by mowing at the lowest setting, but fight the urge to do so. When you mow your lawn low you are just begging to invite weeds and pests to the party. Not only that, but when you mow low, your lawn can’t retain moisture. Leaving your grass blades long, shields your soil from the sun and gives all those great nutrients you just fed it, time to break down and do what they’re supposed to do.
What To Do In Late Spring
When: Approx. May-June (Depending on region)
Average Daytime Temps: 15-26˚C
You’re one step closer to the lawn of your dreams. Now let’s turn our focus to late Spring. Temperatures are getting warmer which means it’s a great time to thicken up that lawn!
Following this step-by-step should help you get the most out of the season:
Step 5. Fix Bare Patches
What You’ll Need:
No doubt you have a couple of spots in your lawn that may be bare. Whether caused by traffic, a furry friend or perhaps some landscaping, it’s time to fix those up.
Apply a coating of Scotts® EZ Seed® Patch & Repair and water every day for one week. Ideally water until it reaches mow-able height (1½” - 2”). It contains a mulch mixture that absorbs 6 times its weight in water and is easy to detect when it’s dried out – simple to use!
Step 6. Overseed To Thicken
What You’ll Need:
Any Scotts® lawn spreaders
Optional:
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for and we’re so excited that you’re excited. It’s time to overseed that lawn! Overseeding does three things: thickens up your lawn which helps crowd out weeds, cycles dead grass with new healthy grass and makes your lawn look wonderful.
Timing is crucial on this one. You want to make sure that the average daytime temperature is at least 15˚C. Your seeds need some warmth to germinate and can’t do so if it’s too cold. Getting into this task too early can really limit your chances of success. After you’ve applied, make sure you lightly rake the seed into your soil. Ensuring the new seeds have contact with your soil will help you get the results you’re looking for!
PRO TIP: Adding a layer of Scotts® Turf Builder® Enriched Lawnsoil™ before applying your grass seed will increase your chances of success. It gives your new seeds some loose, nutrient-rich soil to latch onto and feed off of.
Step 7. Control Your Weeds
What You’ll Need:
Lawn weeds (like dandelions) can be a scourge on your lawn. They can be unsightly, but even more important – they pull moisture and nutrients away from your grass. Pulling weeds the old-fashioned way can be effective. But it can also be time-consuming, back-breaking and stress-inducing.
Using Scotts® Weed B Gon® Max Lawn Weed Control is quick & easy to apply and you can start seeing results in as little as hours. The affected weeds will begin to shrivel up and turn black. You aren’t done yet - hit those weeds again every week for 3-4 weeks to ensure they’re dead. If you only go after them once, the weed could potentially regenerate.
Step 8. Add Your Finishing Touches
What You'll Need:
You’re almost done! Now it’s time to clean things up.
Try edging your lawn and gardens and add mulch to garden beds and walkways. (Did you know that Mulch helps block out weeds? Well now you do!)
These are the little touches that make people walk by your home and say “Wow, this person must have hired a landscaping company!”
