It’s officially spring, and your lawn looks unsightly due to winter dormancy. You’re probably thinking of how to get it back on track after winter effects. So, if you’re wondering how to get grass green in spring to achieve a beautiful lawn. If that is what you are thinking, here are the tips.
To get grass green in spring, clear the debris first, rake the lawn, and mow the grass to the required height. After that, aerate the yard and overseed it if it looks sparse or has bare spots. Next, fertilize the lawn with a suitable fertilizer to nourish your grass and water it deeply and consistently. These steps help boost spring green-up.
Spring Green Up Lawn Care Practices
Here is a spring lawn maintenance checklist to help green your grass up to refresh your outdoor space;
1. Remove debris and rake the lawn
To revive your lawn, remove debris as it blocks nutrients, water, and sunlight from reaching the grass. After that, rake the area to clear the dead blades of grass on the lawn surface. This is one of the best ways to spruce up your turf in spring.
2. Mow the grass
Dead or dormant grass looks unpleasant and negatively affects your lawn growth. Mowing allows sunlight to reach and warm up the roots. This helps stimulate grass growth.
For the best result during spring, you need to start mowing your grass when it starts to turn green. A weekly mowing schedule is always the best.
If you are dealing with cold-season grass types, mowing to a height of 3.0-3.5 inches is a good idea.
On the other hand, you will do better to maintain a mowing height of 2.0 inches for warm-season grasses such as Bermudagrass.
Always remember that keeping a mowing height of at least 3.0 inches for fast-growing grass will help inhibit weed and pest infestation.
3. Aerate the yard
After winter, the soil beneath the grass is compacted and can’t allow essential nutrients to reach the roots. Therefore, aerate the lawn to allow the free flow of air, water, and nutrients to the ground. This results in longer, stronger roots and healthier properties.
Although aerating the yard is a good and beneficial practice, you shouldn’t do it always. Poking holes haphazardly in your yard will encourage stagnating water and pests that will in turn ruin your lawn.
4. Overseed
If your lawn has bare spots or looks sparse, make it thicker and fuller by overseeding in spring.
5. Add fertilizer
Fertilizer is essential for grass and other plants’ growth. Apply a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer to your lawn once the grass starts to green up in spring.
6. Water the grass
Watering your lawn helps boost and stimulate grass growth. Therefore, start watering your dormant grass deeply and frequently in early spring, and you’ll see results in a few weeks.
Ready Lawn Care Tips
After spring green-up, help your ready lawn to settle in by following these tips;
i. Keep the ground moist but not soggy by watering the lawn deeply in the early morning or evening after 5 PM.
ii. Mow the grass regularly and properly to make it thicker, fuller, and greener.
iii. Keep the dogs off the grass to avoid unnecessary foot traffic and damaging the lawn with the pet’s urine.
iv. Feed the lawn with the correct fertilizer if you notice slow growth or grass turning brown.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What can I put on my lawn in the spring to make it green?
A: Apply compost and fertilizers in your yard in early spring to feed your grass and encourage greening up. The fertilizers should be high in potassium and phosphorous but low in nitrogen, for instance, 5-10-10. These products help feed the grass with essential nutrients. You can also apply pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crabgrass.
Q: Should you aerate the lawn in spring?
A: The best time for lawn aeration is early spring, especially for warm-season grass. The temperatures rise during this time, and aeration speeds up spring green-up. However, if you have a cool-season lawn, aerate and reseed or install sod in the fall.
Final Thoughts
Helping your lawn green-up quickly in the spring is easier than most homeowners think. You only need to follow some practices to encourage success.
So, if you’re wondering how to get grass green in spring, begin by removing debris and raking the lawn. After that, mow the grass, aerate the yard, then oversees.
Next, fertilize your lawn and water it deeply and consistently. You’ll see results in a few weeks after following these practices.