Throughout the winter, your lawn does not grow. Depending on where you live, the lawn typically goes completely dormant. As warmer weather arrives, your grass will start growing and start to green up.

Early spring is an important time to address lawn care, as it’s the time to apply pre-emergent weed treatments and fertilize your grass to cultivate an environment in which it will thrive. The more care your lawn receives early on, the greater it will prosper throughout the year. Keep up with this spring lawn care checklist to ensure healthy grass at the start of spring and throughout the seasons that follow:

Have Your Soil Professionally Tested

To know what nutrients your lawn needs, you’ll need the soil tested. This will determine what kind of fertilizer your grass will require to be as green as possible, and ensure you to get the most effective and vibrant results. Conducting a soil test will also evaluate your soil’s pH, which can be treated as needed to bring it into balance, helping to ensure proper nutrient availability.

Clean Up the Yard

Between the wind, rain, and snow from winter, there could be a great deal of debris on your lawn. Remove any remaining twigs, leaves, and so on. These items often provide homes for lawn pests and block certain areas of grass from getting enough sunlight. Lawn pests and a lack of sunlight leads to dead grass, so do your lawn a favor and do start spring cleaning as early as possible.

Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blades

Mower blades should be sharpened at least once a year, and the start of the mowing season is a great time to get the job done. Dull blades will shred and tear grass, leading to potential lawn diseases and grass discoloration. You should also make sure your lawn mower is making clean cuts each time you mow.

Use Pre-Emergent Weed Control

Like most plants, many lawn weeds germinate in spring. This is true for both warm-season and cool-season grasses, so pre-emergent control services make a big difference in keeping your yard clear of weeds. Pre-emergent control refers to the practice of preventing annual grassy weeds before they pop up.

Consider Having Your Lawn Reseeded

Depending on your lawn’s history, we may recommend over seeding. This is often the case in yards with areas of dead grass. Lawn Doctor’s exclusive Turf Tamer® power seeding equipment can evenly reseed your lawn and help it grow thicker and healthier. Once a lawn is reseeded, it’s necessary to water the grass properly. Your local Lawn Doctor will give you detailed instructions on post-treatment care.

Have Your Lawn Fertilized

The exact right time to fertilize depends on your location, but most lawns need to be fed in the spring. Local conditions will also effect what type of fertilizer should be used and how much should be applied. Applying product incorrectly can lead to lawn damage, so consider having a professional, like a local Lawn Doctor fertilize your yard.

There will be much more work to do once the soil warms, so be aware that timing is everything when it comes to lawn care. You do not want to miss the opportunity to have your lawn healthy and vigorous all spring.