In the Northeast, the best times of the year to perform lawn maintenance are spring and fall.  These seasons provide the right mix of temperature, moisture and time needed in order to be successful in achieving a lush, green lawn.  For those that spend most of their time in the summer outdoors, having a yard that is beautiful and functional is the ultimate goal.  If you follow these tips on lawn care, you will start seeing a beautiful and lush lawn over time.

Prep your Lawn

After the cold, stormy and overall brutal winter we had it is best to clean up the yard before starting the lawn maintenance.  Raking your yard and picking up debris will allow you to start off with a fresh slate and control thatch.  Thatch is living and dead leaves, roots and stems that restrict movement of air, water and fertilizer so it is important to rake again in spring even if you did a thorough job in the fall.

To Seed or Not to Seed?

Fall is the ideal time in the Northeast to overseed your lawn because you don’t have to worry about the seeds competing with the growth of crabgrass, which is killed by the fall frost.  However, if you must seed in the spring, be sure to do it early so you can give the seed time to grow before the heat of the summer approaches.  If you decide to seed in the spring be sure not to use preemergent herbicides because they work against both the growth of weeds and new grass seed.  A product called Tupersan is recommended for those who will be seeding in the spring as it will not kill the grass seeds.

Vaccinate your Lawn against Weeds and Crabgrass

Applying a preemergent herbicide on your lawn will protect it against crabgrass and other weeds before they start to grow.  If you plan on aerating your lawn, you must do so before applying to herbicide as to not puncture the barrier, which will allow weeds to grow.  The rule of thumb for timing is after the forsythia blooms drop and before the lilacs bloom.  Well, I am not that plant savvy so for us new Englanders, that is between mid-April and early May.  Keep in mind that the timing of this varies season to season based on how warm or cool the spring weather is.

You may also choose to use a broadleaf weed killer if your lawn is susceptible to dandelions, clovers and other annoying weeds.  Use a spreader to apply the weed-and-feed or you may use a liquid formula.  The best time to apply is when your lawn is wet.  After a good rain or early in the morning when there is heavy dew is best as the granules need to stick to the weeds in order to be effective.

Breathe New Life into your Lawn by Aerating

Aeration is preferably done in the fall to prevent compaction of the soil, due to high traffic, and reduce the buildup of thatch.  If need be, you may also aerate in the spring but do so early.  Aerating should be done when the soil is moist and the lawn is in growing mode.  Wait until after a good rainfall or give the yard a good watering. 

Nourish your Lawn with Fertilizer

Fertilizer is another thing that is recommended in the fall but may be done in early spring if done correctly.  A light spring fertilizing, preferably a slow-release formula, followed up by a heavier fall fertilizing should suffice.  If you apply a heavy fertilizer in spring, you open up your lawn to the growth of weeds and disease.  However, a light feeding can kick start your spring lawn.  The best time to fertilize is after the first mowing.  In addition to fertilizer, you may also want to add a grub controller in early June.  Most will keep your lawn protected throughout the season. 

Mowing based on Temperature

In the heat of the summer, you may only need to mow once a week but otherwise twice a week is recommended during the cooler, moister periods.  Check out last week’s blog for tuning up your mower and the best mowing techniques for a beautiful lawn.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Throughout the summer, be sure to keep you lawn watered (about 1 inch per week).  If it is a really hot summer, letting your lawn go dormant and turn brown may be necessary.  Keeping your lawn a little longer in the heat of the summer will also prevent it from browning quickly.  Don’t worry; it will come back green once the heat subsides.  You may also decide to grow a drought tolerate type of grass, or one that doesn’t need to be watered as much, like Pearls Premium.

If you follow these steps, you should be well on your way to the lawn of your dreams.  Be sure to check out our blog next week on accenting your new lawn with a new garden.