Prepping Your Lawn for Spring: Essential Lawn Care Tips for a Green Yard

As winter fades and spring approaches, it's time to bring your lawn back to life! A little early-season care can make all the difference in achieving a lush, green yard that lasts all summer long. Whether you're dealing with patches, weeds, or compacted soil, these essential lawn care tips will set you up for success.

Start with a Spring Cleanup

Winter can leave behind a mess of fallen branches, leaves, and debris that can smother your grass and prevent new growth. Take a rake or a leaf blower to clear your yard, allowing sunlight and air to reach the soil. This also helps prevent mold, fungus, and pest infestations.

Aerate to Loosen Compacted Soil

If your lawn feels hard and water tends to pool instead of soaking in, it may be compacted from snow and foot traffic. Aerating your lawn--either with a manual aerator or a rented machine--helps loosen the soil, improve drainage, and promote root growth.

Test and Feed Your Soil

A soil test can help determine if your yard needs extra nutrients. Most lawns benefit from a spring application of a balanced fertilizer to promote strong, healthy grass. If your soil is too acidic, adding lime can help balance pH levels, while compost or organic matter can enrich nutrient-poor soil.

Overseed Bare Patches

Cold weather, heavy foot traffic, and pests can create thin or bare patches in your lawn. Reseeding these areas in early spring allows new grass to establish before weeds take over. Be sure to water the newly seeded spots regularly until the grass is well-established.

Apply Pre-Emergent Weed Control

Prevent weeds before they start by using a pre-emergent herbicide. This stops weed seeds--like crabgrass--from sprouting and taking over your lawn. Timing is crucial: apply pre-emergent early in the season before soil temperatures reach 55°F. 

Mow Smart for Stronger Grass

When your lawn starts growing, begin mowing at a higher setting (around 3 inches) to encourage deep root development. Avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass blade at a time, as scalping your lawn can weaken the grass and invite weeds.

Water Wisely

Spring rains often provide enough moisture, but if dry spells occur, water deeply and less frequently rather than shallow, daily watering. This encourages deep root growth, making your lawn more drought-resistant as temperatures rise.

Edge and Mulch Garden Beds

A well-maintained lawn looks even better when bordered with neatly edged garden beds. Adding fresh mulch around flower beds and trees helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and create a polished look for your yard.

Get Ready for a Beautiful Lawn with Baker's Ace Hardware

For all your lawn care essentials--from fertilizer and seed to aerators and tools--visit Baker's Ace Hardware in Monroe, MI. Our team is here to help you find the right products to keep your lawn looking its best this spring!