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HOW TO PREPARE YOUR LAWN FOR SPRING
Trade in your snow shovel for a lawn mower, Edmontonians! Spring is coming! After a long harsh Winter, activate your grass for regrowth to enjoy a plush, green lawn!
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to prepare your lawn for Spring:
Step 1: Rake
The first step in preparing your lawn for Spring is removing all leaves from last Fall and dead grass that has become matted (this thick, dead layer is called thatch). Use a good ol’ fashion rake to separate dead grass build-up from the turf or consider a power rake for more aggressive removal of thatch. Once raking is done, water your lawn well before continuing on to the next step!
Step 2: Aerate
Lawn aeration helps soil absorb air, water and fertilizer for healthier, stronger roots. Aeration can be done in 2 ways; puncturing the top level of the turf and soil using spikes. Or using hollow tines of an aerator machine to extract small plugs of soil, known as cores. Homeowners can contact a lawn care service provider for core aeration or you can easily do it yourself by renting an aerator from Rockland in St. Albert!
Step 3: Reseed
Fill bare patches, damaged turf or burnt spots caused by dogs by reseeding for a lush, green lawn. To apply grass seed, use a seed spreader using the reseeding directions on the bag of your grass seed. Apply a 2-inch layer of top soil over seeds and use a slow release nitrogen fertilizer to help grass seed germinate. Water with a fine spray to prevent water from pooling and washing seeds away. Keep soil moist and water frequently until you see new, light green grass spouts appear. Pro Tip: Give new grass seeds the best chance by cutting grass shorter than usual just before reseeding.
Step 4: Fertilize
Activate your lawn and jump start growth with fertilizer. Keep in mind how much fertilizer you used on your lawn in the Fall, so as to not overdo it this Spring. Fertilizer will help your lawn recover from harsh Edmonton Winters and give your grass a strong foundation to manage the heat and the possibly dry Summer conditions.
Step 5: Control Weeds
Stop weeds before they start to take over your lawn with a pre-emergent weed control product. Preventative herbicides prevent weeds from germinating in the soil. However, beware that they also prevent new grass seeds from growing and should only be used for existing lawns that do not require reseeding. Pre-emergent weed control products stay in the soil a few weeks after they are applied and applications should be repeated throughout the season to keep your lawn weed-free.
Rockland offers landscape and garden supplies such as various grass seed blends, seed spreaders and aerators for your lawn. And if all the above seems like too much work, we also have artificial grass options for your yard!
If you have any questions regarding lawn care or landscaping supplies, please contact us or join our Facebook Group created for those interested in gardening, landscaping and outdoor living!