SPRING LAWN CARE

A healthy lawn is an important part of your home landscape. A lush, green lawn beautifies your garden and complements your deck or patio. After a long winter, you need to bring your lawn back to life. Follow these simple guidelines and soon you’ll have a healthy, weed-free lawn everyone can enjoy.

Thwart Thatch
Thatch is a layer of partially decomposed stems and roots that builds between your grass and soil surface. Some thatch is beneficial – it conserves ground moisture, cushions turf and insulates soil from extreme temperatures. But anything more than 1/2 inch thick can be problematic. Heavy thatch can repel water, dry up roots and provide cover for unwanted insects.

Control thatch by raking your lawn with a power rake or by using a lawn aerator. A lawn aerator pulls cores out of the soil, allowing water, light and air to enter and gradually break down thatch. Severe cases of thatch may require the use of a mechanical dethatcher, or complete removal and replanting of sod. Ask The Home Depot Tool Rental Centre about renting tools to manage thatch.

Prep Soil
Proper soil preparation can take your lawn from blasé to beautiful. Improving your lawn soil can create a better environment for roots to grow deeply and more evenly, and allowing them to soak up more moisture and nutrients, making your lawn more resistant to drought. To restore valuable nutrients and build soil structure, spread organic material such as compost, peat moss or well-rotted leaf mould evenly on your lawn before seeding.

Overseed, Overseed
Overseeding is often overlooked when it comes to home lawn care. Extra seeding can repair bare patches, and create a thick lawn that can crowd out weeds, and resist insects and disease. Purchase a grass seed that will grow in both sunny and shady areas, such as Scotts Turf Builder Sun & Shade Grass Seed, and distribute it evenly onto your lawn using a hand-held spreader. If you have a large property, consider investing in a push broadcast spreader.  Remember not to cover the grass seed with soil. It should come in contact with the soil, but needs direct sunlight to grow.

Water wisely
Grass seeds direct sunlight and regular moisture to germinate, which can take up to three weeks. Be vigilant and water the seed daily, ensuring it stays moist for up to one hour per day. Only once you start to see the grass seed germinate should you begin to cut back on watering. Water new and established lawns early in the morning to avoid any water being lost to evaporation. Also, avoid watering at night – your lawn will likely stay wet all night providing an ideal environment for weeds and disease to take root. Once your lawn is established, water deeply once a week (unless it has rained) with at least 1-inch of water to encourage healthy roots.

Fertilize Eco-Friendly
Your lawn will naturally thrive if you pay attention to it early in the season, but occasionally it needs a boost. If you decide to use fertilizers, be sure to use eco-friendly lawn fertilizers such as Scotts EcoSense Natural Lawn Fertilizer. These and other environmentally-preferred products promote strong root development; reduce weeds; safe to use around children and pets, and are permitted in areas with pesticide/herbicide bans. Homemade compost is another natural alternative you can use to provide essential nutrients for a thick, green lawn.