Lawn Care Tips for Spring in Canada

IT’S STARTING TO GET BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE AGAIN! THE TEMPERATURE IS RISING, THE SUN IS STICKING AROUND LONGER, AND LAWN CARE IS QUICKLY RISING TO THE TOP OF YOUR MIND.

You’ve already started planning out how many barbecues you’re going to have this year and all of the new memories you are going to create in your yard.

There’s only one problem. The lawn you see when you look outside is nothing like the lush, green, weed-free yard that you see in your mind. In fact, your lawn looks so far from the one in your mind that you’re not even sure where to start.

Our GreenKeepers love your lawn almost as much as you do so we created this guide with spring lawn care tips guide to lawn care in the spring to get you started out right for the season. When you need help with weed control, aerating, overseeding, and fertilizing, you can book any of our services directly online. Check out our packages for pricing and more information.

Mowing

THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS SHARPEN YOUR MOWER BLADE.

Rather than letting your green lawn turn an unappealing brownish hue, it's important to always sharpen the blade of any mower before cutting grass. A dull edge will tear through grass blades rather than cut them and can lead to disease-causing insects or a dull, brown lawn! Sharpening your lawn mower blade is important because it will provide you with a clean, sharp cut.

YOUR FIRST FEW MOWINGS SHOULD BE DONE WITH YOUR LAWNMOWER SET ON A LOWER SETTING.

If you want your lawn to be the healthiest and most beautiful in its league, then a proper strategy for mower height throughout the season is crucial. Your first few mowings should be done on the lowest setting with the height of the blade increasing by about 1/2" every 1-2 weeks. The first mows done on these low settings will allow moisture and sunlight to permeate your grass, kick-starting your growth during those early months. By the end, your mower height should be around 2 ½ - 3” for the summer months. This allows the grass enough length to protect its root system from sun exposure and overheating during the summer months when temperatures get dry and hot!

HOW OFTEN YOU NEED TO MOW IS DETERMINED BY HOW FAST YOUR GRASS GROWS.

The frequency of your mowing depends on how fast grass grows. A good rule is to only remove 1/3 or less of the blade size. Do not remove over 2-3 inches of the grass at one time, as this can shock and damage the grass blades, causing problems to the overall health and making the lawn more susceptible to disease. This can result in yellowing or browning of the lawn and will leave your turf open to disease and other health issues. The time of day in which you choose for mowing is also a crucial factor for grass health. We recommend mowing early morning or late evening when temperatures aren't too high and won’t put too much additional stress on the lawn.

Watering

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN CULTIVATING A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY LAWN IS PROPER WATERING.

If you want to have a lush, green, healthy lawn all year round then it's important that the grass gets enough water. It's also something that many people neglect, which can lead to brown patches and even weeds! To ensure this happens make sure there is always at least one cup of water per week in each square foot of turf around your home. A terrific way to ensure you are watering your lawn enough without overwatering is to use a tuna can. Place a tuna can in the path of your sprinkler and once it is full your lawn has had enough to drink!

TO KEEP YOUR LAWN’S THIRST QUENCHED, WATER ONCE A WEEK.

You should water your lawn weekly, but if it is extremely hot you may need to do so more often. The best time for watering your lawn will be early in the morning when there's less sun shining. If you water your lawn in the afternoon, you’ll lose more water to evaporation which means your lawn gets less of a drink and you waste more water! You'll promote fungus growth by doing late evening waterings, as this leaves the grass too wet overnight.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE TIME OR ENERGY TO WATER YOUR LAWN EARLY IN THE MORNING, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY.

Now that you know how long you need to water for, pick up a water timer at the hardware store and set it to automatically water your lawn in the morning. The timer will allow you to have more control over watering times and length while requiring less work from you overall. It’s a reasonable cost for the solution, running about $30 or more depending on the model and features, and will end up saving you even more money on your water bills to come.

Aerating

LET YOUR LAWN BREATHE & GIVE IT A BIG BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

Have you been noticing that your lawn doesn't look as healthy and green? Over time, the soil in a grassy area becomes compacted which reduces air pockets for nutrients and water to reach roots. This can lead to bored, dull-looking blades with little new growth happening during each season. To combat this problem, you need to make sure there is enough space to allow nutrients and water to effectively reach the roots system so the grass can properly uptake it. Make sure your lawn is aerated annually to allow for this. Early Spring is an ideal time to aerate and gives your lawn the best chance to receive the nutrients and water it needs to grow healthy all season long.

Overseeding

OVERSEEDING YOUR LAWN IS IMPORTANT TO DO EACH YEAR FOR A LUSH, HEALTHY, WEED-FREE LAWN.

As your lawn ages, it becomes tired and grass reproduction rates slow down. Nobody likes the look of unhealthy areas and bare patches on their lawn, but more than not looking good, these areas make it easier for weeds to take over. Easily help keep your grass looking its best by overseeding seasonally. Start by mowing the lawn low and bag the clippings. Once you're done mowing, raking is important for getting rid of dead grass and debris so that seed has easier access to good soil. Spread grass seed over your entire lawn according to their product recommendation guide and let nature take its course. New grass will pop up and fill in those unhealthy spots and contribute to your beautiful outside.

Fertilizing

GIVE IT THE NUTRIENTS IT NEEDS TO THRIVE.

Aerating and fertilizing have given your grass a strong start but there is still something missing. An application of fertilizer in early spring will help give your lawn a head start. An additional application during late spring will help feed your grass as it hits its peak growing season in the summer. Pay extra attention to your fertilizer treatments as broadleaf weeds are also fed by your fertilizer applications. You need to ensure that you are pulling them up by the root or treating them as they appear, so that they don't start to take over the lawn.

Spring is the time to get your lawn into shape for the season. Proper lawn care is essential to keeping your yard looking great all year round, but it can be a lot of work. If you’re looking for help with early spring lawn care or lawn treatment services, our team at Green Drop can assist. We offer a variety of packages and additional services that will take the guesswork out of caring for your lawn and get it back to its healthy, lush state in no time. Learn More.