A few lawn tips for early spring
As that spring sun warms the soil, lawn grasses are among the first plants to green up and start to grow. Indulge that green thumb early in the season when it's a pleasure to be outside. Here are some tips for helping your lawn:
Raking - With a soft rake, remove any over-wintered leaves, undesirable brown vegetation, sticks, and other debris from within and on your lawn. This will allow the sun to begin warming the soil.
Test soil for pH - In many parts of Canada, this simple and inexpensive test is vital for successful lawn care. Where possible, bring a soil sample to a garden centre or soil lab. At a perfect pH of 6.5 to 7, your lawn has the ability to pick up all the essential elements. If it is lower or higher, many elements are unavailable to plant roots. In regions of eastern Canada, and B.C., the pH is as low as 4.5. Test results in this range would require the addition of limestone to increase the pH. In the Prairies and in parts of Ontario, the pH is often higher than 7.5 and as high as 8.5. In these cases, the addition of elemental sulphur will be effective in balancing the pH.
Reseed - Lawn areas that are not covered with a uniform stand of grass should be reseeded. Scatter seed lightly and scratch it into the soil with a stiff rake.
Fertilize - To encourage both existing lawn grasses and new seedlings, apply a high quality turf fertilizer with high percentage of slow-release nitrogen. This lawn food will adequately replenish nutrients taken up by grass plants throughout the spring growing season. Fertilizer should be applied at least two to three times per growing season. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations on the package.
Mow - As soon as the grass has grown above the normal height of cut - usually about 4 or 5 centimetres - start mowing. This will not only create a uniform surface appearance but also will help to thicken up the stand of lawn grass.
If you make some early investments in your lawn, it will pay back dividends later on.
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