How to Guide:  Spring Lawn Care

Mowing	Fertilizing
Crabgrass Control	Seeding
Aerating	Dethatching

Mowing

The first thing to do is inspect your lawn mower.

• Sharpen your mower blades
• Clean cuts promotes clean growth

Cut as soon as the lawn needs it.

• When the grass reaches 3-4”
  • Cut grass back to 2-2.5” in height
• Waiting any longer than 3-4”
  • Promotes diseases in your lawn

Fertilizing

Fertilize in the middle of May. Soil Testing should be done to determine your lawn’s pH:

• Soil Testing Kits
• Send Soil Samples to Northeast Nursery

Apply your fertilizer at ¼ the rate than what is on the fertilizer package, For example:

• ¼ of 5,000 sq. ft. of fertilizer would become 20,000 sq. ft. of fertilizer

This promotes good lawn health and stability.

• Lawns loaded in Nitrogen will overload the grass blades
  • This takes away from root production
• Use Lime to raise the pH of your soil
• Turf prefers neutral soils

Crabgrass Control

Crabgrass is the most dreaded lawn weed. How can you control it?

• The first herbicide application should be applied in Early April
• The second herbicide application should be applied in the middle of May
• Click here to learn more

Do not use Round-Up on your turf to kill crabgrass:

• Will kill all turf and plants around it as well
• Round-Up should not be used on turf

Seeding

Seeding should be done before the middle of April if your lawn is looking thin. Use the right grass seed for the right place, note the sun requirements; sun, shade or mix are available.

Aerating

If you have noticed heavy compaction, or depressions in your lawn from vehicles, kids playing and or general foot traffic aeration is recommended. Take note for the spring, but postpone till the Fall. Aeration should only be done in the Fall after the grass is starting to grow again after the summer heat.

Aerators will leave small 1-2 inch soil plugs that will break down with time and are no threat to your lawn. We have aerators available for rent, please call 978-535-6550 for more details.

Dethatching

Every spring you should rake your lawn. This should be a twice a year project that will help maintain your lawns excellent health. If you have more than an inch of thatch remove less than a ½ inch of thatch. We have dethatchers available for rent, please call 978-535-6550 for more details.

Over an inch of Thatch can:

• Promote disease
• Promote stress

Too much Thatch means:

• Too much fertilizer
• Too much water
• Too much reliance on chemical fertilizer
• Poor mowing habits

By: Kenneth C. Roth, MCH

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