Preparing Your Lawn for Spring in Northeast Ohio
Hey there, Northeast Ohio homeowners! It’s Steve from Grass Master! As we shake off the snow and welcome warmer days, it is time to prepare your lawn and landscape for the growing season ahead. I know firsthand how our Ohio winters can be tough on our lawns, but proactive steps now can ensure your lawn and trees thrive. My team at Grass Master are here to help you prepare your lawn for a lush, green season ahead.
I have put together a guide on how to tackle common issues and prepare for a lush, healthy yard this spring.
How Winter Impacts Spring Lawns in Northeast Ohio
Snow Mold
One of the first things I look for when the snow melts is snow mold. It often shows up in spring after a long period of snow cover, standing puddles or melted ice patches. Look for circular, matted patches of grass that are usually pink or gray. Early treatment and proper spring maintenance can prevent further damage from snow mold. If you live in Akron, Canton, and Cleveland, you’ve probably seen it before.
Crabgrass Control
Crabgrass is sneaky! It germinates in early spring. Want to know a trick to stopping it? Applying a pre-emergent herbicide now will prevent seeds from sprouting. This treatment is only effective in the spring, as it targets seeds before they grow. Timing is critical, so early treatment is crucial.
Red Thread
This early-season fungus shows up as reddish threads on your grass. You may have seen this before in your lawn, and just didn’t know what it was. It is a sign of nutrient deficiency and it can be managed with balanced fertilization and comprehensive fungicide applications. Although there is no prevention for fungus, the nitrogen included in the fertilizers applied will help keep the soil balanced to give the lawn its best chance to fight off a fungus. If you have a lawn fungus, bagging the grass will help reduce the spreading.
Spring Weeds
After a long winter of lying dormant, your grass is not the only plant that will wake up in the spring. Expect to see dandelions, chickweed, clover and bittercress. Pre-emergent weed control is crucial to stop crabgrass before it takes root. Early detection and swift action are key to keeping the weeds at bay during the spring. Allowing weeds to get too big will result in season-long headaches on attempted control.
Moles
These pests become active as the soil warms and they cause extensive damage to lawns. It is key to address them early to minimize disruption. Moles feed on earthworms, grubs and other lawn insects. You will notice tunneling or mounds in the lawn where moles are present. Moles can cause a unique type of damage to your lawn that is expensive to repair. If you have moles, it is important to act fast. You may also want to consider grub protection on your lawn to reduce their food source.
Fleas and Ticks
In the past decade, Ohio has seen an alarming rise in tick-related diseases. More families and pets are at risk than ever before. Ticks can cause serious illness and even death in some cases. A single tick can produce up to 30,000 eggs per life cycle, leading to possible severe outbreaks if not properly addressed. Do not become a statistic. If you have pets or young children running around, you should have a pest protection plan in place. We can protect not only your lawn, but also your home and family from pests.
Spring Preparation for a Healthier Lawn
Clear Away Leaves and Debris
A spring clean-up is key in getting your lawn off to a good start in the spring. Winter often brings down random sticks, twigs and leaves that you did not see the previous fall. Once the lawn has been cleaned up, it is a good idea to run your mower across the lawn. If possible, bag the grass during this mow.
Mower Maintenance
One of the key aspects for a beautiful spring lawn that most people do not think about is servicing your mower. Make sure you sharpen the blades so they will cut, instead of rip, the grass. A clean-cut blade does not cause as much stress as a blade that is dull. A dull blade that rips the lawn can make the grass tips look brown. Start your season off on the right foot with sharp mower blades. Contact a local Ohio mechanic to schedule your spring mower maintenance before you get on the lawn this year. Mowing at a higher length so you do not overstress the lawn is key. Do not mow on a night where frost is in the forecast, as this will cause frost damage to the turf. Cleaning out the mower deck after each use can help reduce the spread of weeds and fungus on the lawn.
Fertilize for Spring
If you only fertilize once a year, make it your spring application! Applying spring fertilizer is a massive part of success all season long. Combined with crabgrass protection will help the lawn get off to a lush, green start.
Get Ready for Spring: Tasks to Start Before the Thaw
Lime Application
Our Ohio soil tends to become acidic over time, particularly after heavy snowfall or rain, which can leach essential nutrients from the soil. A lime application in early spring can help to neutralize soil acidity and make it easier for your lawn to absorb nutrients when it is ready to start growing again. Test your soil’s pH in early spring and apply lime to balance the soil if necessary.
Spring Aeration
Spring is an excellent time to aerate your lawn. This will help reduce compaction after a long, hard winter. It will allow essential nutrients, air, water and sunlight to reach the root base and it will make the grass stronger and heathier. The plugs act as an organic material upon breaking down. You may also want to consider liquid aeration. This process will eat away at thatch layers. Your soil will be more open to taking in essential nutrients and provide you with stellar results.
Overseeding and Reseeding
If you notice bare or thinning patches in your lawn once the snow has melted, it is a good time to overseed or reseed. Overseeding ensures that weak or damaged areas are filled in with new, resilient grass varieties. Strengthen your lawn for the coming growing season with overseeding.
Dormant Oil for your Trees
Lawns are not the only part of your lawn that needs your attention in the spring. Winter is also hard on your landscape plants. Applying an early dormant oil spray to the plants before they bud will help protect them from insects and fungus as they prepare to debut their beautiful flowers and green leaves. This application should be done before the trees bud to best protect your landscape plants, so early season action is required.
DIY Repairs
Even with the best preparation, harsh winters can take a toll on your lawn. In early spring, if you spot dead or thinning patches, there are steps you can take to repair the damage yourself. Aeration, overseeding and applying a balanced fertilizer can promote new growth in minor damaged areas. For small patches, top-dressing with compost and reseeding may be enough to restore the area back to health.
Need Help? Let’s Get Your Lawn in Top Shape
If your lawn suffered extensive winter damage, our team is here to help! We offer comprehensive lawn evaluations and can recommend the best course of action for recovery, whether that involves aeration, dethatching, over-seeding or even slit seeding. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
