If the harsh winter condition has ravaged your beloved green lawn that you have lovingly maintained last summer, do not panic! Take your courage (and especially your rake) with both hands; there are solutions! The first step is to forget about a “golf green” lawn. Aiming for a healthy and vigorous lawn will save you many problems (and headaches) in the long run. These days, you have to work with Mother Nature. However, this does not mean that you cannot give her a hand in the process.

To help your lawn come back to life in the spring, you should do a “thorough cleaning” of your lawn with a leaf rake. If you notice yellow patches in the shape of a circle, it is actually a fungus which the rain and the sun will eventually make it disappear. For patches which have completely dried out, it is absolutely necessary to clean, add a thin layer of soil and reseed it. If these steps are not taken in time, you can bet that the weeds will! I recommend a good quality lawn soil, no compost (which may be too heavy and/or waterproof the surface of the lawn). The newly added soil should be leveled with a rake.

The next step will be to reseed your lawn. Beware of bargain price grass seed as it may contain weed seeds as well. A top quality grass seed will contain endophyte which is a beneficial fungus in the growth cycle of your lawn.

Avoid Spring Madness

We are all excited when the first sign of spring is on the way. However, we should not be tempted to go too fast. Raking a lawn which may still be wet may compact the soil. Waiting until mid-May to seed is also a good idea as the ground may still freeze before then. In the meantime, you can sharpen your lawn mower blades. This will reduce the tearing of the grass blades when time comes to mow your lawn.  Some of you may realize that all this is more than you have time for and that is where Green Stuff comes in.

Prevention Rather Than Cure

The concept of a “golf green” lawn should be forgotten as it is the farthest thing from nature. Most of us do not have the time to meticulously tend to grow such lawn. In any case, many municipalities have banned the use of pesticides which would have been the other alternatives to grow it. In these days of ecological mindset, the gardeners have to change their perceptions of what defines a “desirable” lawn. A lawn that is healthy and strong does not have any problem.

A lawn should never be give a “crew cut,” as the lawn root system will be a deep as it the grass blade is visible. Mowing the lawn 2-3 inches from the ground will allow the grass enough protection against insects and weeds. It will also give the necessary ground shade to protect against the sun and dehydration. However, there are two exceptions to the rule: the first and last mow of the growing season. The grass blades can be left slightly under 2 inches.

We often forget that grass is a living being. Therefore, it needs nutrients to survive. Fertilizing with a very thin layer of compost or commercial fertilizer is essential. However, leaving grass clippings after mowing the lawn decreases by 30% the fertilizer requirements.

Changing Your Mentality

Reseeding, aerating compacted soil and monitoring your soil pH should be performed as required. As for the infamous dandelion, we should all get used to the idea. Again, the more motivated gardener can remove the plant as it flowers. This is still the most ecologically solution.

For a more thorough and hassle free solution call Green Stuff to get your lawn started right for this coming summer.