6 Tips for Having a Luscious Lawn This Spring

Keeping your lawn in top condition can be hard given the warm weather conditions of the South. Many homeowners have trouble either watering their grass regularly or tackling those pesky diseases that seem to appear overnight. Creating a beautiful yard not only adds to the overall look of your new home but it also helps to extend your living space outdoors. Consider these six tips for having a luscious lawn this Spring to enjoy with the family:

1. Know When to Water

Many seasoned homeowners will tell you that knowing when to water is just as important as watering the lawn itself. Plenty of sunshine and hot temperatures can quickly dry out a yard. Water the grass in the early morning, right as the sun is coming up, until the mid to late morning hours. Timing watering your grass will allow the lawn to soak up as much water as needed before the heat of the day can evaporate it away. And just as you don’t want a parched lawn, you don’t want to overwater, either. Instead of watering daily, consider giving your yard a deep soak one to two times a week which will encourage deeper root growth. Spacing out when you water will help your grass grow strong and healthy as well.

2. Battle Disease Early

Some common lawn diseases plague warm-season grasses. These diseases usually show up as a brown spot in the yard that can quickly get out of hand. Research the prevalent turfgrass diseases and fungi in your area and immediately act when you notice the first sign of a problem. Getting ahead of lawn diseases with an application or fungicide can help keep your lawn healthy for future growth.

3. Address Bare Spots

As with any newly planted lawn, there may be bare or thinned areas where the grass didn’t establish. Caring for these bare spots is an essential part of having a luscious lawn as bare spots are a natural area for weeds to grow. Rake out the problem areas of the yard and reseed the spots with grass seed. Provide these areas with additional water while the seeds germinate and get established in the ground. Make sure to check for weed growth in these spots as well to help make more room for young grass to grow and mature.

4. Stay on Top of Mowing

Every type of grass has a different mowing height for optimal growth. Part of having a luscious lawn involves mowing and edging the grass regularly. Southern homeowners grow a warm season grass, such as Bermudagrass or centipedegrass, in the yard. Make sure to identify the grass that you have in the yard and become an expert on how long it should be for proper growth. If you have trouble mowing the lawn, consider hiring a local lawn care company to do the work for you.

5. Keep Weeds Away

Finding a patch of weeds in the lawn isn’t the end of the world, but it also isn’t a fun problem to have either. Weeds are common in yards and can vary from year to year. Consider adding a pre-emergent weed control to the lawn each spring to help keep weeds away and encourage strong grass plant growth. The best defense against weeds is a dense, healthy lawn. If you notice a weed creeping into the yard, cut it back and make sure to pull the root out so that it can’t regrow.

6. Add Natural Energy

Grass needs energy just like any other plant. However, there are natural ways that you can feed your lawn without the need for added chemicals. Merely mowing your grass without the bag will return grass clippings to the yard which adds nitrogen to the soil. The cuttings are easy to break down and create a natural energy source. Mowing the lawn without the bag also helps cut down on maintenance time making it a double win for both you and the grass.

Caring for your lawn during the spring is a critical time to ensure that your family can enjoy a beautiful lawn year-round. A healthy and mature yard will help provide a natural and inviting area to enjoy the outdoors. Consider these six tips for having a luscious lawn this spring around your new home.

Tony Steine is a garden and landscaping writer. Tony prides himself on finding the easiest way to do anything he can, so you can bet he’s tried to make his entire garden self-watering. Of course, he isn’t just about convenience either, adding a unique design flair to everything he does.