In many regions of the country, spring ushers in long-awaited warm temperatures, perfect for outdoor enjoyment. Many people make the mistake of waiting until the summer months to see how their garden or lawn has fared the winter months, so we’ve compiled a checklist to help you get your yard in shape for the season ahead, starting now. You can always count on the Auburn Landscaping Pros to have your back!
- Test your soil. You should text your soil once every few years to make sure it has the proper pH balance and mix of nutrients. This will help steer you in the right direction if you are looking to plant new greenery and will give you a better understanding of what may flourish in your space. You can usually get your soil tested at your state’s local agricultural extension office, or ask your lawn care or landscape professional.
- Inspect your trees and shrubs. Start your spring spruce up with a thorough inspection of your yard. Keep an eye out for any large branches that may have broken during winter storms and make sure that twigs and excess branch pieces are not covering areas where you want greenery regrowth. Prune the large branches or have them removed by a professional.
- Fertilize your lawn. The decision about whether or not to use fertilizer should be based on the nutrition requirements needed by your soil conditions. Your soil test results may give you insight to the types of nutrients your lawn may be missing or may benefit from. Below are a few tips on fertilizing your lawn:
- Determine your soil nutrient needs through testing. If your soil does need nutrients, make sure you choose a fertilizer that matches those needs. But keep in mind, not all soils will require added nutrients.
- Make sure you fertilize at the optimum time of the year for your variety of grass. Contrary to popular belief, not all grasses should be fertilized in spring. Other varieties of grasses, like cool-season grasses, grow better when they are fertilized in fall. June is also an acceptable time to fertilize many cool-season grasses.
- It’s important to read the label on the fertilizer bag and to know the exact size of your lawn. Fertilizer can be expensive, so you want to make sure you are using an appropriate amount and not wasting excess product on your grass. Excess product can also harm your grass. Conversely, using too little fertilizer won’t yield the results anticipated. Several university studies show that under-fertilized turf can lead to a thin turf stand resulting in soil erosion and unwanted soil runoff. Having a good understanding of your lawn size will ensure that your grass is thick and dense when fertilized properly. Always follow the label instructions on your fertilizer.
- Before fertilizing your lawn or plants, always check with the local agricultural extension office. Some state and local governments place limits on when, what kind, and what amount of fertilizer you can apply. This information may be available on their website, but if not, feel free to give them a call. Professional, licensed lawn care companies must follow state, local, and federal regulations so you can be sure that your lawn and environment are being properly taken care of.