Transitioning to Spring Lawn Care
Transitioning from the cold winter months to the spring warmth can be a welcome reprieve for us, but for our lawns it’s one of the most difficult yet most important times. If we want a healthy, green lawn all summer long, what we do from February to April is vital. Here’s a helpful run down of the steps you need to take to ensure your yard is looking great all summer long!
Warm Season Turf (Bermuda and Zoysia)
What to do? When?
Apply PRE-EMERGENT Weed Control.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––→Mid-February (optimum) to Mid-March
2nd Pre-emergent application with Fertilizer––––––––––––––––––––––––––––→April
Apply Post-emergent Weed Control for Broadleaf Weeds–––––––––––––––––→Anytime when visible
Service lawn EQUIPMENT (mowers, edgers, trimmers)––––––––––––––––––→Early March
SOIL TEST (if desired)––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––→Early March
DETHATCH small areas with a rake
OR
SCALP large areas with a Mower––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––→Late March-Early April
AERATE compacted soil areas––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––→April
FERTILIZE with high nitrogen turf fertilizer when grass starts to “green up”––→April
TOP DRESS with river sand if needed when grass begins to “green up”–––––→April
Turn on IRRIGATION (when day temperatures in upper 60’s)–––––––––––––→Mid-April
Cool Season Turf (Fescue)
What to do? When?
Apply PRE-EMERGENT Weed Control–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––→ Mid-February (optimum) to Mid-March
Apply HIGH NITROGEN Fertilizer––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––→Mid-February to Mid-March
Apply Post-emergent Weed Control for Broadleaf Weeds–––––––––––––––––––––→Anytime when visible
Service lawn EQUIPMENT (mowers, edgers, trimmers)––––––––––––––––––––––––––→Early March
SOIL TEST (if desired)––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––→Early March
Turn on IRRIGATION (when day temperatures in upper 60’s)–––––––––––––––––→Mid-April
SEED thin spots (regular seeding normally in Fall)––––––––––––––––––––––––––→Feb. to Mid-March
EXAMPLE WEEKLY TIME LINE – BERMUDA
WEEK OF :
FEB. 14 Apply PRE-EMERGENT Weed Control
FEB. 21 Apply Post-emergent Weed Control for Broadleaf Weeds
FEB. 28 Service EQUIPMENT (mowers, edgers, trimmers)
MAR. 7 SOIL TEST (if desired)
APR. 4 DETHATCH small areas with a rake or SCALP large areas with a Mower
Scalp over 3 mowings. This week set mowing height at 2 inches.
APR. 11 SCALP large areas with a Mower
Scalp over 3 mowings. This week set mowing height at 1 ½ inches.
APR. 18 SCALP large areas with a Mower. This week set mowing height at 1 inch.
FERTILIZE with high nitrogen turf fertilizer when grass begins to “green up”
TOP DRESS with river sand if needed when grass begins to “green up”
Turn on IRRIGATION (when day temperatures in upper 60’s)
APR. 25 Begin MOWING when grass is fully green and grass height reaches 2 ½ inches.
EXAMPLE WEEKLY TIME LINE – ZOYSIA
WEEK OF :
FEB. 14 Apply PRE-EMERGENT Weed Control
FEB. 21 Apply Post-emergent Weed Control for Broadleaf Weeds
FEB. 28 Service EQUIPMENT (mowers, edgers, trimmers)
MAR. 7 SOIL TEST (if desired)
MAR. 14 DETHATCH small areas with a rake or SCALP large areas with a Mower
Scalp over 3 mowings. This week set mowing height at 2 inches.
MAR. 21 SCALP large areas with a Mower
Scalp over 3 mowings. This week set mowing height at 1 ½ inches.
MAR. 28 SCALP large areas with a Mower. This week set mowing height at 1 inch.
FERTILIZE with high nitrogen turf fertilizer when grass begins to “green up”
TOP DRESS with river sand if needed when grass begins to “green up”
APR. 11 Turn on IRRIGATION (when day temperatures in upper 60’s)
Begin MOWING when grass is fully green and grass height reaches 2 ½ inches.
EXAMPLE WEEKLY TIME LINE – FESCUE
WEEK OF :
FEB. 14 Apply PRE-EMERGENT Weed Control with high nitrogen Fertilizer
Avoid pre-emergent where new Fescue seed is applied.
FEB. 21 Apply Post-emergent Weed Control for Broadleaf Weeds
FEB. 28 Service lawn EQUIPMENT (mowers, edgers, trimmers)
MAR. 14 Begin weekly MOWING at 3” height as grass begins to grow more rapidly
APR. 11 Turn on IRRIGATION (when day temperatures in upper 60’s)
