Spring lawn care: preparing your lawn for summer
Lawns are the hearts of our gardens – they’re a place to relax, entertain, play, and of course grow beautiful plants and flowers. After the harsh winter months, your lawn will have endured cold, frost, and heavy rain, potentially leaving the soil compacted and low in nutrients. As the grass starts to grow, it might be looking a little worse for wear and in need of some TLC to get it in shape.
If you’re aiming for a good-looking lawn again this summer, then you need to start treating it in spring. Treating your lawn every spring is a great way to look after your grass and give it the conditions it needs to flourish. It’s also a great habit to start, and your garden will thank you for it!
With our simple steps you can get your lawn into great shape again, ready to be enjoyed for the entire summer season.
You will need
- Treatment & feed products
- Weedkiller
- Aerato
- Lawn edging iron
- Lawn mower
- Spreader
- Garden fork
Cutting your grass in spring
The first mow of the season is always an exciting one! The hum of the motor, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the pride of looking out at a neat lawn are all signs that spring is here.
When should I cut my grass for the first time in spring?
Once your grass starts to show signs of growth, it’s time to give it its first mow of the season. This will usually be in late March or April. However, it really depends on where you are in the UK. If it’s wet and frozen, you should hold off mowing your lawn as it can damage the grass blades and compact the soil.
When you’re ready to start mowing, keep the blades of your lawn mower on the highest setting to start with to avoid clogging your mower and damaging your grass. 4cm is the perfect height for most lawns at the beginning of spring. Or, if you’ve just laid a fresh lawn, wait until grass is at least 5cm high before mowing. Keep it same length throughout the season without cutting it too short, as this makes it more susceptible to drought, weeds and moss. Gradually lower the setting as the months progress and you’re able to mow more frequently. During warmer weather, keep your grass at around 2.5cm or lower.
If you're looking to upgrade your garden tools this year, make sure to read through our guide on buying the right lawn mower for your garden.
Tidy your lawn edges
Over time, the edges of your garden can become messy from growth. Clean up overgrown grass around paths and borders with a lawn edging iron or a sharp spade, then trim them with a trusty pair of lawn shears. Crisp garden edges can make such a difference to the overall look and definition of your lawn.
Remove weeds and scarify your lawn in spring
As the weather warms up through spring, it’s not just your grass that will start to grow. Unfortunately, you may find some pesky moss and weeds like dandelions growing in your lawn too.
Firstly, rake your entire lawn with a spring tine rake, also known as scarifying. This will remove any dead thatch (dead grass) and let more sunlight and water into the grass to encourage stronger growth. Don’t worry if it looks a little bare afterwards, your grass will soon grow back.
Then, use a lawn weed killer on areas where weeds are growing weeds. Westland All in One is a combined lawn feed, weed and moss killer treatment that will restore nutrients into your lawn as well as killing any moss and weeds. Once the moss has died, rake it up, then sow lawn seed in any bare patches.
Aerate your lawn
Walking and running on your grass as well as a wet winter can, overtime, leave your lawn’s soil compacted and waterlogged. This causes poor drainage and reduces the amount of oxygen that’s able to get to the grass roots, and as a result your grass will struggle to grow. But don’t worry – you can use a garden fork to aerate the soil and help with drainage.
Push a large garden fork halfway into the ground every 15cm across compacted patches of your lawn, gently wiggling it around to slightly lift ground to create holes which act as air channels down to the grassroots.
Fix bare patches of grass with lawn seed
Let’s be honest, no one wants to go outside in the heat of summer just to see bald patches of grass dotted about their lawn! Re-seeding the bare patches in your grass not only improves its appearance but stops weeds growing in these areas too. Repair bare patches of grass using a quality patch repair kit, such as Gro-Sure Smart Patch Repair box. This product is an excellent choice for dog owners, as it neutralises dog urine and repairs dog spots.
Also, overseeding your grass with lawn seed in spring will also help it grow luscious and green again. It can also help to fill in bare patches caused by scarifying moss. Using a lawn seed such as Gro-Sure Fast Acting Lawn Seed, rake the soil first to create a crumbly surface, then scatter the seed evenly. Rake again to settle the seed into place, then water with a hose and cover with fleece or fine mesh to protect the seed from hungry birds.
Make sure you’ve mowed, aerated, and scarified your lawn before overseeding. Remember, if you’ve used a lawn fertiliser or weed killer on your lawn then you might need to wait a few weeks before sowing seed. Always check the products for full instructions before using them.
Feeding your grass in spring
Spring is a perfect time to feed your lawn and give it a growth boost. A spring lawn feed high in nitrogen helps promote luscious growth, adding nutrients back into the soil. It’s a definite way to give your lawn the best start in spring. A slow-release fertiliser delivers nutrients gradually over a long period of time, which keeps your grass happier for longer – and means you’ll need to feed it less often, giving you more time to plant fruits and vegetables or read the newspaper in your new egg chair!
When should I feed my lawn?
Always follow the instructions on the back of the packaging, however, the best time to feed your lawn is in March or April. Either wait to apply feed just before rain is forecast or water your grass with a hose beforehand. If your grass still looks tired, apply a second feed in early summer, making sure to water your lawn well to avoid the feed burning the grass – especially if it’s sunny. Then, in September, you can apply an early autumn lawn feed to again promote root growth.
Landscaping your lawn
Once your grass is treated, fed, and mowed, you might decide to give the layout of your garden a new look for summer. Curved borders are a great way to make your garden feel more open and natural and are easier to create than you’d think. Simply outline some sweeping edges with a hosepipe laid out on the lawn, then dig out the ground to create your curved border. Then plant your favourite summer bedding plants, maybe even some vegetables, and soon your garden will grow into a vibrant, lively outdoor space to be enjoyed all summer!
Don’t forget to visit your local Dobbies this spring to find everything you need to look after your lawn. Plus, our friendly Green-Team are always there to answer questions and advise on all things lawncare, spring gardening, or planting and growing.