When spring finally arrives in Iron River, lawn care takes top priority if you want green grass for the summer.
These northern lawn care tasks can take your lawn from early to late spring with optimized beauty and health:
- Flush lawn areas affected by de-icing salts or dog urine once soil thaws enough that water drains well. Salts from de-icers and pet urine can accumulate in soil and damage grass and other plants. By flushing soil thoroughly with hose water, you help move salt out of the root zone and reduce lawn damage.
- Fight lawn disease by raking lawn areas once your soil and grass dry out slightly. This removes dead grass and debris, improves air circulation, helps soil warm faster, and protects against damage from snow mold and other common lawn diseases.
- Start mowing once your grass shows active growth. Timing varies from year to year, so watch for signs of fresh green growth. For your first spring mowing, cut slightly lower than your grass’s normal mowing height. Bag your clippings for the first few mowings if you suspect winter-related fungal disease.
- Apply pre-emergent herbicides such as crabgrass preventers to established lawns before weed seeds germinate. This typically happens when soil temperatures warm to near 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Most lawn and garden stores carry inexpensive soil thermometers to help you track temps. Your local county extension agent can also help with guidance for your area. Pre-emergents can inhibit grass seeds as well as weed seed, so always wait at least 60 days and two mowings before seeding areas treated with pre-emergent herbicides.
- Patch damaged spots.
- Feed your lawn with a good fertilizer if not using Weed & Feed.
- Water only as needed.
- Treat for lawn pests.
Need some help with lawn-care products? Bigari Ace Hardware carries the top-rated brands and many are on sale this month. Check our April Sale Ad and come visit!
