It’s starting to get beautiful outside again! The temperature is rising, the sun is sticking around longer, and lawn care is quickly rising to the top of your mind.

You’ve already started planning out how many barbecues you’re going to have this year and all of the new memories you are going to create in your yard.

There’s only one problem. The lawn you see when you look outside is nothing like the lush, green, weed-free yard that you see in your mind. In fact, your lawn looks so far from the one in your mind that you’re not even sure where to start.

Our staff love your lawn almost as much as you do so we created this guide to help you get your lawn started in the right direction this Spring.

When you need help with spring cleanup, weed control, aerating, over seeding, and fertilizing we can help. Call us at Double R Golf and Turf 780-876-1124.

We offer our spring clean-up packages, weekly lawn maintenance and irrigation services to commercial, residential, and acreage properties in Grande Prairie and area. Call the experts, and save your hard earned money by not having to purchasing a lawnmower, trimmer, dethatcher, fertilizer spreader, etc. Let us do it for you, and save your valuable time Our spring clean-up packages can be found here.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #1: Clean Up and Inspect

Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets and windows, it is the best time to survey your landscape to spot any dangers for early lawn disease and to identify the best types of fertilizer, weed control products or other lawn care treatments to ensure a healthy, green lawn throughout the spring and summer. Cleaning up any remaining debris from winter snow and winds helps ensure your family’s safety when playing or mowing. It also avoids buildup of thatch, that organic matter beneath the blades of the grass but above the soil that can inhibit healthy growth.

Upon first sight in the spring, as snow melts and growth resumes many lawns look less than perfect. Similar to last spring, many of the same culprits were at work over winter destroying or at least blighting the leaf blades. One example of lawn disease which is common in early spring is snow mold.

Raking away debris and snow mold

Traditionally, we’re told that gray snow mold becomes problematic in regions when snow cover is in place for three months or more. Snow mold, both gray and pink, were very active under that snow cover this winter.

Lawns emerged with matted turf that, in some cases, had a grayish-white or pinkish color. In most cases the snow mold didn’t actually kill the turfgrass plant, but simply blighted the leaf blades.

To facilitate quicker regrowth a light raking with a leaf rake to loosen dead leaf tissue and accelerate soil warming will help the turf recover faster. A fertilizer application in the next couple weeks will also help the turf recover and resume growth.

However, even if you decide you’d rather watch the hockey game rather than rake the lawn, the turfgrass will recover as temperatures warm.

Moles and voles

Both moles and voles can physically damaged lawns during the winter and spring. Voles, or what most people simply call field mice, are very active in winter chewing on our lawns. Fortunately in lawns, vole damage is superficial in that the voles don’t actually kill the turf plant, but simply eat the leaf blades. Grab your favorite leaf rake and remove the dead, loosen turf grass from the vole highways and the turf will start to grow back quickly.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #2: Aerate and Power Rake

Over time the soil in your lawn becomes compacted, reducing the air pockets that allow nutrients and water to reach the roots of your grass. To combat this, make sure your lawn is aerated annually. Spring is an ideal time to do this and gives your lawn the best chance to receive the nutrients and water it needs to grow healthy all season long. Lawn aeration is also one of the process that is used to treat thatch buildup. When soil becomes compacted or thatch builds up it restricts your grass’ access to much needed nutrients. Power raking in the spring will assist in reducing the thatch layer as well as clean up damage from voles and snow mold.

Our spring clean-up packages can be found here.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #3: Mowing

The first thing you want to do is sharpen your mower blade.

A dull blade will tear the grass, rather than cut it, and it will make your lawn more susceptible to disease and may cause it to turn a dull brown colour.

Your first few mowings should be done with your mower set on a lower setting.

This allows sun, water, and nutrients to get to the base of your grass to help it get started. Raise your mower height every 1-2 weeks until it is around 2 to 2 1/2” high. This higher height helps to protect the root system from the sun and retain moisture as it gets hotter during the summer.

How often you need to mow is determined by how fast your grass grows.

You want to remove 1/3 of the blade or less, any more than that and it will shock your grass. It’s also easier on your lawn to mow it in the evening, when the sun is not beating down on it.

Our spring clean-up packages can be found here.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #4: Over seeding

Over seeding your lawn is important to do each year for a lush, healthy, weed-free lawn.

As your lawn ages it becomes tired and grass reproduction rates slow down. Nobody likes the look of unhealthy areas in their lawn, but more than not looking good, these areas make it easier for weeds to take over. If you have any bare patches on your lawn, you may need to do what is known as “overseeding” your lawn. This will help grow new patches where the lawn died during the winter.

New grass will pop up and fill in those unhealthy spots and contribute to your beautiful outside.

Our spring clean-up packages can be found here.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #5: Fertilizing

Give it the nutrients it needs to thrive.

Now that your lawn is properly aerated and over seeded, Fertilizing is the next most important spring lawn care tips. You may have fertilized your lawn in the fall, but it is also important to do so during the spring in order to help your lawn grow lush and thick. Spring fertilization helps your lawn replenish reserves that were depleted over the long, arduous winter.

Our spring clean-up packages can be found here.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #6: Watering

One of the most important factors in cultivating a healthy, beautiful lawn is proper watering.

The best time to water your lawn is early in the morning, when the sun is starting to rise. You’ll lose more water to evaporation if you water in the afternoon while the sun is shining. You’ll leave the grass too wet, promoting fungus growth, if you water in the evening.

You may not have the time or energy to water your lawn early in the morning, but there is another way.

Call us at Double R Golf and Turf Management for a FREE estimate on installing an automatic underground irrigation system in your yard to automatically water your lawn in the morning. Systems can easily be installed in existing yards with minimal damage to your lawn, in most cases you cannot see any signs of the irrigation installation after only 2 mowing’s.

Our spring clean-up packages can be found here.

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CALL (780) 876-1124 OR CLICK HERE NOW FOR A FREE ESTIMATE.