Early Spring Lawn Care Essentials for Your Maryland Lawn   

Early Spring Lawn Care Essentials for Your Maryland Lawn   

Early Spring Lawn Care Essentials for Your Maryland Lawn   

If you’re like most people, you’re probably gearing up for an eventful summer spent outdoors relaxing and having fun. A healthy, green lawn enhances those memorable experiences while beautifying your property for barbecues and pool parties. 

Follow our guide to ensure perfect warm-season grasses for your neighbors to gaze upon in awe. You’ll want to care for your lawn year-round, especially in the early spring, as the warmth brings new growth. Cleaning, taking note of bare patches and getting the mower prepped are excellent ways to promote a healthy lawn. 

Follow our spring lawn care tips in Maryland to guarantee a lush, green lawn when summer rolls around.

Starting Early 

Starting your lawn prep early in the year will maintain a fuller lawn free from disease and insect infestation. You’ll want to take care of it year-round with simple methods that stimulate growth, protect it from the heat and enhance your space for the warm Maryland months. 

Late Summer to Fall

Late summer and early fall is the perfect time to start prepping your lawn. You’ll want to take care of it by looking out for potential problems, such as low pH levels. 

Starting in the late summer before fall, have your soil tested, especially if you have a large lawn renovation project. Evaluate the pH level every three to four years for basic lawn prep to ensure healthy grass that’s resistant to disease and insects. 

If your soil tests at a 6.0 or lower pH level, a professional will apply a substance called dolomitic limestone to naturally raise the pH. Fall is the best time to apply lime before the winter snow and rain sets in due to freezing and thawing, which allows it to work itself into the soil. 

Late Fall

Late fall is a convenient time for breaking up your soil for aeration, raking and applying probiotics to encourage growth. To prepare:

  • Break up your soil: Allow your lawn to aerate and breathe after the heavy foot traffic of the summer. It’s best to seed in areas that need it earlier to protect the young seedlings from the November frost. If your lawn is densely packed or has trouble growing, professional aeration can improve the look of your yard immediately.
  • Clean up debris: Rake fallen leaves on your lawn or use a mulching mower to leave the chopped leaves to decompose. Another option is to bag your leaves and use them in compost or vegetable beds as winter mulch. 
  • Prepare your grass: Mow your lawn a half to one inch shorter than usual to prevent snow mold and matted grass. Start prepping your lawn with probiotics that promote root growth. The cooler months are ideal since the roots are expanding and developing, making them perfect for further growth. 

Winter

Winter is typically reserved for sitting back as snow covers our lawns. However, there are ways to care for it at this time that will prevent damage:

  • Avoid sowing seeds in the winter since the dormant tall fescue typically won’t grow at this time. Be sure to refrain from heavy foot traffic on frozen turf to keep the crowns intact.
  • Follow Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law and do not use chemical fertilizers that contain nitrogen or urea to melt ice on surfaces around the home. 

Prepping for Summer

Prepping for Summer 

When spring rolls around, you’ll want to partake in a few activities that will make sure your lawn is ready for those picnics and outdoor events with the kids.

Here are three early spring lawn care tips to beautify your Maryland property for the summer.

1. Clean 

Clear your yard of debris that could prevent the grass from receiving sun, water and other nutrients. Early spring is the best time to do this so that your lawn gets all that it needs to look full in the summer.

Remove twigs and leaves that might’ve blown onto your yard to defend against insect infestation. Rake the grass and bag debris gently without pulling up chunks of grass and soil.

Cleaning your lawn will allow new blades of grass to grow freely.

2. Fertilize

Have a lawn care company come to fertilize your yard before the summer. You can start fertilizing in Maryland as early as March first for dense turf and a nutrient-packed lawn. Spring fertilization promotes a beautiful green lawn as the growing season begins and encourages strong grass that can withstand the summer heat. Fertilize a second time in late spring for the best results.

3. Seed 

Flag areas of your lawn where winter damage has occurred, rake these spots and seed the bare spots, so they grow back by the summer. It’s best to plant tall fescue in Maryland for sun and partial sun locations and avoid grass seed mixtures with ryegrass. 

Replace bare spots with groundcovers, garden beds, mulches or trees in the areas that don’t grow well, such as overly sunny or shady spots.

Early Spring Mowing Tips 

You’ll want to prepare your mower for warm months when your lawn needs it the most. Inspect the mower blades to see if they need to be sharpened or replaced, fill the tires and change the oil so the lawnmower is in working condition. You’ll also want to check the spark plug and remove dirt or grass clippings. 

A cold mower can be tough to start in the early spring, so let it warm up in the sun for an hour before starting and fill it with fresh gas. By late spring, you’ll want to start mowing your grass once a week. Adjust the mower deck to cut at the highest setting to keep your grass three inches tall and combat crabgrass and other weeds. 

Crabgrass Prevention 

It’s essential to follow preventive tips to keep your lawn healthy and soft when it comes time to spend the days outdoors in the sun. Crabgrass is one of those problematic weeds, and it can crop up when you least expect it.

Have a professional service spray your grass with herbicides to prevent crabgrass and annual weeds from growing. Mid-march is the perfect time to start doing this to guarantee a gorgeous lawn by summer. 

If possible, implement pre-emergent crabgrass control before soil temperatures reach 55-60 degrees. As temperatures increase, the soil will germinate and the pre-emergent will no longer be effective. Crabgrass is difficult to get rid of once it’s grown, so it’s best to follow preventive care steps and rely on a trusted lawn care service to maintain a weed-free yard. 

Contact Us for Organic Maryland Lawn Care 

Now that you know the best ways to maintain your lawn in the spring, you’ll have a beautiful, spotless property for hanging out and enjoying the warm Maryland summer days. 

Trust OrganicLawns for unparalleled customer service and environmentally friendly lawn care. We’ll prep your lawn for the summer by preventing crabgrass and feeding your grass with organic-based fertilizers. Our products are safe for pets and perfect for your family when you want to enjoy your lawn and entertain backyard summer parties. 

Check out our lawn packages for early spring lawn care, and contact us today! 

Prepping for Summer

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