As spring arrives, the wildflowers are beginning to bloom, but to make sure weeds are not sprouting and your lawn looks it’s best, Allseasons Landcare offers these tips.
Cut Your Lawn Shorter
To remove old, dead grass, it’s recommended to scalp your lawn after winter. This is done by dropping the blade of the mower, so the dead grass can be removed easily. This process allows more sun into the soil and results in a healthier lawn more quickly.
Apply Pre-Emergent Weed Killers and Herbicides if Needed
As we have written about in other blogs, a pre-emergent weed killer can stop weeds from germination. Warm season weeds such as crabgrass, and others, can be controlled with a pre-emergent which can give you about 100 days of resisting weed germination. However, this must be done a couple of weeks prior to the last freeze for it to work effectively. For weed control in DFW, this usually means the first application should be done by March 15th with a second application a couple of weeks into June. A pre-emergent is safe for all types of grass, but only after it’s been through a first winter.
Herbicides will get rid of weeds, such as clovers and dandelions, that have already germinated. However, herbicides are not as safe as a pre-emergent and can affect trees and shrubs if not applied correctly. It’s advised to apply them directly to the weeds and avoid surrounding shrubs, plants, and trees. So, obviously, do not attempt this on a windy day.
Water
Consistent and deep watering is needed for a healthy lawn in the spring. Many sprinkler systems in DFW need to be adjusted appropriately for the time of year and if drought conditions dictate the times at which watering can occur. So, it’s important to check that your sprinkler system is functioning well and hand water, if needed, to make sure your grass, plants, and trees are getting the water they need. Also, make sure that your lawn is level, throughout, to keep water from pooling.
Dethatch
As we have discussed before, dethatching your lawn can get rid of thatch and topsoil that prevents nutrients from reaching the soil. This is done by using a dethatching machine, but make sure it’s really needed by determining if the thatch is over ½ inch think. Dethatching, if really needed, is best done by a professional as many of the dethatching machines that can be rented can end up doing more harm than good.
Fertilize
For North Texas, fertilizing should be done around the first week of April. Testing the soil to determine the best fertilizer will keep you from wasting time and money on the wrong one. However, for the mostly heavy clay soil found throughout DFW, an all-nitrogen fertilizer is recommended. A good, quality, slow release fertilizer will keep you from having to fertilize frequently.
Contact Allseasons Landcare, so we can help you have a lush, healthy lawn for spring and throughout the entire year.
