Every season brings different challenges to the constant gardener and dutiful groundskeeper. It doesn’t matter if it’s the abundant growth of springtime or the bleak snow of winter; a gardener’s job is never over. Our landscaping guide for seasonal maintenance shares a few tips you can use to keep lawns under your care lush and thriving throughout any season and all-year-round.
Welcoming Spring Through Lawn Preparation
In springtime, your primary concern is to ensure that your lawn fully recovers from the stresses of winter and that you nurture new growth into full bloom. Ensure that you welcome the beauty of spring by following these tips.
- Ready Your Tools. Before you begin clearing debris and scattering seeds, make sure all of your tools are in order. Oil your spades and shears, check the wheel of your wheelbarrow, and pay special attention to your mower. Is the engine running fine? Are the blades still sharp? Doing so before you begin your yardwork will save you time and effort.
- Beware of Too Many Seeds. Don’t get carried away when putting down new seeds. Research the ideal density of plants in each flowerbed and around your lawn. Scattering too many seeds will starve the soil and attract pests, such as rodents, to your yard.
- Pre-emptive Action Against Weeds. Instead of waiting for weeds to pop out before you yank them, use pre-emergent herbicides on your lawn. These substances prevent the seeds of unwanted plants, such as crabgrass, from germinating, removing the need to pluck them out later.
Protecting Lawns from the Summer Heat
When the summer sun starts heating things up, your main job will be to protect your lawn from the effects of too much sun. Beat the summer heat efficiently with these tips:
- Check Watering Equipment. Before you break out the sprinklers and unwind your hoses, check them for leaks and defects. Droughts and high temperatures often lead to water restrictions, so you must make sure that your watering equipment doesn’t waste a single drop.
- Set Blades Higher. Change your lawn mower settings to raise the blades. Cutting your grass too short during summer exposes the ground and root systems, speeding up water evaporation. This practice also protects your lawn against grubs and other lawn-destroying pests.
- Keep an Eye on the Sky. Monitor the weather consistently, so you can adjust your lawn care schedule. If it’s been a particularly rainy week, forgo the watering and focus on weeding. If the forecasts say it’s going to be a long dry spell, water your lawn deeply ahead of schedule.
Strengthening Lawns During Fall
Fall is a time of transition, and your goal throughout this season will be to prepare your plants to survive the winter. For the best practices in autumn for your landscape, follow this advice:
- Loosen the Soil. Compact soil is a poor conduit for nutrients and water, slowly starving your plant’s root systems. Before the earth is frozen solid by the winter, churn it with a spade to stir up nutrients and prevent compacting.
- Fertilize Early. You won’t have as many opportunities to fertilize when the ground freezes solid, so make up for it by fertilizing your lawn during fall. However, remember not to use too much as this could lead to nutrient imbalances in your soil.
- Remove Leaves Routinely. It’s tempting to leave a carpet of fallen red and orange foliage on your lawn, but that carpet will become a breeding ground for pests and fungi. Rake your lawn routinely to keep your turf and plants healthy enough to survive the next season.
Maintaining Lawn Health During Winter
Guiding your lawn into spring as healthy as possible is your goal through the winter. Beat the snow and the gloom of shorter days with the following tips:
- Map Out Your Lawn. Sketch out a detailed map of your lawn, noting the placement of ornaments and the location of plants, shrubs, and flower beds. This map will be your guide during heavy snowfall, protecting you from bumps or scratches and preventing damage to your plants if you walk around.
- Aerate the Ground. Using a pitchfork or an aerator, poke holes into the ground of your lawn. This will aerate the ground, pulling nutrients to the surface and allowing water to drain properly into the soil. This can also free roots from being frozen as well as unpack the earth under the snow.
- Beware of Salt. When de-icing your pavement and pathways, carefully scrape away salt and slush into the gutter instead of your lawn. De-icing salt can dehydrate your lawn, creating unsightly brown spots come spring.
These are just a few tips keep your lawn beautiful throughout the year. Professional lawn care experts know all of these and more, and can more efficiently nurture your lawn into full beauty in every season.
Professional Lawn Care Done Right
Landscapes Unlimited is a trusted provider of excellent lawn care and maintenance services in Minnesota. Our team draws on years of experience to make sure your lawn remains pristine and picturesque all-year-round.
Learn about our seasonal maintenance program today.
