Want to have the lawn you can love by spring? We wish there was a magic potion we could apply to a lawn to make it perfect all year round and remove all the weeds and make it happy and healthy. But unfortunately. A once-cure-all just doesn’t exist. So how do you prepare your lawn to have an amazing lawn by April? We have compiled a list of important factors to bear in mind to achieve the lawn you will love.
What even is “The perfect lawn” anyways? The perfect lawn is going to have a thick and lush canopy. You are going to want to achieve the vibrant green that can range from a light green to deep forest green, depending on your grass type. And finally, a lawn that is weed-free, completely absent of all foreign grassy and broadleaf weeds.
KNOW YOUR LAWN
Does your lawn have any lingering problems from past years? This could be scarring from a fungus or insect invasion from the previous year. These problems can take a while to fully recover. Scarring from a really bad brown patch fungus can take a couple of seasons to return to full health. It is important to have the right expectations and allow these areas to heal properly.
What type of grass do you have and what are its needs and risks? Different grass types have different needs. In order to have the lawn you love, you need to make sure those needs are being met. For example, the verdant Bermuda grass needs direct sunlight. If you have large trees that shade the lawn most of the day, then no matter what you do, you will never have a green, lush, healthy lawn.
CREATE A ROUTINE
Have a regular mowing schedule for the time of year. In peak season, you will need to be mowing weekly. Your mower will also need maintenance, if your blades are dull, it will tear the blade of grass, rather than a clean-cut and cause the tips of your lawn to brown.
Check-in on your watering. Are you getting the right amount of water for your lawn? Draught stress is the quickest way to a declining lawn. Most grass types in the peak of summer require 1.5” to 2” a week!
PRO TIP: To figure out how long you need to run your sprinklers to achieve the right amount of water. Place a tuna can on your lawn. It is roughly an inch high. Time how long you need to run the sprinklers to fill up the can!
WEED CONTROL BEGINS LONG BEFORE SPRING
It is important to get pre-emergent to prevent weeds. This often begins with fall preemergent. In Texas, this usually begins in September and will run throughout the fall, but it depends on the climate of where you live. Preemergent is the only way to prevent weeds before you see them. Otherwise, you are using post-emergent and treating weeds as they emerge and preventing seeding.
AERATION
Ever wonder how a golf course gets so green and lush? The secret is aerations. The average golf course in texas aerates 9 times a year. The goal of aeration is to relieve the compaction the happens due to traffic or regular settling of the soil. Compaction has a major impact on the thickness of the turf because the roots will not be able to grow as freely.
Your lawn is likely never going to see the same amount of foot traffic that a golf course does so you do not need to aerate 9 times, but it is vital to aerate to relieve compaction. We recommend beginning the season with spring aeration in January through April and closing the season with fall aeration in Sept through November.
FEED YOUR LAWN
Just like you, your lawn needs nutrition. It’s important to feed your lawn in the form of fertilization regularly. This should be every four to six weeks to maintain a healthy lawn. Fertilizer is made up of a combination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and potassium. Depending on the time of year, these ratios will change to get your lawn that it needs at that time.
Fertilizing is crucial to having a healthy lawn. A lawn that is well fed will be able to grow thicker and fuller, and will also be much harder for weeds to come in and take control of the lawn. Sometimes, it is not possible to prevent fungus and insect invasions, but a lawn that is properly fertilized will be able to recover faster and better than one that is not.
Gecko Green is a lawn care company out of North Texas. Our family-owned business is filled with highly trained specialists who have been caring for lawns in DFW for over 30 years. We offer professional service with noticeably visible results. We have highly trained professionals, remarkably personalized programs, and exceptional customer service that only a local business can provide. Our customers are our top priority, and this is central to our values.
