Lawn Care After Winter: 5 Steps to Revive Your Grass

Winter’s icy grip is finally starting to loosen. Signs of life are shining through, but before you can start hosting garden parties or enjoy a lemonade in the backyard, you’ve got some work to do. To achieve an envy-worthy lawn, here are a few steps you can take for lawn care after winter to help your grass spring back to life.

Contrary to common belief, dead grass doesn’t mean there’s no hope. There are still many ways to bring back that luscious, green-envy lawn from a season of dormant grass and gloomy days. It’s important to remove any debris from the lawn, then water once or twice weekly between periods of no rain, although more watering may be needed if there is no rain at all. Supply enough water to moisten the soil to a 6-inch depth. Infrequent, deep watering encourages the grass to form deep, strong roots that better withstand drought later in the summer.

Salt is tasty in food, but not quite as good when it’s used on streets right next to your lawn, potentially causing brown spots. In the northernmost regions, where salt spray is popular during winter, it’s not uncommon to see signs of salt damage on your lawn. So, can you fix salt damage? Yes, in fact, it’s pretty easy! Water your lawn to dilute the salt concentration and say hello to healthier grass.

Primarily attacking cool-season grasses, snow mold is a sneaky disease that only shows once the snow melts in the spring season. 

Snow mold often shows up after a heavy snowfall where the ground has not yet had time to fully freeze. In combination with the already moistened grass, leaves and debris, mold slowly grows within the grass. There are two types of snow mold: gray snow mold (also called Typhula blight) and pink snow mold (also called Microdochium patch or Fusarium patch).

Often showing up during spring once the snow melts, straw-colored circular patches ranging in size from a few inches to several feet across may appear in the lawn. The grass in these patches is usually matted down and crusty. The patches will have a grayish-white appearance if they are caused by gray snow mold, or a whitish-pink appearance when caused by pink snow mold. Pink snow mold can be more severe than gray snow mold, as it can kill the crown and roots of grass plants; gray snow mold usually only affects the grass blades.

The best control for snow mold is to lightly rake through the affected areas as the snow melts. For more information on how to prevent and treat snow mold, click here.

Over time, little bits and pieces of dead grass build up on the top layer of your grass, sometimes growing to a somewhat hefty layer. One way to care for your lawn is to inspect the thatch layer on the lawn. If the layer of dead grass and organic matter on top the soil is deeper than one-half inch, core aeration will break up the thatch and allow water, fertilizer and oxygen to reach the roots.

The green grass of your dreams doesn’t need to only exist in your dreams. If you’re fighting the battle with bare spots on your lawn, you may be wondering if seed or sod is the better option for you. Here’s what you should know: 

• Sod: Laying sod is typically rolled out like a rug over larger spaces. It is often the most expensive option because you will most likely be hiring a professional to do this work for you. However, you get beautiful grass right away with roots that may develop more quickly than seeds, although they may not root as deeply. 
• Seed: Seed is the least expensive option of the two, although growing a full lawn of beautiful grass takes longer with seed. However, seeding provides more grass options with a higher probability of strong roots. If price is a determining factor, the extra time and maintenance may be in your favor.

Take a look here to see if seed or sod is the best option for your lawn. 

While reviving a lawn after winter can seem like a major task, the work you put into your lawn brings you that much closer to the green luxury you’ve always envied. And don’t worry, we can help! View all of our service plans here or give us a call at 800.464.0171.

Spring is the ideal time to start fertilizing your lawn as it comes out of winter dormancy. Fertilizer delivers essential nutrients that support root development and promote overall grass growth. Each lawn is unique, so choosing the best fertilizer depends on your lawn. Your local garden center or hardware store will carry the most appropriate lawn fertilizer for your area. 

Fertilize once the grass is actively growing as the soil warms up. It’s very important to follow the directions on the label and spread the fertilizer evenly. Watering your lawn after the application will activate the fertilizer and feed the turf.