Lawn Care in Spring

In the spring you should not apply heavy amounts of fertilizer, this task should have been done last fall.  Spring feeding should be limited to about 5 pounds of 10-10-10 per 1000 square feet following the initial greening of your lawn.

Applying lime in the spring is what you should concentrate on if your soil test shows it is necessary.  Soil test kits are available in both the Juniata and Mifflin County Extension Offices.  Most lawn grasses grow best in a soil that has a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.  It is recommended that a soil test be taken every three years.

If you need to reseed patches of lawn due to winter kill, the best time to do that is now.    Getting them well established early will help them survive the heat of the summer.  Newly seeded areas of your lawn should be fertilized using a high phosphorus fertilizer; a basic application would be 25 pounds of 5-10-5 per 1000 square feet.  This type of application will help encourage root development. It is also important that your newly seeded area receive ample moisture, which will necessitate daily watering until you have a well established area.  Then depending on the summer you will need to water at least once a week during the summer months.  In new grass areas the tops might look nice and green but their roots are not as well developed as other areas of your lawn.

When your newly seeded area needs a haircut, be sure not to cut it too short.  The first mowing in the spring your mower blades should be set at 2 inches and then when summer arrives set your mower deck at 2 1/2 inches.  Don’t wait like me until the grass is long and needs cut, mow more frequently so that no more than 1/3 of the grass blade is removed with each mowing.

For crabgrass control you need to apply a preemergent herbicide application now. Remember preemergent herbicides will not work on any crabgrass that is up and growing.  If you didn’t apply an herbicide control for dandelions last fall you still can use a broadleaf weed killer to control them this spring.  Spray for dandelion control while the weeds are actively growing, don’t wait until we have a drought condition to spray.  Do not use the same spray applicator that you use for insecticides or fungicides for your herbicides.  Get a separate sprayer and mark it with big, bold letters, HERBICIDE.  Herbicide residue will remain in a sprayer and can kill or damage your valuable plants.