Everybody has seen it.  It doesn’t take an expert to drive through a neighborhood and spot the house that obsesses on their yard (in fact, it might be they do!) and the house that only mows when the city is knocking on their door.  In Minnesota, most people get excited when the snow starts to melt and the grass starts getting green.  So, what should you do to give your lawn a head start?  You do want a beautiful lawn without devoting your entire summer to it, right?

 

A lot of people suggest getting your lawn ready for spring before the first snowfall…but of course time gets away from a lot of people.  So, here are some tips for those who weren’t able to find time to baby their yard before the snow came.

 

1. When most of the snow has melted, get your wheelbarrow out and start picking up the debris left behind from the fall and anything the snowplows may have thrown into your lawn.  You will want to get your rake out so that you get all of the twigs, branches, leaves, etc. that are in the yard.  (This will also make it easier to mow when it comes time for that!)

2. Then get out your shovel (hopefully for the last time) and flatten out any piles that are taking longer to melt.  They might be lining your sidewalk from shoveling previously or in areas that don’t get as much sun. Why?  While the extra snow shouldn’t kill the grass, it might stunt the growth and that won’t make for a superb lawn.

3. Fertilizing in the spring.  I am a firm believer that it is easier to start a nice lawn early than it is to bring a dull lawn back to life in midsummer.  So, go to the local hardware store and search for a fertilizer for the spring (it should say when to use the specific mixtures on the back).  Remember not to over fertilize because this can actually cause more harm to the grass than good, so read the directions thoroughly.

4.  Attend to any lawn problems you had last year.  Did you have crabgrass (or any other nuisance) invade your yard last summer?  It is vital to stop these annoyances before they can get started.  Some, including crabgrass, have a very limited timeframe to be taken care of each year.  (See my other articles regarding this)

5. Areas of patchy grass?  I like to use a method called “overseeding.”  This is when you put down a lot of grass seed in the patchy areas.  It will make your grass grow faster and stronger, and of course you will have a much fuller looking lawn!  Don’t do this too early…the grass seed you choose should have directions for when to plant it!

So, there you have it!  Some early spring lawn care tips for my Minnesota people!  This might not make your lawn the nicest on the block in one summer, but if you follow these steps every spring, your yard will eventually be one of the best! MN Lawn Care made easy!

 



By: Wayne Westerberg

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Smart lawn care means including safety checks in you lawn care and maintenance routines. Safety checks are especially done when in the mowing process. But what every homeowner should consider is the safety checks done before mowing the lawn. Pre-mowing routines are just as important as any other lawn care and maintenance procedure. In fact, safety checks before lawn mowing are recommended to avoid any future lawn problems.

The first and foremost pre-mowing check you have to do is to go over your lawn and remove any objects on the lawn surface. This includes twigs, stones, toys, and even pet droppings. One reason for this is to ensure safety for the people around when the lawn is being mowed. Lawn mowers can throw stones and other objects in various directions and can cause cuts, injuries, and maybe even broken bones.

Another reason to clear up the lawn is to avoid damage to the lawn mower. The lawn mower blades and other parts might get damaged because of stuck stones or other hard objects.

Clearing up the leaves or pet droppings from your lawn may not seem all that important because they are not hard objects and will not cause considerable damage to either you or the lawn mower. However, they will be scattered on your lawn by the lawn mower weight. It could then cause lumps or bumps on the lawn surface, which will block the penetration of sunlight. It could be the reason for the grass underneath to die or wither.

You should also check for waterlogged turfs or parts on the lawn surfaces. They will be compacted by the weight of the lawn mower and will be further pressed down. The outcome of this will be ugly depressions, markings, and tracks on your lawn.

Brushing your lawn with a besom broom is also a good idea. The broom will prevent the grass from lying flat and help you cut them thoroughly as you mow them. Brushing the lawn  will also disperse any worm casts that may be there on the lawn surface. It can also remove and remaining dew from the grass, which is important because mowing the grass when wet is not good for your lawn.

Before mowing your lawn, you also have to plan on which direction you want your stripes to go. It is recommended that you aim to make the stripes at right angles to the stripes you created on your previous mowing. This change in the stripe directions helps avoid washboarding.

The last task for a homeowner to do before mowing the lawn is to check the lawn mower itself. This is to ensure that the lawn mower is up for the job ahead of it. For those using a petrol mower, check to see if there is enough petrol in the tank. Check other parts of the lawn mower and see that all parts are not broken or in danger of being broken when used. The lawn mower blades, which are practically the most important part of the lawn mower, should also be checked. Don’t forget to set them to the correct height, as the length of the grass cut is a factor in the growth and health of the lawn. 

These safety checks should be a normal routine for every homeowner who mows their lawn. Aside from preventing any accidents, these checks before lawn mowing also helps to provide your home a healthy and green lawn.



By: Mary Ann Porsuelo

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