Spring is one of the busiest months for any budding gardener and is when seeds are planted and flowers begin to grow. In early spring, your lawn will have had to survive the winter, and maybe looking a bit sad after enduring several months of cold temperatures and minimal sunlight. It will most likely need some attention to ensure it’s looking thick and healthy as you move through spring and into summer. Due to the winter temperatures, increased rainfall, and the cold, you may find that there are areas of your lawn that are dying or dead at the start of spring. If the winter hasn’t been too harsh, you may find another problem in moss that has grown in the tepid weather. For more information, you can see a guide to looking after your lawn in all seasons.
Jobs to Bring Your Lawn Back to Life in the Spring
If you find that moss has started to grow on your lawn, start by clearing it with a rake and weedkiller if necessary. You’ll need to use a light touch with your rake as the moss will come out relatively quickly, and you want to avoid damaging your grass as much as possible. With the moss removed, you can fill in the gaps with new grass seed, which will germinate and cover these areas in the next couple of months. Toss the seed in an even coating in the holes, take some loose soil, and cover the seeds with a thin layer using your rake to spread the earth evenly.
If your lawn is very patchy and large sections have died during the winter, you may want to reseed your whole lawn. To do this, start by preparing the ground and removing any other weeds that you find and the moss that you’ve done already. You’ll then need to create small holes in the ground for the seeds to fall into and encourage growth using a manual garden fork, which has several spikes on it that can be pierced into the ground, or a motorized aerator if your lawn is huge. Choose the best seed for your lawn based on your soil and the conditions in summer and winter, and then spread the seed as evenly as possible over the earth. You can do this manually, throwing the seed from your hand or with an automatic seed dispenser that will ensure the seeds are evenly spread. When the seed has sown, make sure to water the lawn straight away, and then keep the soil moist by watering every few days after this.
Spring is also a prime time to fertilize your garden, as the rain and snow will wash many of the nutrients in the water away. A spring-specific fertilizer will work well and have all the nutrients your soil needs to flourish by summer. You’ll also want to mow your lawn at the start of summer, promoting new growth. Start with a longer setting for the first cut, and then start to cut the grass shorter each week until it’s at a length you like.