Tips for Reviving Your Lawn After Winter

Nov 13

After months of being covered in snow, winter’s finally over! But now your lawn needs some tender loving care before it can be the green, luscious grass that you’re used to seeing throughout the year. Follow these tips and you’ll have your lawn looking great in no time!

How to Revive Your Lawn

If you love the look of freshly mowed grass in the spring, chances are you don’t love how much effort it takes to get there once winter settles in. However, with the right know-how, you can make sure your lawn looks its best once the snow melts and temperatures rise once again. Here are five tips for reviving your lawn after winter to help put some life back into your yard before spring officially arrives.

1) Assess your situation and condition

Winter has finally come to an end and the sun is shining again. That means it's time to get your yard back in shape! Here are five tips to help you revive your lawn after winter.

Start by mowing your lawn. This will make sure that the blades of grass have enough space to grow and flourish.
Use a rake to remove any leaves or other debris that might be on the ground, which can prevent grass from growing properly.
Get rid of weeds by pulling them up with a weed-puller or soaking them with herbicide spray.
Clear out any tree branches that may have fallen over during winter storms.
Consider replacing your sprinkler heads if they are not working properly; this will ensure better water coverage and more evenly distributed water.

2) Mow

If you have time, wait until the weather warms up to mow your lawn. If not, try to mow it as soon as possible.
Cut off any dead grass and weeds with a weed whacker or string trimmer before you start mowing. This will give the remaining grass some extra room to grow.
Try to avoid using a gas-powered engine on wet grass. The moisture may cause the engine to stall.
Rotate where you are cutting your lawn so that it grows uniformly and doesn’t become patchy from uneven wear from one side of the yard being cut more often than the other.
Leave clippings on the ground to act as a natural fertilizer for your soil. You can also apply compost if you don’t have clippings available.

3) Aerate

Aerate your lawn in the fall to allow water and fertilizer to penetrate the soil. This is especially important if you had a drought this summer or if you live in an area where irrigation is not common. You can do this by using a power tiller, renting a tiller, or using a manual aerator. Leave the plugs of dirt on your lawn. These will protect your soil from erosion and provide nutrients to roots. If you have already removed these, replace them with new ones that are at least 4 inches deep. Once you've done this, wait another two weeks before watering so that they can settle into the ground. The next step is to fertilize! You can either use granules or liquid fertilizer and spread it evenly over your yard. Follow the instructions for how much to use depending on what type of fertilizer you chose. A good rule of thumb is 1-2 pounds per 1000 square feet but always read the label! Finally, make sure that when spring rolls around, you're still taking care of those weeds! They love to grow during warm weather after all. Planting any kind of weed killer to kill those unwanted plants is one option. Another option would be to call up a landscaping service near phoenix az and ask about their maintenance plans.

4) Fertilize

Fertilizing your lawn can help revive it after winter. It's important to note that not all fertilizers are the same, and a good fertilizer will be tailored to your type of lawn and soil. Start by looking for a fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 6-4-6 or 8-4-8, which is high in nitrogen and phosphorous. The higher the number, the more nitrogen and phosphorous it has. If you're using a lawn fertilizer (not weed and feed), make sure you water thoroughly first so that the nutrients have time to sink into the roots. When applying fertilizer, start from the center outwards, walking backward as you apply it until you get back where you started. Be careful not to over-fertilize or your grass could grow too quickly and turn yellow - this means it needs less fertilizer! Applying fertilizers when there’s still snow on the ground is also bad because they won’t be able to soak in properly.

The weather plays a big role in how much your lawn needs to be watered during winter. Areas with mild winters generally need about 1/2 inch of water per week; areas with cold winters may need 1 inch per week. Don't worry if it doesn't seem like enough: your lawn only needs 3 inches total throughout the whole season. Chandler landscapers agree that fall is a great time to schedule regular watering sessions so you don't forget come springtime.

5) Watch the Weather

Colder temperatures and shorter days often mean that your lawn is going to be looking a little worse for wear after winter. However, there are some easy things you can do to get your lawn looking healthy again this spring.

If you want to get the most out of your efforts, schedule your mowing sessions between now and the end of March. This will give them time to grow back before they go dormant again in the summer heat. And don't forget about fertilizing! Just as our food loses its nutritional value when it goes through periods of extended cold storage, our soil suffers from the same problem. Fertilizer contains nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous which plants need to grow strong roots and leaves. By feeding your lawn with fertilizer throughout the year, you're giving it an extra boost when it needs it most in the dead of winter.