In anticipation of warmer weather and entering the spring season soon, we have compiled a checklist of items to aid you in preparing your lawn once the warm weather arrives.

1. Be patient. Before you begin working on your lawn, let the soil underneath thaw and dry out first. Walking around when the top of the lawn has thawed, but the soil is still frozen can cause soil compaction, which can lead to damage of the grassroots.
2. Take your time. If you start working on your lawn before it has dried out, such as raking or mowing, once you expose the grass to sunlight you could risk damaging the new growth as well as speeding up the germinating weeds. Wait for your grass to start growing before you begin any type of maintenance.
3. Lawn tools maintenance. While you wait for the lawn to dry, this would be a great time to take care of the various lawn tools, including sharpening your mower blades and tune up the other power tools you might have.
4. Melting snow. If you still have snow on your lawn, try to move the snow out of shaded areas on your lawn so that they can melt faster. Also by not having the snow sit on your lawn any longer than it needs to can help prevent snow mold from appearing.
5. Removing debris. It is also advised to remove any debris you find on your lawn, such as broken branches, leaves, and any other materials that you might find once the snow has melted. This will help with lawn growth as well as keeping your lawn cleared.
6. Soil testing. This is important, especially if you have not had your soil tested in a few years. By performing a soil test, it can determine if your lawn is lacking in nutrients, if lime is needed, as well as diagnosing any potential lawn diseases that may not be visible yet, but is in your soil. Taking this preventative measure will help with the overall health of your lawn as well as determining the proper treatment plan.
7. Mowing your lawn. Once you start to see your grass is growing an turning green, your first mow should be a shortcut that will remove the dead tops of the grass and allow the sunlight to help with the growth of your grass.
8. Core aeration. It is recommended that you aerate your lawn at least once a year, as it helps with controlling thatch build up, reduces soil compaction, stimulates new root growth and provides a filtration for water, air and nutrients to evenly distribute throughout your soil.
9. And watering. With the snow melting, there is enough water in the soil to keep your grass watered and even if your grass starts to dry out, this will help with the root growth, as the roots will start seeking water. This establishes deep root growth and will help sustain a thriving lawn come the summer months.

Looking to give your lawn a headstart? Do you need assistance with lawn care? Contact Lush Lawn today and receive a free estimate of our services.