Quick Spring Lawncare Tips

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As the seasons shift from winter freeze to warm spring breeze, homeowners know it's time to dust the cobwebs off the garden tools and get outside to start working on the yard. Though spring cleaning is commonly associated with clearing away the clutter inside a home, there's also some spring cleaning homeowners can do to ready their lawns for the warm weather to come.

* Fertilize: Landscape professionals note that spring fertilization plays a vital role in keeping a lawn healthy. By fertilizing in the spring, homeowners are essentially replenishing the lawn. In the spring, soil temperatures have begun to warm, allowing the grass to grow again. Fertilizing at this point will help build up nutrient reserves, which will help the lawn withstand the long summer ahead.

* Grasscycle: When mowing the lawn, homeowners can leave the grass clippings on the lawn. This is a process known as grasscycling, and it can save time, money and protect the environment. When left behind, grass clipping add valuable organic matter to the soil, including nutrients, essentially providing free fertilizer and helping a lawn look lush and healthy.

* Check thatch levels: Oftentimes homeowners mistakenly think grasscycling creates thatch. In fact, clippings are made largely of water and carbohydrates, which are easily broken down. Thatch actually can be a byproduct of fertilizer, as stems and crowns are stimulated when fertilized, only to eventually decay and result in thatch. If thatch levels are high, consider aerating the lawn. This will relieve soil compaction, allowing water, nutrients and oxygen to enter the ground.

* Have pH level checked: At the beginning of each spring, it helps to have a soil's pH level checked. This will help determine how healthy the soil is. Once the pH level has been checked, a professional can then tell you what might need to be added to the soil and better facilitate plant, turf and tree growth.