Spring Lawn Maintenance: Evaluation & Prep

As the weather warms up, you probably can’t wait to head outside and enjoy your yard. This is the first in a series of five how-to instructions on Spring Lawn Maintenance. This one covers lawn evaluation and preparation. Later, you’ll learn about seed application, watering, fertilizing and general maintenance.

Evaluating The Lawn

The best way to start improving your lawn is to first evaluate its current condition and needs.

Does your lawn have a few bare spots and problem weeds?

Did it suffer through an extremely hot, dry summer or brutal winter?
Should your lawn be overseeded or replaced with a new lawn?
Is your lawn level?

If your lawn is in fairly good shape, a simple overseeding or spot seeding can repair it in just a few weeks.

Overseeding is spreading seed over an existing lawn to make it fuller.
Spot seeding is mending a bare spot or two.

You can overseed, spot seed or even seed a totally new lawn following the steps in these instructions and the accompanying video. When overseeding—an important and very cost-effective annual or bi-annual way to protect and strengthen your lawn—it’s a good idea to apply in early spring or fall.

Preparing The Lawn

01 Clean up any debris that’s left over from the fall and winter: leaves, stones and sticks can damage your grass and lawnmower.

02 If you plan to overseed the entire lawn, and the growing season has already begun, cut the grass as short as possible, then collect the clippings.

Dethatch the lawn, unless done last fall. Dethatching removes dead roots and grasses that tend to build up during a growing season. Use a bow rake or thatching rake to remove the dead vegetation.

Aerate the lawn. Aerating breaks up the soil surface and pokes holes into the earth, allowing air, water, nutrients and new seeds to penetrate the soil. Set up the aerator to make the holes 1-1½" apart. Run it over your lawn in the same pattern that you use when mowing. Every lawn benefits from regular aeration. For optimum growth, lawns should be aerated once or twice a year, in spring and fall. After aerating, add organic matter, especially in clay soils.

TIP: Aerators are machines with tines mounted on a rotating drum. You can rent an aerator or use a lawn tractor attachment.

05 Rake or till any bare spots to break up the soil to a depth of approximately 2".

06 Identify any problem weed areas and spray them with a non-selective herbicide designed to eliminate a broad range of plants.

CAUTION: Non-selective herbicides kill all plants. Follow all label instructions and do not allow application on nearby decorative plants. Ask a Lowe’s associate for help selecting and advice on applying herbicides.

07 Wait about one week for the vegetation to die, then rake or till the soil, removing the problem plants and creating a clean bed about 2" deep.

TIP: If you’re doing a total lawn renovation, apply the herbicide to the entire lawn, then rake, till and smooth the surface once the plants and grasses have died.

08 As needed, check for low spots in your yard and add lawn soil to create a nice,
even grade.

Your yard is now ready for the next step: fertilizing and adding soil amendments. Then you will need to water and maintain your beautiful new lawn. You’ll find more information on
these processes at Lowes.com/Videos.

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