Spring is just around the corner! Your lawn has been resting through the colder months and will slowly be starting to increase tissue growth.
Cleaning up and raking away debris
Now is the time to clear away any leaves, branches and other debris that may have accumulated during winter. Almost like a spring clean of your home, you want to move any objects that have been stationary for a while (trampolines for example) and allow your lawn to breathe.
Get your mower ready for spring
Chances are that like your lawn, your mower has been sitting dormant for a few months. Do yourself and your mower a favour and treat it to a little attention before pulling the starter cord repetitively ‘til you’re both out of puff. A bit of basic maintenance can go a long way. Changing fuel, oil, and the sparkplug each spring can help keep your machine running smoothly for years. If you baulk at the thought of home-mechanics then there are many mower shops around that will, for a small fee, have your mower tuned and ready to go. Sharp blades are another important piece of mower maintenance. A new set of blades, or if you’re a dab-hand with the grinder, sharpening or changing your mower blades can do wonders.
Removing weeds
Coming out of winter there can be a few weeds that may have been able to fight their way through your lawn. Many of these are usually a result of being blown-in. Other seeds could have been lying dormant in your lawn for a while. Most single weed types can be removed by hand, preferably before going to seed. Other flat weeds and grasses can be mown over, with a healthy lawn able to choke out most weed types. Oxafert pre-emergent herbicide is a great way to help prevent both broadleaf and annual grass weeds, stopping any new seedlings in their tracks.
Test your soil
Sometimes you may find your lawn is not performing very well or not responding to fertiliser. This could be to do with the soils pH. Now is the time to test your pH levels, so you can take the required action during Spring.
Check for compaction
To see how your soil is holding up and whether compaction is a problem, grab a long screwdriver. Plunge it into the ground in a few places to see how far it will penetrate (minding any irrigation or electrical cabling). You should be able to easily push it in for up to 100 to 150mm (4-6 inches) without too much resistance. If not, it would serve your lawn well to look at aeration to remedy the problem.
One of the healthiest things you can do for a spring lawn is to aerate. Aeration helps increase the amount of air, water and nutrients getting to the soil. This strengthens grass roots and help create a healthier lawn.
Plan your spring lawn care schedule
Having tested your soils pH and for compaction, you can now look at what lawn care activities you will need to undertake during spring and create a plan of action.
Bonus spring tip
It is a great time to install a new lawn, getting it established before the heat of summer comes. This will save you money on water!
Check out the Lawn Solutions Australia lawn care page for more helpful tips and advice here.
