It’s almost summer, and that means grass lovers have a few things to do to set themselves up for success this season. This is a handy list of to-dos for cool-season grasses in the northern tier of the U.S.
Fertilize
While cool-season grasses love a little food in the fall, they also benefit from a shot of slow-release fertilizer in the early spring, too. “Applying the right fertilizer at the correct time helps turf plants accumulate and store the essential plant foods (sugars/carbohydrates) that are used for growth and development” (Purdue). Healthy grass is dense and naturally keeps weeds, disease and other pests out. Healthy lawns also fight heat and drought better. Do a quick soil test to see what your ground needs — this includes pH. We recommend slow-release fertilizer in the spring so that you avoid excess growth. Purdue has a great cheat sheet here for fertilizing your grass.
Mow
If you haven’t already started mowing, now’s the time to get your blades sharpened and start making those beautiful straight lines sing. We recommend starting off by mowing pretty high at the start of the season. This sets up your roots for success, and it also gives you a boost in capturing the moisture from the late-spring rains. You can go shorter later, but remember not to cut more than a third of the grass height in a single mowing. Cutting more than that in a single mow can stress out your plants.
Eliminate weeds
Weeds are best dealt with when they first emerge in the spring. Bittercress, speedwell and dandelions can quickly take over if you leave them unattended. “If you desire to control these weeds in your lawn or garden, the best thing to do is remove as much as you can by hand and mow before or during flowering to prevent as much seed production as possible. Cultural practices such as fertilization and watering that promote the vigor of your desired species or mulching are also helpful in reducing all weed emergence and competition” (MSU). Depending on the size of your lawn, sometimes the best way to control dandelions is to pick the flowers before they go to seed. But if you have a large lawn and little time, a traditional granular weed application after a spring rain, or in the morning when dew is on the grass, is a great alternative.
Check for dead spots
Finally, late spring is a great time to check for dead spots in your lawn. The first thing to do is check your watering system to ensure that you’re getting proper coverage. We love how the Pest and Lawn Ginja explains a relatively quick and easy solution to dead patches. If you don’t want to invest that time, you can also just leave the spots, and as long as you take care of the rest of your lawn, they will eventually be overgrown by your healthy grass (as long as water coverage is adequate). But watch for weeds! Weeds can quickly take over dead patches.
And there you have it! Just a little bit of effort, and now you’re off to a great season of grass growing and enjoying the best summer has to offer in your backyard.
Sources:
Purdue -
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