Spring Lawn Care & Maintenance: March, April And May

When to Start Spring Lawn Care Jobs

March is generally too early to start many of spring’s lawn care jobs but there are some things that you can do now. You might want to take off the top of your grass or use a moss killer in anticipation for April and May.

We recommend starting in April to avoid the cold snaps that usually happen throughout March.

Lawn Care Treatments for Spring

The weather will decide how much of these tasks you’re able to complete. Usually you will have around 8-10 weeks so don’t feel as if you have to rush.

Some of these tasks can even be skipped if you did them during autumn or winter.

For example, if you scarified heavily last autumn or used a top dressing, there is no need to do it again. If you are after perfection, then feel free to do it anyway.

Start Mowing the Lawn

Cut the grass as soon as you see it starting to grow. On your first cut of springtime, however, keep your mower blade at its high setting and just take off a third of what’s there. Cutting your lawn too short will damage it.

If a lot of moss is present, keep your mower setting an inch taller.

Once May arrives, increase mowing frequency to every 7 – 10 days and gradually reduce the height. You will find that your grass will be starting to grow much faster.

Kill Any Weeds and Tackle Weed Grasses

The weed population in your lawn should not be an issue if you kept an eye on it over the past year.

If they are becoming a problem, use a weed killer concentrate around April and May to get rid of any weeds that have found their way into your grass. It is important to keep applying this after new weeds appear throughout the summer.

You can also use a lawn weed and feed product if you prefer.

Weed grasses like Annual Meadow Grass grow very quickly in spring. They can produce new seed heads and spread quickly. The best way to remove Annual Meadow Grass is by digging it out and discarding any plants you see.

Learn more: Guide To The Best Lawn Weed Killer.

Kill and Remove Any Moss

Never let moss take over your lawn. If there is little present, you have done well.

I recommend applying an all-purpose moss killer. After 7 – 10 days, it will have killed any remaining moss. You will be able to tell as it will turn black.

You can also apply lawn sand throughout your lawn. This will also kill moss and will also act as a fertiliser due to the high nitrogen content.

Once all moss is dead, rake it out with a powered rake or a manual springbok rake.

Read more: Best Moss Killer For Lawns – Ultimate Guide.

Scarify to Remove Excess Thatch

Deep scarification should be completed in the autumn, but light scarification is also important as it reduces the build-up of thatch and stimulates new grass growth.

You can check if your lawn needs scarifying by taking a trowel or hollow tiner and seeing how much thatch there is. Anymore than half an inch and you will need to remove it by scarifying.

Read more: Best Lawn Scarifiers – Ultimate Guide.

Aerate Your Lawn

Aerating your lawn will allow more air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil where they will be consumed by the grass.

If soil is hard and compacted, you should aerate by hollow tining. This removes cores of grass which will allow air and water to better reach the soil.

For softer lawns, use spiking sandals or a garden fork and penetrate the soil by 2 -3 inches.

Tidy Up the Edges of Your Lawn

If you’re looking to make your lawn more attractive, it is important that the edges of the lawn are well manicured. If they have been neglected, we recommend giving them a little TLC with an edging iron.

You can use a straight edge such as a plank of wood to make this task easier. A hose pipe can be used to create curves. If you have created a mowing strip, this will be even easier.

Top Dress Your Lawn

Top dressing is a necessary step for creating an ornamental lawn. It can be expensive and time-consuming, but it also helps with levelling out the base of your garden as well as preventing excess thatch build up on top of your beautiful green grass.

Top dressing is normally undertaken by serious gardeners who have perfect flat lawns after scarifying. It isn’t a requirement if you don’t have an ornamental lawn so skip this step if you wish.

Overseed with New Grass Seed

I’d recommend overseeding your lawn every spring. It will make it healthier by filling in any bare patches or replacing areas of dead grass with healthy new grass.

You could end up having a moss, weed or thatch build-up problem if you don’t seed because weeds are quick to fill gaps left behind by dead grass.

Overseeding is even more important if you have raked or scarified as these tasks can temporarily damage your lawn.

Read more: Guide To The Best UK Grass Seed.

Fertilise with a Spring Lawn Feed

After a long, hard winter your lawn will need a nutrient boost by the time spring arrives. The best way to replace these is through regular lawn feeding so that the roots of your grasses stay healthy and strong enough to survive our hot summers.

Grass fed with quality fertilizer will also maintain its green colour after drying out during the summer months. Be sure to apply a spring lawn feed.

Read more: Why, When and How to Feed Your Lawn.

Read more: Best Lawn Feed – Reviews of Popular Products & Complete Buyers Guide.

Water Your Lawn

Watering your lawn will depend on the weather forecast. If it’s been raining, you might not need to water at all.

If spring has been dry, use a garden hose or sprinkler to water your grass. This will activate the lawn fertiliser you applied and support the development of new roots as well as seed germination.