As the final early spring frosts melt away and summer glimmers on the horizon, home landscaping enthusiasts and hobbyist gardeners will be dusting off their trowels and flipping through seed catalogs in preparation for the warmer season. Fully preparing your yard for the sunnier months can seem like a daunting task, but there are some strategies that will always make this process easier.
Aerate your soil
The end of winter means the resurrection of your lawn, which has probably been withered and brown since the fall. Your grass could use a little help from you in this process, though.
Aerating your lawn involves poking numerous small holes in the surface of the soil; this allows your grass roots to breathe again and to more easily pull in nutrients from the soil. Aerating is most often done with the help of an aerator, a spike-ended tool that can be found in any home and gardening store.
Remove dead trees
Leaving dead trees in the ground can stifle the growth of grass and other desirable foliage, making tree removal a smart step for a healthy lawn. This is one part of lawn work that is best left up to the pros.
Plant fresh grass
Sometimes grass doesn’t make it from summer to summer. If you find yourself confronted by bare patches of soil in your lawn, it may be time to seed your lawn again. The best time to do this in is often early summer or late spring. Bluegrass is a lush and durable grass choice, but there are numerous other options as well.
Nourish your lawn
Whether you’re replanting new grass or coaxing the old turf back to life, providing your lawn with the nutrients it needs is essential. Home and garden stores offer a range of fertilizers to spread on your lawn–or for the reusers and recyclers, now may be the perfect time to start a compost pile. Used coffee ground and eggshells, once composted, are notoriously helpful for restoring and supporting lawn health. Also, ensure that your lawn stays hydrated so that the soil’s nutrients are evenly and fully distributed.
Once you’ve completed these simple steps, the full promise of summer awaits: the joy of gardening and landscaping in a healthy lawn and of hosting outdoor summertime events in the kind of welcoming environment that only a lush, verdant and healthy lawn can provide.