Spring Lawn Care Tips

Proper lawn care begins with knowing what you’re working with. There are two groups of lawn grass—cool-season and warm-season. When and how you mow, water, fertilize and more depends on grass type.

If you live in a cold region, your lawn is a made up of cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue, and perennial ryegrass. Warm-season grasses are found in regions where low temperatures generally stay above freezing. Popular warm-season grasses include Bermudagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass.

1. Keep Up with Mowing

The single most important thing you can do to care well for your lawn in spring is to mow regularly. Mowing regularly at a set height encourages dense, lush grass and reduces weed pressure. Aim to remove no more than one-third of the leaf tissue at each mowing. Before your first mow of the season, sharpen mower blades to make clean cuts rather than tearing the grass.

Cool-season lawns: Moisture and cool temperatures spur cool-season grasses to grow rapidly in spring. Be prepared to mow as often as twice a week during the season. Set your mower deck to cut at 3 or 4 inches.

Warm-season lawns: Grass will turn green and begin growing as soon as spring temperatures moderate. Growth will not be vigorous until the heat of late spring hits. Mow as needed to maintain the desired lawn height and enjoy this reprieve from twice weekly mowing which is on the horizon. Aimg for a cutting height of about 2 inches for most warm-season grasses.

2. Go Light on Fertilizer

Spring isn’t the ideal time to fertilize lawn grass. If you do fertilize in spring, apply a slow-release fertilizer product that will deliver nutrients to plants over a long period of time. 

Cool-season lawns: Fall is the best time to fertilize. If you miss the fall window, apply a slow-release fertilizer in spring. Follow package directions exactly; too much fertilizer causes rapid top leaf growth at the expense of roots. The result is a poorly rooted lawn that will suffer during the heat and drought stress of summer.

Warm-season lawns: Don’t apply fertilizer until the lawn is fully green in late spring. Fertilizing too early encourages cool-season weeds to grow.

Leave grass clippings on your lawn after mowing. They'll quickly decompose, adding valuable nutrients to the soil so you don't have to add as much fertilizer.

3. Apply Preemergent Weed Control

Annual grassy weeds like crabgrass can be controlled with preemergent herbicide in spring. Preemergent herbicides work by preventing weed seeds from germinating. These herbicides do nothing to control established weed plants. Timing is critical when applying preemergent herbicide—it must be applied before weed seeds germinate. 

Cool-season lawns: Apply preemergent herbicide in early to midspring. Crabgrass, the most common pesky grass weed in cool-season grasses, germinates when the soil temperature is above 55°F for at least 3 days and nights. Don’t miss the application window.

Warm-season lawns: Apply preemergent herbicides when the air temperature reaches 65 to 70°F for four days in a row. Timing varies by region.

4. Consider Aeration

Aerating you lawn every year reduces soil compaction, improves water and nutrient movement, and breaks up thatch, all of which help keep your lawn healthy. Adequate rainfall and moderate temperatures make spring a great time to aerate. Aim to aerate right before it rains. The rain will break up soil plugs and wash nutrients into the soil.

Cool-season lawns: Aerate shortly after the grass greens up in early to mid-spring.

Warm-season lawns: Wait to aerate until the lawn is actively growing in late spring or early summer.

5. Repair Damaged Spots

Now is the time to repair a patchy lawn caused by winter injury or stress of the previous growing season. Moderate temperatures and regular rainfall make this a good season to fill in gaps in your lawn. However, don’t completely rely on rainfall to keep new seed, sod, or plugs moist. You'll also need to provide supplemental water until new plants or seed have established themselves.

Cool-season lawns: In early spring, rough up the soil in the impacted area and spread grass seed generously. Weeds are quick to germinate in spring; do not use a preemergent herbicide on the repair area because the chemicals will prevent the grass seed from germinating.

Warm-season lawns: Repair bare or worn areas in late spring or early summer using seed, sod, or sprigs. Before planting, identify a nearby water source and make plans to irrigate.

6. Manage Broadleaf Weeds

Dandelions, henbit, and chickweed can pop up quickly in spring. Make it a priority to get rid of them before they have a chance to flower and set seed.

Cool-season lawns: Fall is the best time to treat broadleaf weeds with herbicide, so in spring, focus on mowing regularly and watering as needed to promote strong turf growth that will outcompete the weeds. A few minutes of hand weeding each day makes a big difference over time.

Warm-season lawns: Broadleaf weed control methods vary by warm-season grass species and the offending weed. Match your grass species and weed with an herbicide labeled for control. Follow package directions exactly.