University of Wisconsin - Extension

Early spring is the time when homeowners look forward to moving the shovels and snowblower to the far corner of the garage and pulling out the lawnmower. It?s also time to think about the best way to help a winter-weary lawn recover and prepare for summer?s heat.

John Stier, University of Wisconsin-Extension turfgrass specialist, says some simple steps taken in early spring can lead to a healthy, thick, green lawn by summer.

-- Clean up. Clear away tree leaves, sticks and the litter that accumulates in snowdrifts over the winter. Rake away dead grass.

-- Get a soil test. Lawn experts recommend testing the soil about every three years to determine how much and what kind of fertilizer your grass needs.

-- Re-seed or re-sod. You may find that winter weather has killed grass in some places. To patch a bare spot with seed, mix soil and seed together in a pail, spread the mixture on bare spot and step lightly on it. Spring is not the best time to establish an entirely new lawn because seedlings will have to compete with weeds, but you do want to stop erosion of any bare spots.

-- Wait to fertilize. Many homeowners rush to apply fertilizer early, expecting to give their grass a head start. But if you applied fertilizer last fall, you don?t need more in spring. And late fall fertilization is better for the lawn than a spring application because it encourages root growth.

-- Wait until Memorial Day to fertilize, unless the lawn has several bare areas and is thin. Too much fertilizer in the spring will cause the plants to produce leaves instead of roots and without good roots the lawn suffers more from summer drought. However, if the lawn is very thin, a dose of fertilizer will help it fill in and crowd out weeds.

-- Mow. When the grass is about three inches high, you can begin mowing. Leave the clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients ? it?s the equivalent of one free fertilizer application after two years. Never mow your lawn shorter than 2.5 inches. Higher lawns mean deeper roots, and longer grass blades shade the soil and discourage weeds.

-- Avoid weed-killers. If you have a lot of weeds in the lawn, there?s something wrong with the way you are growing your lawn. Shade, poor drainage, lack of nutrients and compacted soils create weak lawns and healthy weeds. Rather than use chemicals, fix the real problem.

Publications on lawn care are available for viewing on the Cooperative Extension Publications web site at http://www.uwex.edu/ces/pubs/ .