Albuquerque Springtime Lawn Preparation 2020 – Part One
Neglecting spring maintenance, such as lawn care and checking on your mower, can eventually become taxing on both your time, and your finances. If you take care of your lawn in early spring, it will be much easier than forcing yourself to do raw maintenance during the summer.
You may not need to apply every one of tips described here, as each circumstance when it comes to lawn health and care is unique. There are also a few items mentioned that may be more helpful if added to your fall routine instead, if your property can wait that long.
Lawn Raking
The first thing you’ll want to consider when it comes to your spring lawn care will be raking. Although you’re probably thinking raking the leaves in the fall should be enough, but this is not the case. Raking is not only for getting rid of fallen leaves, but it also prevents a thatch build-up. Layers more than a half inch deep are considered excessive and unsightly.
Raking deeply in the fall is a highly recommended way of preventing thatch. Skimming the surface and only removing the leaves creates an unnecessary amount of work for later in the year. It is still advised that you rake during both seasons. Doing springtime lawn tasks maintenance will help remove winter debris, like dead grass blades, that unattended would eventually turn into thatch.
Raking during early spring has other benefits. You can use this time to investigate your lawn to see if there are any matted patches. When all of a lawn’s grass blades are sticking together, it is likely that it was caused by a disease by the name of snow mold. When this happens, it can be difficult for new grass to break through these patches. Raking can be an effective solution to this problem.
The climate where you live will determine the best time for you to complete these spring care tasks. In many ways, the weather will give you clear hints in certain areas. A good sign to start raking is when you’re pretty sure your snowy season, if you have one in your region, is over.
Check for Lawn Soil Compaction
If your lawn is exposed to copious amounts of traffic over the years, it will start to show some wear and tear. A large cause of this is compacted soil. A strong sign of compacted soil in your lawn is direct evidence of moss growth. Even if you get rid of the visible evidence, there is only one way to fully resolve the problem, moss should be treated differently than any ordinary weed.
The solution for compacted soil is lawn aeration. Luckily, you do not need to invest in this equipment personally, as you can find them available for rental. Experts suggest that aeration is best completed in the fall. If you happen to notice this problem during your springtime checkup, it is good to plan on taking care of it later in the year if possible.