Here is our list of tasks to start acting on to keep your yard looking fabulous this spring!
Natural Lawn Care for Spring
Weed and Feed:
Purchase your natural Espoma Organic Weed Preventer and Lawn Fertilizer at Clarks Ace Hardware in Ellicott City, MD; Southern States in Ellicott City, MD; Kendall Hardware in Clarksville, MD; or Anne Arundel CoOp in Glen Burnie, MD. (Call first to make sure its in stock.) A good time to apply this is when the redbuds are blooming. Timing is important to effectively block the weeds in your lawn. Using a natural product and being sure to use the right amount or less will help clean and protect the Bay. Anything you apply to your yard will run off; please keep this in mind when you decide what to apply. Traditional weed and seed and fertilizer grass products are loaded with horrible chemicals, are often over applied and are NOT NECESSARY for a beautiful lawn.
Aerate and De-thatch:
I recommend this every 3-5 years. Aerating allows air to penetrate to the roots of the grass in your lawn, helping to improve the soil. It allows better access and movement of water and nutrients to the roots of your grass. It’s like a multivitamin for your lawn, allowing it to look great by taking care of the basics. This reduces the need to use harsh chemicals that pollute our water and Bay. You’ll have to rent an aerator from a local rental place, like ABC rental on Giepe Road in Catonsville. Buy a thatch rake at Home Depot or Lowe’s .
Bare Spots:
Most likely your entire lawn needs aeration and de-thatching and drainage issues need to be solved. Apply a natural compost like leafgro to the top of your bare spots and rake it in. Sprinkle the appropriate grass seed for sun or shade. Anne Arundel CoOp in Glen Burnie has a great selection of local grasses for all conditions. Cover with straw and water well everyday! Below is a link to a great video showing you how to overseed bare spots.
Overseeding:
If your lawn is sparse then follow the directions above for barespots and apply seed on the entire lawn using a seed spreader.
Mow Properly:
Make sure that you mow to the right height. If you mow too high or too low it can encourage the growth of weeds. The rule of thumb is to remove 1/3 of the height of the grass at a time so that it is about 1-2 inches tall, depending on your grass type.
If you follow these rules then your lawn will be gorgeous this spring and summer!
If your lawn overwhelms you call Lauren’s Garden Service at 410-461-2535 to help revive it or to reduce the amount of lawn you have.