Ask Craig: Can you tell me the whys and whats of Spring Clean-Up?

Spring is here. Winter has passed and left a mess behind on your lawn and yard. This means it’s time to do some spring yard cleaning.

Why Spring Clean Up?

Besides just making a lawn look more attractive, Spring Clean Up is going to ensure all future lawn treatments are effective and lawn maintenance is obstruction free. The actions you take now help strengthen your lawn against environmental stresses, pests, weeds and diseases for the seasons to come.

What Spring Clean Ups Needs to Be Done to a Lawn?

  1. Clear leaves, branches, and other natural debris
  2. Re-edge and cleaning of flower beds and gardens
  3. Redefine lawn borders
  4. Aerate, if needed
  5. Mow grass
  6. Reseed damaged areas of the lawn if needed
  7. Trim/prune trees and shrubs, if requested
  8. Dethatching, if needed. De-thatching is best done in early spring or early fall. This allows the lawn plenty of time to recover before winter, but also avoids the stressful times of summer drought and heat. If dethatching is being combined with over-seeding we recommend doing it in early spring to allow the new seedlings plenty of time to get established before the summer drought and heat. Late summer/early fall also remains the optimum time for any over-seeding because you avoid the summer heat and drought and the new seedlings do not have to compete with the spring germinating weeds.
    1. The following are some signs to look for that indicate excessive thatch and the need for de-thatching.
      1. The grass is green on top but brown underneath
      2. If the grass feels “spongy” to walk on
      3. It looks dead and scalped when you mow
      4. The lawn is thinning and off-color

Call us for an estimate at 978.500.3197. We can discuss your lawn and yard needs and requirements.