Celebrate Lawn & Garden Month With These Spring Yard Tips

April is National Lawn & Garden month and it's also the best time to start up your spring lawn care routine so you can have a beautiful yard you can enjoy all summer long. Many of our homes for sale in Colorado Springs feature beautiful backyards that feature gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains. The Platinum Group, REALTORS wants to make sure you can enjoy these beautiful views with an equally beautiful backyard. To celebrate National Lawn & Garden Month, we have 6 tips for you to keep in mind this spring so you can have the best looking lawn on the block this summer.

1. Mow Regularly

Start mowing your lawn as soon as it needs it and continue mowing as often as it takes to keep it between 3-4 inches, which is usually about once a week. Keep in mind though that it's important not to cut your lawn too short, as that could be just as damaging as letting it grow too tall.

2. Water In The Early Morning

It's best to water your lawn during the coolest part of the day, which is the early morning. While it is also cool in the evenings, watering the lawn at night doesn't allow the water droplets to evaporate, which could cause lawn disease. In addition to watering in the morning, it's also best to water the lawn less often, but for longer periods of times to promote roots growing deep into the ground.

3. Fertilizer 

The type of grass you have in your lawn will affect when and how you should fertilize your lawn. If you have cool-season grasses, don't heavily fertilize your lawn in the spring. This will encourage rapid tender growth that will struggle to survive the heat of the summer. If your cool-season lawn is in in bad shape, fertilize lightly in the spring with a slow-releasing fertilizer. Save the heavier feedings for fall when cool-season grasses are at their peak growing season. If you have a warm-season grass, fertilize in the late spring as soon as the lawn gets nice and green and begins to actively grow. This is usually after the last frost in April or May.

4. Use Weed Control

Both cool and warm season kinds of grass can benefit from weed control during the spring months. It's best to use a pre-emergent weed control during the spring to prevent the seeds from germinating. The best way to control weeds is to eliminate them before they start to grow.  Keeping the weeds out of your grass helps it not only look good but it keeps it healthy too. 

5. Aerate

The best time to aerate your lawn depends on the type of grass is in your yard. For warm-season grasses, it's best to aerate in the early to mid-summer. For cool-season grasses, aeration is best saved for the fall, however, it can be repeated in the springtime if the soil is extremely compacted. It's best to wait until the lawn has been mowed two or three times in the season so you know it will recover from the aeration.

6. Overseeding

In the spring, you will need to decide if you want to focus on weed control or lawn seeding. Pre-emergent herbicides prevent grass seed from sprouting as well, so you can't do both. The herbicide usually last up to 12 weeks, which means you'll miss the spring planting season.

If your focus is on filling in bare spots or establishing a new lawn, then follow these steps depending on the type of grass you have. If you have cool-season grasses, they can be planted as soon as the temperature is in the 60s and soil temperatures are in the 50s. Plant as soon as temperatures allow the seedlings a chance to get established before the hot weather hits. Fall is typically the better time to plant cool-season grasses, so use the spring months for patching bare spots and be prepared to keep your lawn well-watered during the summer. Warm-season grasses can be planted when air temperatures are in the 70 and soil temperatures are in the 60s. It's important to make sure the danger of frost has passed. Late spring is the best time to plant warm-season grasses.

Hopefully, with these tips, you'll have a healthier lawn you can enjoy all summer long. If you are in search for a new home in Colorado Springs with beautiful views of mountains or the city from your backyard, The Platinum Group, REALTORS can help. Just call our expert team of Colorado Springs real estate agents at 719-536-4444.

The Platinum Group, Realtors The First Choice in Real Estate

Visit our website: www.PlatinumHomeSales.com

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6760 Corporate Drive, Ste 300

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

(719) 536-4444