How To Prepare Your Lawn For Spring in Greeley, CO

As the winter season comes to an end in Greeley, Colorado, it's time to start thinking about preparing your lawn for spring. With the right preparation, your yard can thrive and look lush throughout the spring and summer months. Here are some tips for getting your lawn ready for the growing season in Greeley, CO.

1. Clean Up Your Lawn

The first step to preparing your Greeley lawn is to clean it up. Remove any debris like sticks, leaves, and twigs that might have accumulated over the winter season. 

Make sure to lightly rake the lawn to remove thatch—a layer of dead grass and roots that can block water and nutrients from reaching the roots of the grass.

2. Aerate Your Soil 

Aerating the soil is a crucial step in preparing your lawn for the growing season. Aeration helps to loosen compacted soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the roots of the grass. Use a lawn aerator or a pitchfork to create small holes in the soil, allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots of the grass.

3. Test Your Soil

Testing the soil is necessary to determine its pH level and nutrient content. You can buy a soil testing kit at your local garden center or contact your local cooperative extension service for a soil test. Based on the results, you can amend the soil with lime to raise the pH level or sulfur to lower it. You can also add fertilizers to provide the necessary nutrients.

4. Fertilize Your Lawn

Fertilizing the lawn is crucial to providing the necessary nutrients for the grass to grow. Using the results from your soil test, you should be able to find out what the best NPK ratio for your lawn is (NPK stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium and refers to the nutrients being added to the soil).

We recommend purchasing a slow-release fertilizer from a local hardware or garden center. Then, apply the fertilizer evenly across the lawn, following the manufacturer's instructions, and watering it well.

5. Reseed Bare Patches

Once your lawn is aeration and fertilized, it provides the perfect environment for lawn seed germination. Bare patches on the lawn can be unsightly and provide an opportunity for weeds to take root, overseeding bare patches is an essential step in preparing your lawn for the growing season. 

Make sure to evenly sprinkle grass seed over the entire yard. Water the area well and keep it moist even after the grass has germinated.

6. Get Rid of Weeds

Weeds can choke out your grass and compete for resources, preventing it from growing correctly. That’s why it is best to apply a pre-emergent weed killer before the weeds have a chance to germinate. If it’s too late and weeds are already popping up in your yard, you can also use a post-emergent weed killer to target any weeds that have already emerged. Learn how to get rid of weeds in your yard.

But make sure to read the instructions on the packaging carefully before applying the herbicide, as you don’t want to accidentally damage your grass with the chemicals.

7. Water Your Grass Regularly

While your grass is growing, it needs a lot of water to help it thrive. But be careful not to overwater the lawn, as this can lead to standing water, root rot, and even lawn diseases. Learn when and how often to water your Colorado lawn.

8. Mow Your Lawn

Once your grass is growing, it is time to start mowing the lawn regularly is necessary to keep it healthy and looking its best. Set the mower blade to the appropriate height for your grass type and mow regularly, removing no more than one-third of the grass blade at a time.

If your grass is having problems growing, consider some of these common lawn issues.

Call The Lawn Care Professionals

If you are looking for professional lawn care in Greeley, CO, look no further than American Turf & Tree Care! With a variety of lawn care services, our lawn care technicians will take care of your grass, so you get to spend more time doing things you enjoy.