How to Get Your Lawn Thick and Ready for Spring

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By: Abagail Falletti, lawnmowerclub.com

How is your lawn looking? It might be clean and nicely trimmed. Maybe it’s green but spotty—or it could be rotten and brown. It’s a great time to get ready for spring. Follow a few simple suggestions and you too can have a nice, healthy lawn. You can always over-seed your lawn or you can take the targeted approach. Here are few easy and inexpensive ways to get it thick and ready for the spring.

CLEAR
Gather all twigs, branches, and garbage that have been collecting throughout the winter and autumn.

SELECT
Determine what type of grass you want to plant. There are eight grass types that are commonly used in Tennessee. The three most popular selection for this area are:

Tall Fescue—This is a very thin grass that does very well in cool or shaded areas. You will often see it naturally growing in patches.

Kentucky Blue Grass—I would recommend this type above all grasses. It will spread throughout your lawn. It does very well in sunny and rainy areas.

Bermuda Grass—This grass is often used in golf courses because it can be cut very short. It dies in the winter but is beautiful in the spring and summer. It is invasive and will take over your lawn.

Those are some of the most popular grass types. For information, I recommend going to grass types at Roundup.com.

FILL
Seed the bare spots and scatter some healthy soil on top of the old grass.
Remember, to spread your seed generously and cover them with soil. Thinly seeded lawns leave room for weeds to grow.

FERTILIZE
Whether or not you plant additional seed, apply fertilizer and pre-emergent every six to seven weeks. Without the pre-emergent (weed killer for lawns) crabgrass will begin to appear throughout your lawn by mid-spring. Crabgrass will die out in the winter but will return in abundance the next spring. For more information on treating weeds and grasses that spoil an otherwise beautiful lawn, follow the link weed control at Scotts.com.

MOW
Mow your grass often, not every two weeks but once every five days. A lawnmower can only cut so much, and if your grass gets too high, it will become unhealthy. Un-mowed grass gets long, and as it reaches for sunlight, thins out and doesn’t fill out your lawn. Don’t cut your grass too short either. This can lead to more weeds and more bugs. If you follow these rules and mow your grass often, you will have that beautiful lawn you’ve always wanted.

Thankfully you’re a member of The Lawn Mower Club!

Next month we’ll discuss how and when to water your lawn.