There is always one in every neighborhood. One on every street. You drive by looking longingly, wondering where you’ve gone wrong.. how can you get yours to look like that? You subtly try to spy and see what his tricks are, what products does he use to make it look so lush? You strike up a little friendly neighbourhood conversation… maybe he will slip up and let you know his secrets. 

I’m talking about our front lawns.

How can one patch of grass turn into a unofficial neighborhood competition? Turning neighbor against neighbor, fence lines turning into battle lines. Ok, ok. It isn’t that bad really, but don’t pretend you haven’t been somewhat jealous of your neighbour’s lush green lawn. Battles of who has the greenest lawn goes way back to European Aristocrats whose lush green lawns were seen as a status symbol previously reserved for kings and queens and their castles.

So you can take the title of your neighborhoods best front lawn, here are some spring tips for your lawn.

Pesky weeds.

Before you treat your lawn with some spring time loving, you need to treat those pesky weeds. Consult with your local garden center on the best treatments available. Better still, consult your neighbour with the green lawn. Chances are his soil is similar to yours. Treat the weeds and then after 2 weeks you can follow the next steps.

Hard Soil?

If the soil under your lawn is hard, you will need to hire a Aerator to make holes in the soil. Or you can use a pitch fork.

Fertilise that lawn!

If you have neglected to fertilise your lawn for a while, spring is the time. Fertilising your lawn is quick, easy and you don’t need any special equipment. Regular fertilising of your lawn will keep it in tip top condition all year round and help protect it from the changes in temperature. You could probably skip winter though.

By regularly fertilising your lawn, you’re not only helping it to grow, but you’re also providing it with the nutrient stores it will need to ride out periods of drought when sustenance isn’t as easy to come by.

Spongy lawn? It needs dethatching. 

If your lawn is a bit spongy under foot, it is time for a dethatching. A build up of thatch is what causes sponginess in lawns. Give your lawn a good haircut right back to the runners. It might take a couple of mows to do this. After this, fertilise and water it well, to promote speedy regrowth.

Water thoroughly.

Water your lawn thoroughtly for the first 3 or 4 weeks of spring, particularly if you have fertilised and/or dethatched it. Once your lawn is healthy again you can reduce watering to every 3rd or 4th day.

Dress your lawn with some top soil.

If you find your lawn is a little uneven in places, treat it with some top soil. Ensure you leave some lawn poking out through the top to encourage growth.

There you have it – your spring guide to lawn care. Here’s hoping your lawn is the best on the block by the end of the season!