Spring can be unpredictable in New Jersey, with late season snowstorms that may bring fresh snow followed immediately by record-breaking warm days. There are several ways homeowners can carefully work with New Jersey springs to keep their lawn in peak condition no matter how crazy the season may be.
Do a Spring Clean Up
After the snow melts, you might discover quite a bit of leaves and other debris have made their way onto your lawn. You want to promptly remove anything covering your lawn to make sure oxygen can get to your grass. This is also the time to remove dead plant stocks and trim up your bushes.
Mower Tune-ups
Because spring might arrive quickly and unexpectedly, it is important to have the lawn mower and other tools tuned up, sharpened, and ready for work early in the season. This will ensure the tools are ready to use right away, as soon as spring conditions demand mowing, edging, or trimming.
If it snows in early spring
To balance the lawn’s recovery and speed snow melting more evenly, gently rake or spread snow throughout the yard, trimming down drifts and putting more snow on drier patches so it melts evenly.
Stay Off a Wet Lawn
When your lawn is still soggy from melting snow and spring rains, it is important to stay off it to minimize the risk of compacting the soil and damaging the turf.
Raking
Raking is an essential spring chore not only to remove the last leaves that were not gathered up in fall, but also to rejuvenate grass and remove snow mold or upper layers of thatch so water can more easily penetrate the soil.
Seeding
Spring is not the best time to seed lawns in New Jersey. It’s tempting to fill brown patches with grass seed, but if you are also applying pre-emergent or weed killer, the seeds won’t germinate. Instead, fertilize the lawn, and in a few weeks, shoots will grow and fill in the brown spots, If the brown patches are too big, or you just can’t wait, sod is the better option.
Crabgrass and Weed Control
Two applications of herbicides to prevent crabgrass and other unwanted weeds are best in the New Jersey. Green Side Up will apply the first application in March/April, and the second in May.
Mowing
It is time to mow your lawn when the grass reaches 3-4 inches tall, but do not mow it any shorter than 2 inches in order to help it better retain moisture and resist weeds.