Winter turns a once lush green lawn into a sad, brownish and in many places bare sight. The delicate grasses suffer from winter cold, a possible snow load or simply excessive moisture. Moss and felt are often the result of the bare season, so spring maintenance measures such as fertilizing and scarifying are essential. But when is the right time to do this?
Timing and optimal sequence
In order for maintenance measures such as fertilizing and scarifying to be fully effective and for the lawn to appear as lush green as desired afterwards, the most important thing is the optimal time for each measure as well as the correct sequence.
Liming
The first important measure for a balanced fertilization is the liming of the lawn. By the beginning of March at the latest, lime the lawn to bring its pH value into the right range. If the soil is too acidic, the grasses grow poorly, cannot absorb sufficient nutrients (and therefore turn yellow), and mosses as well as weeds such as wood sorrel quickly take over.
For this purpose, use a simple lawn lime, which simply consists of ground sedimentary rock. Apply it evenly on the lawn, dosing the amount according to the degree of acidity of the soil. For a highly acidic subsoil, plan on about half a kilogram of lime per square meter of area. If, on the other hand, the pH value is only to be maintained, 200 grams are sufficient for the same area. Afterwards, a heavy rain should wash the lime into the soil.
Tip: Mosses and weeds are a clear sign that the soil is too acidic, so the best way to combat this unwanted growth is to lime it. best to combat this unwanted growth by lime.
Mowing
Now let the lawn rest until April, because on the one hand, lime needs a lot of time to develop its effect, and on the other hand, the maintenance work that now follows only makes sense when temperatures are at least ten degrees Celsius. The first lawn cutting, for example, is done in April at the earliest, when the ground is warm enough for the new growth to begin.
After that, the grasses sprout more and form stronger roots – which is also the main reason for spring pruning. After all, healthy grass grows only on healthy and strong roots, which provide an adequate supply of water and nutrients to the above-ground parts of the plant.
In order for mowing to bring about the desired results, please pay attention to these tips:
- only mow when the soil temperature is at least ten degrees Celsius
- do not set the lawn mower deeper than four centimeters
- do not mow when it is raining, let the lawn dry first
- in case of drought after mowing
- water
- do not mulch or remove grass cuttings with a rake
Fertilize
Immediately after the first mowing, fertilize the lawn so that the grasses receive the necessary nutrients for their growth. Use a fast-acting, mineral slow-release fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. This will release its nutrients continuously over a period of three to four months, ensuring a steady supply to the grasses.
Be sure to fertilize only when the weather is damp or shortly before rain is announced – on dry ground, the highly concentrated nutrients firstly do not reach the roots and secondly burn the sensitive grasses. If there is no rain in sight, artificial irrigation of the lawn is recommended afterwards.
Tip: Every year, before the first fertilization, have some soil samples tested in a laboratory specializing in this field. Together with the analysis of the soil composition, you will receive recommendations for optimal fertilization. Thus, the soil analysis helps to avoid over-fertilization or under-fertilization.
Scarify
About ten to 14 days after the first fertilization, it is advisable to scarify the lawn. The lawn needs this time to strengthen and sprout again after the winter. Scarifying or aerating the soil is a great stress for the grasses, after all, the turf is perforated and numerous roots are cut. However, this measure is not necessary in every case, because the scarifier you need to get out of the shed or borrow from the garden center only in these cases:
- Lawn heavily infiltrated with moss
- grasses grow only weakly
- Soil is impermeable, puddles form after rainfall
If, on the other hand, the lawn shows healthy growth in the spring and little or no moss is visible, you can save on aerating the lawn.
The best time for this measure is after the second lawn cut from the end of April / beginning of May, as the lawn can then grow back vigorously. If the lawn still looks unhealthy despite all efforts, you should apply fertilizer again after scarifying.
Reseeding
Only at the very end, when all early-season maintenance work has been completed, reseed any bare spots in the lawn. Use the same seed mix for this as for the rest of the lawn – or spread the seeds not only on the sparsely overgrown areas, but also in the lawn around them.
Otherwise, the reseeded patch could be clearly visible later because the grass species were mixed differently and thus have a different shade of green. With a wider distribution of seeds, you blur the boundaries and make the patch less noticeable.