As we welcome in the springtime and start prepping for summer days in the garden, it’s time to get your lawn looking as good as new. There’s nothing worse than inviting friends or family round to enjoy the warm weather with a barbeque or picnic, only to realize the lawn is looking, let’s just say, a little drab.

To get the most out of your garden, you want to ensure your lawn is looking fresh, healthy, and deliciously green, so here are some top tips on how to prep your lawn, just in time for peak season.

Leave grass to thaw

If you live in a particularly cold area, you might need to give your lawn the chance to really thaw out. It’s recommended to leave the grass to properly thaw for around two weeks before trying to work with it. Otherwise, you could easily damage the lawn if it’s still too saturated.

It’s all about gauging when the best time to work on the ground is. Make sure it’s not too hot or too cold so that the soil and lawn are firm enough to work with but not too soft either. It is worth mentioning that even if the grass already seems too long, you should wait till the soil has completely dried out before using a mower.

Blow out the matted grass

The best way to ensure your lawn is green and fresh is to make sure the roots are getting plenty of air. Good air circulation will promote better growth. After the winter months, grass can become matted under the rain or snowfall. To get your grass better circulated, use a leaf blower to lift the matted grass back up.

It might also be worth raking the lawn to get rid of snow mold or other debris that has fallen over the winter and autumn.

Use an herbicide and tools

Since the aim of lawn prep is to be able to enjoy the outdoors, you don’t want to have to be weeding every week. Using a preemergent herbicide will prevent weeds and crabgrass from being able to germinate. However, if you are planting new grass to cover up dark spots, avoid preemergent herbicides as this will ultimately stop your seeds from growing too. For herbicides, leaf blowers, and other tools that will keep your lawn looking pristine, check out arbourlandscapesolutions.co.uk.

Skip the roller

Although it might be tempted to create beautiful green stripes down the lawn, this will actually just ruin all the hard work you’ve put into growing and prepping the grass. As we mentioned above, the best way to achieve a good lawn is to provide good air circulation. By using a roller, you’re compacting the grass back down, leaving less opportunity for air to reach the roots.

How to solve dark spots

If you’ve noticed your lawn is uneven in color, with dark spots appearing, this can be down to a quick temperature change. The switch between freezing and warmer temperatures doesn’t give the lawn enough time to adapt.

To overcome these spots, give the lawn a good rake, aerate the area and overseed the area with new grass. For more information about prepping your garden for the summer, consult a local landscaper for ideas and advice.