Basic Spring Lawn Care for April

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By Fran Phalin

Your lawn has made it through March, so now for the month of April, it would be a wise idea to continue your March lawn care responsibilities in compost, mowing, irrigation, and basic spring lawn care including weeding.

Compost

If you have not applied any compost to your lawn, now would be the perfect time to make an application.

Mowing

You have probably noticed that your lawn has been growing steadily. Continue to mow your lawn, keeping the mower height at an average of three inches. Also, remove only one-third of the entire grass height with each mowing activity. Some additional tips for mowing include keeping your blade sharp by sharpening every four hours of use and retaining your clippings on the lawn. By collecting your clippings, they will decompose quickly and release nitrogen back into the soil.

Irrigation

April showers will prove useful for your lawn and should be a sufficient enough water source.

Basic Lawn Care for April

Seeding/Weed

If you have a thin, weak lawn or bare spots, you should consider seeding your lawn. Certain types of grass will germinate when soil temperatures are between 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

These exact symptoms of a thin lawn or bare spots can also allow weeds to grow. To deal with weeds, you should first identify what kind of weeds you have before deciding on a weed control option. Secondly, determine your weed's unique life cycle and biology and whether or not the control you choose is appropriate. Keep in mind that annual weeds die off and can leave bare soil that is inclined to increased "run-off." Perennial weeds, however, can help in maintaining density and decreasing the "run-off" weed rate, if they are dense enough.

Lawn care specialists recommend the following if you have more weeds than you can handle:

• Mow at a consistent height every time, keeping in mind your species of grass. Mowing higher can help turf shade out weeds.



• Decrease the level of soil compaction around heavily trodden areas and turf next to pavement areas.



• Weed by hand when the soil is somewhat moist.



• Apply compost to improve lawn density if your lawn is thin.

By cultivating your lawn into a healthy. strong turf grass, you will have a lawn strongly resistant of weeds. April is not only a month of welcoming spring, but it is also a very important time to exercise some care for your lawn, especially regarding weed control so that you can enjoy your lush and beautiful lawn in months to come.

Fran Phalin is a homeowner and freelance editor/writer on things that work and is based in Austin, Texas. Fran has worked successfully with the guys at Anteater Pest & Lawn to get her lawn care problems resolved. Anteater Pest & Lawn offers a comprehensive solution for lawn care service. Visit Anteater at www.goanteater.com

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