It’s the middle of February here in the Mid-South, but you’d never know it by some of the weather we’ve been having lately! With temperatures well above normal for this time of year, we’re already thinking about the best ways to prepare our lawns for the sweltering summer we’re sure to have.
In Memphis, the biggest lawn care seasons are winter and summer. In order to prepare your lawn for the humid, steamy months ahead, spring lawn care is a must. Here are a few ways to give your lawn a good start for the greenest lawn on the block!
Overseeding
Spring lawn care in the South usually starts with overseeding. This is when you sow in a different variety of grass than what grows naturally out of your lawn. Many property owners will do this to help protect grass and make it grow green during the cold months. If you overseed the grass with cool season varieties before winter arrives, your lawn will be protected from the harshest effects of our dry, cold winters. Without overseeing, the warm season grass commonly found throughout the Mid-South will turn brown and dormant.
If you overseeded your lawn before winter, you can help prepare it for the spring season by:
- Mowing the lawn as low as possible without hurting the permanent grass. Once a week is usually enough.
- Cut back on irrigation to discourage the cold season grass variety from growing.
- Don’t fertilize after February.
- Once the season has turned consistently warm, reduce the rate of mowing and allow the grass to grow. This allows the cool season grass to grow out and be overpowered by the natural warm season grass.
If you didn’t overseed your lawn before the spring, here are some tips that you can follow before spring truly arrives:
- Fertilize the lawn with a spring fertilizing treatment to help give the grass a push in growth.
- Apply pre-emergent herbicide as an early prevention step for those pesky summer weeds.
- Once the temperatures warms to around 70°F consistently, increase your watering and irrigation schedule.
- Restart a regular mowing schedule.
- Dig up or spray non-grassy weeds with a broadleaf weed killer. It’s important to kill the weeds before they flower and set seeds for more weeds.
Spring lawn care in Memphis is generally focused on preparing it to handle the extreme heat of summer. Fertilizing, watering, and weed control should be done carefully to arm the grass against that heat while not overburdening it with excess chemicals.
Memphis mowing and lawn maintenance
We’ve given you some options for DIY spring lawn care, but what if you don’t have the time or the inclination to prep your lawn yourself? Memphis Landscape has got you covered with our Landscape Management services! Here’s a sample of what we offer clients:
- Mowing – keeping your lawn neat and attractive
- Edging – keeping lawn and plant borders clearly defined
- Pruning – promoting proper shape and good health
- Trimming – providing the consistent look to a well-maintained lawn
- Debris Removal – keeping your landscape clean
- Shearing – keeping hedges uniform and providing a more formal appearance
- Weeding – routine removal of unwanted and undesirable plants
Our expert landscaping team have the knowledge and experience to serve a wide range of clients, from apartment complexes to HOAs and residential backyards. If you’re looking for a professional approach to your spring lawn care, get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation. We take pride in creating a lawn that leaves a first impression you can be proud of!