Updated On

October 31, 2023

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    It’s that time of year again when everything is starting to brighten up. The grass is growing, flowers are blooming, and it’s time to ensure your lawn is in perfect condition for the rest of the season. We have put together some of the best spring lawn care tips for your home; from putting down grass seed to weed control to get your equipment in shape for the busy growing season, now is the time to take care of your spring lawn.

    For those that want a healthy lawn, sometimes it makes sense to choose one of the best lawn care services around. A lawn care service like TruGreen will help homeowners get control of their yards and make the most of the growing season. Whether you choose the DIY method or professional services, here are our best Spring lawn care tips.

    10 Tips for Spring Lawn Care

    The springtime can be a bit of a guessing game when it comes to what your lawn will look like. Whether there are bare patches that need new grass, some thatch, or you simply want to keep it looking as great as it does right now, these 10 tips for spring lawn care will ensure that all the neighbors will be jealous of your lawn.

    1. Tune Up Your Mower

    The spring is when the warm season grasses start to ramp up their growth. At this point, the grass blades will experience slow growth and need less frequent mowing. This makes it the ideal time to sharpen the mower blades, change the oil and check the filter in your mower. When the grass is growing at warp speed, you will be ready to run that mower every few days.

    2. Rake Your Yard

    Rake your yard in the late spring to remove any debris and buildup accumulated through the winter. When you rake the lawn, you will also be able to see bare spots that may need your attention in the near future. The grass will also appreciate the extra water and sunlight exposure after you rake.

    3. Aerate and Dethatch the Soil

    Thatch will develop over the winter, and to have healthy grass throughout the summer, you will need to aerate and dethatch the soil. This can be done by a professional or with an attachment added to your lawn mower. This process allows all of the critical nutrients in fertilizer and herbicide to make their way down into the soil and help with lawn weeds and the overall health of the grass.

    4. Soil Testing

    Homeowners should consider doing some soil testing to ensure that the pH levels in the soil are correct. You can purchase a test kit and send it off for testing with information about the type of grass you are growing. The pH of your soil can be changed by using the proper lawn care products, so if the pH is off, now is the time to get it fixed.

    5. Apply Pre-emergent Herbicide

    The pre-emergent herbicide will ensure that weeds never make their way into your green lawn. Weedkillers will treat the weeds once they have an established root system growing up through the grass. Pre-emergent stops the problem before it starts. Always make sure to time the pre-emergent carefully, and do it before the weeds start to sprout.

    6. Mow Your Lawn on High Setting

    The spring is not a time to scalp your lawn. The weather in the spring is still a bit iffy, and if you cut your grass too short, chances are it will have some issues with strength and tolerance. This could significantly weaken the turf and delay the green color and lush turf you are looking for in the summer.

    7. Overseed and Reseed as Necessary 

    Once you have your grass raked out, you can see where any bare spots may have developed through the winter months. Take the time to reseed and overseed the grass in the areas where it needs it the most. Ensure that you water the new seed and watch it closely, especially in the first few days after planting.

    8. Fertilize Your Lawn

    A spring fertilizer will help ensure that your lawn has what it needs to protect against weeds and ensure that it has some of the best nutrients to improve the color and thickness of the turf. It often makes sense to use a weed and feed type product with a crabgrass preventer and weed preventer built-in.

    9. Lawn Pest Control

    Grubs and other insects can take a healthy lawn and turn it into a problem quite quickly. Whether you have Zoysia, St. Augustine, Fescue, or Bermuda, lawn pest control is incredibly important. With pest control, you may consider using a professional like TruGreen to ensure that your grass is properly protected and treated. It’s best to handle pest control-related issues preemptively as opposed to waiting for a problem.

    10. Water and Maintain Your Lawn

    Spring can be rainy, but this does not mean you are off the hook for all of your lawn watering needs. Ensure that you use the sprinkler and watch for puddling and proper water coverage. If you do not maintain your lawn and keep it watered, the new growth will slow considerably.

    Professional Lawn Care

    If the top tips for spring lawn care have you feeling a bit overwhelmed, there are professional lawn care services that can help. The great thing about professional lawn maintenance is that you will save time on the actual work required to maintain the lawn and on the time and research. Knowing the proper chemicals, fertilizers, herbicides, water amounts, etc., your lawn needs takes time and energy to understand.

    TruGreen is one of the most well-known professional lawn care companies on the market. You won’t have to worry about tree trimming, shrub trimming, grass care, emerging weeds, grubs, fungus, and more with TruGreen. To find out more about what TruGreen has to offer, take a look at our thorough review of TruGreen.

    Sunday Lawn Care is another popular company with a well-known established reputation also offering DIY solutions that can be a good substitute for TruGreen.

    TruGreen Services and Plans

    TruGreen has a plan for every homeowner and lawn type. Whether you have a few dandelions on your lawn or need a company to manage everything for you, there is a TruGreen plan to work for your home.

    One of the best things about TruGreen is that they have licenses that allow them to spray and treat insects. This means that you will only need one company to handle any issues that come up around the home. TruGreen even has the necessary mowers with tines to complete full aeration of your yard in the spring.

    If you start with a TruGreen lawn fertilizer treatment or a basic mowing plan in the early spring, you can always upgrade to full service at some point. When homeowners calculate the cost of the equipment needed to handle their spring lawn care, sometimes the TruGreen solution is the best.

    TruGreen Lawn Service Options

    TruHealthTruCompleteTruSignature
    Best On A BudgetBest ValueBest Premium 
    Weed Control Weed Control Weed Control 
    FertilizationFertilizationFertilization
    Tailored Lawn Treatment Tailored Lawn Treatment Tailored Lawn Treatment 
    Aeration and OverseedingAeration and Overseeding
    Tree and Shrub Care 
    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Elisabeth Beauchamp

    Elisabeth Beauchamp

    Senior Staff Writer

    Elisabeth Beauchamp is a content producer for Today’s Homeowner’s Lawn and Windows categories. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in Journalism and Linguistics. When Elisabeth isn’t writing about flowers, foliage, and fertilizer, she’s researching landscaping trends and current events in the agricultural space. Elisabeth aims to educate and equip readers with the tools they need to create a home they love.

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    photo of Lora Novak

    Lora Novak

    Senior Editor

    Lora Novak meticulously proofreads and edits all commercial content for Today’s Homeowner to guarantee that it contains the most up-to-date information. Lora brings over 12 years of writing, editing, and digital marketing expertise. She’s worked on thousands of articles related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation, roofing, plumbing, lawn/garden, pest control, insurance, and other general homeownership topics.

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