Spring is the perfect time to breathe new life into your garden. This often starts with the lawn. After a long winter of dormancy, your grass is now hungry for nutrients. We're happy to help you get your lawn back in top condition this spring. Below, we share helpful tips for effective lawn maintenance.
Clean your lawn
Before you start fertilizing or mowing the lawn, it's a good idea to first clear it of leaves, twigs, and other debris that has accumulated over the winter. A thorough cleaning allows your grass to breathe freely and optimally benefit from the sunlight and nutrients you'll add later. Use a rake to remove the coarse debris, or save time with a powerful STIHL leaf blower or leaf vacuum .
Repair imperfections and bald spots
After clearing the lawn, you can check for any unevenness. After the winter, holes or bumps may appear in the soil that you need to smooth out. Use a shovel or rake to break up the raised areas and even out the soil. You can reseed any bare patches, so your lawn will be fully green again within a few weeks. This is also a good time to check the soil's drainage. If necessary, you can loosen any compacted areas with a garden fork or awl.
Preparing for mowing
Once your lawn is cleared and leveled, it's time to prepare for mowing. Make sure the ground is completely dry before you begin so the mower doesn't damage the grass. Also, check the condition of your mower; are the blades still sharp enough, or do they need sharpening? Sharp blades ensure a clean cut, which is essential for a healthy lawn.
Fertilizing for a green start
A healthy lawn starts with a good foundation. After winter, grass is often weakened and hungry. Therefore, use a specialized fertilizer that gives your lawn a flying start in spring. Fertilize your lawn as soon as it starts growing actively and make sure to water it thoroughly afterward. This helps the nutrients penetrate deep into the soil, where they can reach your grass's roots.
Do you have moss in your lawn? Then fertilizing is especially important. A well-fertilized lawn is less affected by moss because the grass grows stronger and denser, preventing the moss from spreading.
Scarifying for healthy grass
Are you experiencing a lot of moss or thatch in your lawn? Then scarifying can help! This process removes dead grass and moss, allowing the soil to absorb more air and water. The best time to scarify is after mowing and fertilizing your lawn once or twice, so the grass is strong enough to withstand the process.
Intensive use can lead to compacted soil, which hinders your grass's oxygen and water absorption. Aeration is a good way to improve soil structure. This is done by creating small holes in the soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate more deeply. A scarifier with an aeration function is a useful tool for this.
Read all about scarifying with Stihl scarifiers in this blog .
Add lime for a healthy pH value
Moss thrives in acidic soil, so if you regularly experience moss problems, you may need to add lime to your lawn. Lime helps raise the soil's pH, which promotes better grass growth and reduces moss growth. Liming is ideally applied in early spring, after mowing and scarifying. Use a simple soil test to determine if your lawn needs lime and apply it evenly for best results.
Mowing and mulching
Now that your lawn is well-prepared, you can start mowing regularly. Want to make it easy on yourself? Then choose STIHL mulching mowers and iMOW® robotic mowers . These machines shred the grass clippings and spread them over your lawn as a natural fertilizer. This means you'll need to fertilize less often, keeping your grass healthy and green.
This spring you'll have a perfect lawn!
With proper maintenance in the spring, you'll have a beautiful, healthy lawn all year round. With the right approach and the help of STIHL products, you can keep your lawn looking green all season long. Have questions or need advice? Our experts are ready to provide you with all the tools and advice you need to get your garden back in top condition.
