Each spring here in Michigan home owners put away the winter snow equipment and bring back out the lawn mowers, fertilizers and other spring and summer lawn equipment. Below is a helpful list of tips to help get you started this spring.
- Spread granular, slow-acting organic fertilizer. (Optional if you fertilized in the fall or winter.) Slow-release fertilizer is more beneficial to your plants than fast-release fertilizer. Fast-release fertilizer can encourage excess growth which can make your plants more susceptible to insects and disease, they can also disrupt the life in the soil below.
- Aerate the lawn to treat compacted soil. Aerating your lawn helps oxygen, water, organic fertilizer and nutrients get to the roots of your lawn. By doing this you are helping them grow, which will make your grass greener and easier to maintain.
- Mulch with organic matter, if necessary. Mulching offers a wide variety of benefits and is highly recommended to protect and insulate your beds.
- Sharpen your mower blades at the start of the season. Having a sharpened blade helps to cut grass clean so the grass can recovery quickly.
- Prune your trees and shrubs as necessary. Pruning helps keep your trees and shrubs healthy by removing the dead, damaged and infected parts allowing for new healthy limbs to take their place.
Please remember you should always preform routine maintenance as well by raking, weeding and cutting as needed.