Spring Lawncare Checklist: 7 Tips to Bring Your Lawn Back to Life After a Long Maine Winter

Winter in Maine may feel long, but believe it or not, spring is just around the corner! That means it’s time to start thinking about your spring lawn care checklist.

Reviving your lawn after a harsh winter may seem like a daunting task. In actuality, with a few simple steps, you can rest assured that your property will be healthy when spring finally arrives.

Read on to get 7 tips to bring your lawn back to life after a long Maine winter.

1. Protect your grass.

Caring for your lawn in the spring actually begins with caring for it in the winter. Think of everything your Maine yard goes through during the coldest months of the year: heavy snow, sleet, and ice; not to mention foot traffic, shoveling, snow blowing, and even plowing.

If possible, do what you can to ensure your lawn isn’t getting heavy foot traffic or is in need of too much snow removal from snow blowing or plowing. That means establishing clear walking or driving paths on your property, from hardscaping to pavers to concrete. Then, keep these areas clear and sanded or salted all winter long.

2. Rake your grass.

Once late winter or early spring rolls around, the snow has melted, and the ground is nice and dry, raking the lawn should be one of your first priorities. 

Not only will raking remove dead growth from the winter, but you’ll also be able to give your Maine lawn a quick refresh by uncovering fresh new grass.

3. Aerate your lawn.

After winter, the ground can be tough and compact; aerating the soil gives the roots better access to both air and nutrients. 

Using an aerating tool (or hiring a reliable company to aerate the lawn for you) makes holes in the ground to give new grass room to grow. Aerating is also beneficial when you overseed or fertilize the grass.

Plus, when the grass deals with a tough Maine winter, aerating can help your lawn recover more quickly after freezing and thawing.

4. Overseed patchy spots.

Now that you’ve raked and aerated your lawn, you have a good sense of where there are any thin, patchy, or damaged areas from the winter. Damaged areas can spread, while open or thin patches of grass leave plenty of room for weed growth.

Overseed these areas by seeding them with new grass. Give these overseeded areas plenty of extra water to ensure the grass grows strong and healthy.

5. Fertilize.

In areas like the Northeast, where grass goes dormant during the winter, fertilizing is crucial for giving the yard a great start for spring.

Fertilizing in early spring ensures strong root and shoot growth for your Maine lawn, and will even increase the density and drought tolerance of your grass. Fertilizer is also critical for giving grass the optimal nutrients for growth, including a balanced pH. 

Here at Prime Cut, our early spring fertilizing product also helps control pre-emergent crabgrass!

6. Stimulate growth by mowing.

To stimulate continual and new growth, mowing your lawn once the grass reaches about 3 inches in height is ideal.

That said, easing back into mowing is also important. After all, your grass just went through a lot during the winter months. Once your lawn reaches about 3 inches long, be sure to do a light trim, so there are no issues with exposing roots by cutting the lawn too short.

7. Water frequently.

After both fertilizing and overseeding, your lawn will need extra watering. (As you know, water is a key ingredient for healthy grass!)

Try watering (or setting your irrigation system) in the morning so your lawn can soak up all the water prior to it potentially evaporating as it gets warmer throughout the day.

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Follow these 7 tips to ensure your Maine lawn comes back to life quickly come spring time.
For help in the greater Buxton, Maine area with your spring landscaping needs, contact us at Prime Cut Landscaping & Lawn Care today!