The spring season in Indiana is synonymous with new, beautiful grass growth. However, if you don't take the necessary precautions, you could end up with brown, weak grass this spring. The last mow of the season should be at the correct height, otherwise, you might be looking at a diseased lawn. Also, you should not overlook leaf removal in the fall since leaf piles can suffocate your turf. And, what better way to start the spring than to kickstart your lawn's growth with fertilizer? Keep reading to learn more about how you can avoid weak grass in the spring.


Make sure the last mow of the season is the correct height.

Our landscape professional mowing a client's lawn in Noblesville, IN.

The last mow of the season is critical. It prepares your grass for the winter season by ensuring that it is at the correct height to help it survive the cold months ahead. Unlike the regular mowing height of cutting about a third off the top of the grass blades, the last mow of the season should be shorter. We recommend that you set the mower height to two inches. When you mow before the winter, you can leave some grass clippings behind and let them release essential nutrients to your grass.

Mowing the grass short decreases moisture retention from the snowfall. Moisture provides the ideal breeding environment for fungi that cause lawn diseases. If a disease affects your lawn in dormancy, you might wake up to brown and weak grass in the spring. The best time to perform the last mow of the season is when the grass has stopped growing.

Cool-season grasses start to slow down their growth when the soil temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.


Prep Your Lawn For The Snow By Removing Leaves in Your Yard

Leaves being blown off of our client's lawn in Carmel, IN.

The leaves that gather on your lawn in the fall are pretty. There's no doubt about that. However, they should be removed if you don't want your turf to be weak come springtime. That is because letting thick leaf piles sit on your lawn creates a harmful blanket that blocks essential nutrients, water, air, and sunlight from reaching the roots of your grass.

The best way to prep your lawn before the snow is to remove all the leaves in your yard. Aside from weakening your turf, the additional weight from leaves can smother your lawn and trap moisture below. Not only can this foster lawn diseases but leaf piles can also attract insects since they will provide them with shelter and protection from the cool temperatures.


Fertilize Your Grass in Early Spring

Our lawn care specialist spreading fertilizer by a home in Westfield, IN.

Spring is the season of growth and revitalization. If you want to start this season right, make sure your grass is healthy and thriving by giving it a boost of nutrients. Fertilizing your turf in early spring gives your turf a jump start to robust growth after winter dormancy. That is because fertilizers provide these essential macronutrients to your lawn:

  • Nitrogen: This nutrient aids in protein formation and chlorophyll production. Chlorophyll is the green pigment that gives you vibrantly green grass even in early spring.
  • Phosphorus: Phosphorus is responsible for photosynthesis - your turf's ability to turn energy into food. This nutrient boosts your turf's development and helps it enter the growing season on the right foot.
  • Potassium: This macronutrient helps promote the roots of your grass to develop. With deep roots, your grass can absorb more nutrients from the soil.

You should also schedule weed control treatments in the spring to prevent weeds from stealing nutrients from your grass.


Give us a call today to schedule our lawn mowing, leaf removal, and fertilization services.

Having weak and unsightly grass in the spring is no way to start the year! Prepare your lawn as early as fall with our lawn mowing and leaf removal services, then follow it up with much-needed fertilization treatments in the spring. We offer our services to property owners in Noblesville, Carmel, Westfield, IN and nearby areas. Call our experts today at (317) 900-7151 to get an estimate on our services!