Top Reasons Why Lawn Maintenance Rules Springtime

Yes, that color you can see at the edge of your landscape, and in the trees, that color is green. If you are unfortunate enough to be colorblind, that color is still green. If your eyes are watery because the sun is shining on the snow and you’re looking directly at the snow, that color is still green. 

As March is seeing its way out, the ski slopes are closing down because there is no more heavy snowfall predicted for the rest of the season, and there are even patches on the lower slopes that aren’t white; yes, that color is green.

Spring gives us the time and opportunity to celebrate the return of life and robust health to our world. Pennsylvania is lucky enough to experience all four seasons (although a case could be made for eight seasons if you include muddy, dry, red, and soft). Most years, a groundhog helps to celebrate the return of Spring. 

But, let us concentrate on the green – buds on trees, new growth peeking out of the mulch covering our flower bedding, and the return of the grass after a winter spent under a heavy blanket of snow. Of course, sooner or later, the green of the lawn will demand your attention, wanting to be mowed, aerated, seeded, and fed. The less snow you see, the more the lawn will need your help to stay green and healthy.

With the onset of Spring, the green will demand more and more attention and care in maintenance and health. You are lucky enough to have engaged services of Rish’s, and they will know how to take care of each issue. So let’s look at our spring lawn needs and solutions in more detail, shall we?

1. As the snow melts, check each new patch of green for continued health: snow mold, brown patches, and low growth rate. Lawn diseases need immediate attention, and there are some options.

Snow mold needs a lot of attention, and right away! Some kinds of snow mold can be treated by removing the offending patch of grass from the soil, removing the soil, refreshing the soil, and reseeding. But unfortunately, other varieties require removing the grass and the soil and root systems under the mold and into the surrounding lawn. 

Sometimes more than a small patch is looking at treatment for snow mold or removal of the actual plants and soil. Under those conditions, you might want to consider overseeding and patches of sod to return your lawn to its robust good health.

Strange grasses or even weeds are invading the lawn.

Oh, no! The Dreaded Weeds and Dandelions are back! These will, of course, have to be removed and destroyed before they spread over the whole landscape and into the neighbors’ yards. And don’t even think that they don’t know the weeds started on your lawn. 

Please consult with your Rish’s gurus, find out the best methods to deal with weeds, get rid of them, pull them up by the roots, use the recommended herbicides, and get it done. 

Thinning grass.

Thinning problems can be caused by various reasons, including that the grass might need refreshing. Your lawn care partners will know the right solution to return your grass to its former robustness. 

Other problems might include changes in the pH level of the soil or water, insect or disease, thatching and compaction, and mowing the grass to the wrong height. Too much shade can also cause thinning problems.

Standing water or poor drainage.

Unfortunately, these are signs of more significant problems. Thatching and compaction of the soil come most readily to the mind when discussing these problems. This is probably not the result of anything you did in lawn care. During the long winter, the heavy blanket of snow can sometimes cause compaction, and other issues follow.

 Drainage problems need to be addressed immediately before the standing water attracts pests that can affect your health and wellness.

Grass pulls up easily.

Grass should feel rooted if you tug on it. Some will pull up on a healthy lawn, mainly because it breaks, not because the roots come up. However, if the roots are coming up, it’s time to check for grubs or other vermin. These pests can damage the root system, and your lawn care specialists will probably apply pesticides to the area.

Once the pesticides do their jobs, the grass and soil will need to be removed and replaced to eliminate both the pests and the pesticides. Then, after the area is healthy, reseeding and regrowing can happen.

Infestations of insects or other pests.

Again, pesticides are probably the answer, then removing and reseeding the grass.

Mowing too short.

Grass can be mown too short. Who knew? Your friends at Rish’s know, and they are correcting the problem. People who are new to mowing and lawn care often make this mistake when starting. Reseeding, correct mowing, and perhaps overseeding will usually help the grass achieve the healthiest length.

Once the grass is at a healthy length, you may notice that it is cut shorter just before winter to keep the grass blades from having to bend or break under the snow.

Changes in the soil condition of the lawn.

Adjusting the pH of the lawn is a task for your lawn experts. The pH of the lawn is very sensitive, and testing and adjusting by an amateur can do damage.

Too much fertilizer.

Too much fertilizer is as bad as too little and can even cause “burn” marks. This, again, is a job for your lawn experts.

Lawns are living things. If your lawn needs more attention than it’s getting, it might be time to call Rish’s. They do know what to do in each of these circumstances.

And yes, one last hurrah! For Spring and green.