Spring in New Hampshire means it is time to help your lawn recover from months of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Your grass has endured long winters, sometimes with late March snowstorms, ice-covered lawns, and even plow or salt damage near driveways and sidewalks.
The first steps are simple but essential. You need to clean up debris left over from winter, check and improve your often-acidic soil, repair bare or damaged patches, control weeds, fertilize at the right time under state rules, and start mowing carefully. Following these steps will set your lawn up for a healthy, strong growing season and prevent small winter problems from turning into bigger headaches.
In this guide, we will walk through each step and give you practical tips that work specifically for New Hampshire lawns.
- 1. Clean Up Winter Debris
- 2. Check for Salt Damage
- 3. Look for Vole or Rodent Damage
- 4. Test and Improve Your Soil
- 5. Repair or Overseed Bare Patches
- 6. Dethatch (If Needed)
- 7. Aerate (If Needed)
- 8. Fertilize at the Right Time
- 9. Control Weeds
- 10. Mow High (and Correctly)
- 11. Water Wisely
- 12. Seed (If Necessary)
1. Clean Up Winter Debris
Once the snow finally disappears, grab a stiff metal rake and clear out dead grass, matted spots, and leftover branches.
New Hampshire lawns often emerge from winter looking tired, so this early cleanup helps sunlight reach the soil and wakes the grass faster. Go easy if the ground is still soft. New Hampshire turf pulls up easily when the soil is wet from snowmelt.
Late-season snow tip: Snow keeps piling up in March in many parts of New Hampshire. If it stacks unevenly, use a rake or shovel to spread it out. Thick, uneven snow piles melt more slowly and can lead to snow mold from trapped moisture.
If you see snow mold (gray or pink circular patches with matted grass), help the grass heal by:
- Lightly raking affected areas
- Letting sunlight and air reach the soil
- Avoiding excess water
Only severe, recurring snow mold issues ever need fungicide.
2. Check for Salt Damage
Road salt and ice melt are a big issue for New Hampshire lawns, especially along driveways and walkways. Salt can kill grass and leave straw-colored, dead patches.
Once everything thaws:
- Rinse salt-damaged areas with water.
- Rake out dead spots.
- Add gypsum if salt seems heavy.
- Overseed areas that don’t recover.
3. Look for Vole or Rodent Damage
Deep snowpack gives voles cover all winter, and they often leave tunnels and runways across your lawn.
To fix it:
- Rake the matted trails.
- Loosen the soil.
- Overseed bare areas.
Note: Most vole damage typically recovers naturally as temperatures warm.
4. Test and Improve Your Soil
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New Hampshire soils often lean acidic. Snowmelt and winter weather can throw pH and nutrients out of balance. A soil test tells you exactly what your lawn needs, like lime, nitrogen, organic matter, or nothing at all.
You can do this yourself with a DIY soil testing kit. However, sending a sample to the UNH Cooperative Extension gives the most accurate results. Make amendments now while the soil is still workable.
5. Repair or Overseed Bare Patches
Winter can leave behind bald spots from ice, plows, and long snow cover. Spring overseeding works in New Hampshire, but seedlings will need extra care to survive summer heat.
Loosen the soil, spread seed, and keep it consistently moist.
Best grass types for New Hampshire:
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Perennial ryegrass
- Fine and tall fescues
Important: If you plan to seed, skip pre-emergent weed control. It blocks new grass from sprouting.
6. Dethatch (If Needed)
New Hampshire’s wet spring weather can lead to thick thatch buildup. You only need to dethatch if the layer is over 1/2 inch.
Use a dethatching rake or power rake in mid- to late spring when the lawn is growing actively. Avoid doing this too early.
7. Aerate (If Needed)
Only aerate in spring if your lawn is clearly compacted. Compaction shows up as puddles, runoff, or thin grass.
Core aeration breaks up compacted soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots again. You can aerate your lawn two ways: spike aeration, which simply pokes holes and gives only short-term relief, or core aeration, which pulls out small plugs of soil. Removing the plugs is more effective because it actually breaks up the compaction instead of just pushing the soil aside.
If your soil isn’t compacted, skip this step and save it for fall.
8. Fertilize at the Right Time
Apply fertilizer in late March or April, once the soil is workable and the lawn begins greening up. Use a slow-release formula so growth stays steady, not weak and fast.
A second light application after the first couple of mows can help if your soil test calls for it. Fall feeding is still the most important one for New Hampshire lawns.
Important: New Hampshire has rules on nitrogen and phosphorus use, which directly affect what homeowners can apply in spring. Before you buy anything, check the guidelines on New Hampshire’s fertilizer law. It explains when phosphorus is allowed, how much nitrogen you can apply, and how to choose products that meet state limits.
9. Control Weeds
Crabgrass and other spring weeds begin germinating once the soil warms into the 50s, usually late April or May in New Hampshire.
Options:
- Pre-emergent to stop weeds before they sprout
- Post-emergent if weeds are already visible
- Hand-pulling for small patches
If seeding, avoid pre-emergent unless it’s labeled safe for new grass.
10. Mow High (and Correctly)
Start mowing once the grass shows active growth, usually late April in southern New Hampshire and early May farther north.
Set your mower based on your grass type:
- Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass: 2 to 3 inches
- Fine fescue: 1.5 to 3 inches
- Tall fescue: 2 to 4 inches
Mow when the grass is dry, and never cut more than one-third of the blade at once.
Before your first mow, tune up your equipment:
- Sharpen the mower blade (dull blades tear grass and invite disease)
- Change the oil
- Replace the air filter and spark plug
- Add fresh fuel or charge the battery
- Clean out old clippings under the deck
A quick tune-up keeps the mower running smoothly through New Hampshire’s full growing season and helps you get a cleaner, healthier cut.
If you are an avid DIYer, check out our guide to DIY lawn mower maintenance.
11. Water Wisely
Spring rain usually gives New Hampshire lawns plenty of moisture early on. Start watering only when rainfall drops or the lawn shows stress.
New seedlings need more frequent watering and light, steady moisture until they establish. Established turf does best with deep, infrequent watering.
12. Seed (If Necessary)
You can seed in spring in New Hampshire between March and May, but be ready to babysit the new grass through the summer heat. Keep soil moist, avoid heavy foot traffic, and mow carefully once seedlings reach mowing height.
For best results, seed again (or for the first time) in August through September, which is peak seeding season according to the UNH Cooperative Extension.
Hire a Pro in New Hampshire
When spring finally arrives, your New Hampshire lawn will need a little extra TLC to bounce back from the freeze and get ready for summer. If you’re short on time (or just don’t feel like battling the yard after months of snow), New Hampshire lawn care pros can handle the work for you.
We work with trusted lawn care pros in Concord, Derry, Manchester, and the surrounding areas.
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Main Image: Purple blooms and church in background in New Hampshire. Image Credit: JamesK / Adobe Stock
