- 1. Get Your Lawn Equipment Ready<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Clean Up Your Yard<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Attack Weeds Early<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Test Your Soil<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Fertilize as Needed<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Mow Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Water, But Don’t Overdo It<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Get Your Lawn Equipment Ready<\/h2>
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Man-replacing-lawn-mower-battery.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Sebastian<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure> The first job on your spring to-do list is to check your lawn care equipment and make any needed repairs:\u00a0<\/p>
- Sharpen your lawn mower blades<\/li>
- Check your mower\u2019s spark plug<\/li>
- Check if you need to change your lawn mower\u2019s oil filter<\/li>
- Inspect lawn and garden tools for damage or rust<\/li>
- Refill the string trimmer line in your weed eater<\/li>
- Test the charge on the batteries that power your electric lawn care equipment<\/li>
- Pick up gas for gas-powered tools<\/li> <\/ul>
See Related:<\/strong>
— How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades<\/a>
— How to Change Spark Plugs on a Lawn Mower<\/a>
— How to Change the Oil in a Lawn Mower in 9 Steps<\/a>
— How to String a Weed Eater<\/a><\/p>2. Clean Up Your Yard<\/h2>
![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Woman-smiling-and-raking-leaves-in-lawn.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Budimir Jevtic<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure> It\u2019s time for a spring cleaning … of your yard. Snowstorms and wind can dump leaves, branches, and other debris on your lawn, smothering grass and,keeping it from getting sunlight, water, and nutrients. Use your rake to clear away all the debris so your grass can breathe.<\/p>
Make sure that all the snow is melted before you start cleaning up, specifically raking. In Trenton, it may snow up to the end of April. Typically, it stops snowing by mid-April.<\/p>
3. Attack Weeds Early<\/h2>
![\"Spraying](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Spraying-weed-killer-with-handheld-sprayer.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: dean<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock Free \/ License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Prevent grassy weeds like crabgrass by using pre-emergent herbicides before weed seeds get a chance to germinate in the spring. Homeowners most commonly use trifluralin, like Preen. <\/p>
When you see weeds sprouting in your grass, apply a post-emergent herbicide<\/a>, like the common fluazifop. <\/p>
You may not need to apply herbicides every season or to your entire lawn. You can spot-treat the affected areas instead.<\/p>
Here\u2019s what to remember if you want to use herbicides:<\/strong><\/p>
- Identify the weeds.<\/li>
- Use the right pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicide.<\/li>
- Follow the herbicides\u2019 instructions on their labels.<\/li> <\/ul>
Common weeds in New Jersey<\/a> include:<\/strong><\/p>
- Crabgrass<\/li>
- Goosegrass<\/li>
- Ground ivy<\/li> <\/ul>
The best time to apply pre-emergent herbicides is early to mid-March.<\/p>
See Related:<\/strong>
— When to Apply Pre-Emergent Weed Killers<\/a>
— How to Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides<\/a><\/p>4. Test Your Soil<\/h2>
![\"Holding](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Holding-soil-for-soil-test.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Pixel-Shot<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock Free \/ License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> You need a soil test every year to know what nutrients your lawn needs. Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory can help you test your lawn. Soil test prices<\/a> range from $20to $90 for a detailed analysis.\u00a0<\/p>
You also can buy a DIY soil test kit, which will give you limited information.<\/p>
Depending on which soil test you get, it can reveal things like:<\/strong><\/p>
- Nutrient levels<\/li>
- pH<\/li>
- Soluble salt level<\/li>
- Organic matter content<\/li>
- Soil textural class<\/li>
- Gravel content<\/li>
- Percentages of sand, silt, and clay<\/li>
- Recommendations<\/li> <\/ul>
You want to test your soil before you fertilize, so in early to mid-March.<\/p>
See Related:<\/strong>
— How to Test the Soil pH of Your Lawn<\/a>
<\/p>5. Fertilize as Needed<\/h2>
![\"Pouring](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Pouring-fertilizer-into-a-drop-spreader.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: knowlesgallery<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock Free \/ License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Grasses and plants need nutrients, and sometimes, your soil may have deficiencies. Bare patches suggest your grass is likely malnourished. <\/p>
Here are typical Trenton fertilizer applications:<\/strong><\/p>
- 2. Clean Up Your Yard<\/a><\/li>
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Man-mowing-lawn.jpeg\")