- 1. Test Your Soil<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Clean Up Winter Debris<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Apply a Pre-Emergent Herbicide<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Mow Grass at the Right Height<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Dethatch Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Aerate Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Overseed Bare Spots<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Apply a Slow-Release Fertilizer<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Test Your Soil<\/h2>
A soil test should be your starting point for spring lawn care, as your soil type will greatly impact what your lawn needs for healthy growth. <\/p>
Soil types vary in Milwaukee, including poorly drained organic soils as well as well-drained loamy or sandy soils.<\/p>
There are 2 ways to test your soil:<\/p>
- DIY soil test:<\/strong> Homeowners can test their soil at home with a soil test kit<\/a>. <\/li>
- Lab soil test:<\/strong> Send in 4-10 samples of soil from around your yard to the University of Wisconsin Soil and Forage Lab. It usually takes 2 weeks to get a soil test report. <\/li> <\/ul>
Your lawn\u2019s soil test report will tell you about the makeup of your soil, including what type of soil you have in your yard. It will also guide you to what types of soil amendment<\/a> or fertilizer your yard needs.<\/p>
See Related:<\/strong> <\/p>
\u2013 How to Read a Soil Test Report<\/a><\/p>
2. Clean Up Winter Debris<\/h2>
![\"Rake](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/raking-dead-grass.jpg?wsr\")
Raking dead grass. Photo Credit: David Pimborough<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure> Before grass emerges from dormancy, you want your lawn to be clear of all debris. Clean up any lawn debris left over from the winter months:<\/p>
- Rake up leaves and dead grass<\/li>
- Remove fallen branches and sticks<\/li>
- Clean gutters<\/li> <\/ul>
Pro Tip: <\/strong>To make raking easier and more efficient, rake the leaves onto a tarp (or burlap square) for easier pickup and removal.<\/p>
3. Apply a Pre-Emergent Herbicide<\/h2>
Crabgrass, dandelions, chickweed, and other weeds are a common problem in Milwaukee home lawns each spring. With pre-emergents, you can address the issue early and stop weeds before they show up in your lawn. <\/p>
Pre-emergents should usually be applied during the first few days of May<\/strong>. When soil temperatures consistently reach 60 degrees, apply a pre-emergent herbicide<\/a> designed for crabgrass and broadleaf weeds (like dandelions) to kill them before they germinate above the soil.\u00a0<\/p>
If you miss the timing and weeds have already started growing in your lawn, you can apply a post-emergent herbicide or pull the weeds by hand.<\/p>
Here\u2019s a visual cue for pre-emergent timing:<\/strong> When forsythia shrubs start to bloom, that is your seasonal reminder that it\u2019s time to apply pre-emergent herbicides. <\/p>
See Related:<\/strong><\/p>
\u2013 Common Weeds in Wisconsin: How to Identify and Control Them<\/a>
\u2013 Post-Emergent Herbicides: Which One for Which Weed?<\/a>
\u2013 How to Get Rid of Crabgrass in Your Yard<\/a><\/p>4. Mow Grass at the Right Height<\/h2>
The mowing season in Milwaukee usually starts in April or May<\/strong>, depending on when the grass starts to green up.<\/p>
Cool-season grasses are the best grass type for Wisconsin<\/a> lawns. Here are the recommended mowing heights for the most common grass types in Milwaukee:<\/p>
- Lab soil test:<\/strong> Send in 4-10 samples of soil from around your yard to the University of Wisconsin Soil and Forage Lab. It usually takes 2 weeks to get a soil test report. <\/li> <\/ul>
- 2. Clean Up Winter Debris<\/a><\/li>
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_ls-one-third-rule-illustration-1.jpg?wsr\")
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/lawn-grass-overseeding.jpeg?wsr\")