- 1. Test Your Soil<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Check Your Mowing Equipment<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Inspect Your Irrigation System<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Clean Up Your Yard<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Control Weeds<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Water Your Grass<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Begin Mowing<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Overseed Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- 9. Dethatch Your Yard<\/a><\/li>
- 10. Aerate Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- 11. Manage Pests<\/a><\/li>
- 12. Fertilize Your Lawn<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Test Your Soil<\/h2>
You should test your lawn’s soil every 2 to 3 years in winter or spring to ensure your soil is ready to support robust root growth. <\/p>
Dallas yards commonly have Blackland Prairie soils, an alkaline soil high in clay. By learning your soil\u2019s properties and nutrient levels, you will be able to determine what soil amendments<\/a> you need. <\/p>
You can have your soil tested by Texas A&M<\/a> AgriLife Extension. You just have to provide a soil sample from your yard and pay a fee. <\/p>
See Related:<\/strong>
— How to Use a Soil Test Kit<\/a>
— How to Prepare a Soil Sample (4 Easy Steps)<\/a>
— 9 Reasons Why Soil Testing is Important for the Lawn<\/a><\/p>2. Check Your Mowing Equipment<\/h2>
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Sharpen your mower blades. Photo Credit: isuaneye<\/a> \/ iStock<\/figcaption><\/figure> Here\u2019s how to prep your lawn mower before the mowing season starts:<\/p>
- Inspect mowing equipment. <\/strong>Check the mowing deck for rust or winter damage.<\/li>
- Sharpen mower blades. <\/strong>Learn how in our guide on how to sharpen your mower blades<\/a>.<\/li>
- Clean your mower. <\/strong>Remember to clean the mowing deck.<\/li>
- Install new spark plugs <\/strong>if you removed them for the winter. Replace the spark plugs with new ones if they are damaged or old.<\/li>
- Replace or clean the air filter.<\/strong> Foam air filters can be cleaned with water. Paper air filters need to be cleaned or replaced.<\/li> <\/ul>
If you do nothing else, make sure your blades are sharp before the season starts.<\/p>
\u201cThe most important aspect of mower maintenance is sharpening the blades,\u201d says Jay Caddel, extension agent for Tarrant County at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. \u201cDull blades crush the grass blades rather than cutting them, which slows the recovery time for the grass.\u00a0This also increases the susceptibility to disease and pests.\u201d<\/p>
\u201cWe usually suggest that a homeowner has two sets of mower blades, one to use and the other sharpened to be switched out in the future,\u201d he says.<\/p>
Pro Tip: <\/strong>Mower maintenance can take valuable time out of your weekend, so consider having your mower serviced by a company or small engine repair shop instead. But make your appointment early; spots fill up quickly in spring.<\/p>
See Related:<\/strong>
— How Often Should You Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades?<\/a>
— DIY Lawn Mower Maintenance Guide<\/a><\/p>3. Inspect Your Irrigation System<\/h2>
During the cold winter months — yes, it does get cold in Dallas — freezing temperatures can cause broken lines or leaks in your pipes, so inspect your sprinkler system for winter damage before<\/em> the grass starts growing. <\/p>
Don\u2019t forget to test the output rate of your sprinkler system to ensure it isn\u2019t underwatering or overwatering your lawn. <\/p>
See Related:<\/strong>
— 10 Signs You’re Overwatering Your Lawn<\/a> <\/p>4. Clean Up Your Yard<\/h2>
Spring cleaning isn\u2019t just for inside your house; it\u2019s good for the outdoors, too. To start the spring lawn care season off right, clear your yard of debris, including:<\/p>
- Branches<\/li>
- Dead plants<\/li>
- Leaves<\/li>
- Pine needles<\/li>
- Rocks<\/li>
- Twigs<\/li>
- Pet waste<\/li> <\/ul>
5. Control Weeds<\/h2>
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Crabgrass. Photo Credit: New York State IPM Program at Cornell University<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Most pre-emergent herbicides<\/a> should be applied when the soil temperature reaches 50 to 55 degrees, usually between mid-February and early March, before<\/em> you see weeds in your yard.<\/p>
Use pre-emergents in spring to prevent these common Dallas weeds:<\/p>
- Grassy weeds (such as crabgrass and dallisgrass)<\/li>
- Warm-season broadleaf weeds (such as dandelions or spurge)<\/li>
- Sedges (such as nutsedge)<\/li> <\/ul>
Established weeds can be removed with post-emergent herbicides<\/a> or hand-pulling. Post-emergent herbicides should be applied for weeds that have already sprouted in your yard in the spring.<\/p>
See Related:<\/strong>
— How to Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicides<\/a>
— How to Apply Post-Emergent Herbicides to Your Lawn<\/a><\/p>6. Water Your Grass<\/h2>
Once your grass begins to green and grow again, it should receive 1 inch of water a week to keep it healthy and to encourage deep root growth.<\/p>
The best time to water is in the early morning hours between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. (Starting on April 1, Dallas\u2019s watering restrictions<\/a> prohibit watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.) To conserve water and prevent runoff on clay soils, use the cycle and soak method<\/a> to irrigate your lawn.<\/p>
\u201cI water my lawn early in the morning because it reaches the roots and it doesn’t evaporate too quickly,\u201d says LawnStarter pro Jose Tovar of Fort Worth<\/strong>. \u201cIf watered at night, it could encourage pests such as slugs. If watered in the day, the water evaporates before it reaches the roots.\u201d<\/p>
Don\u2019t irrigate when your grass is still dormant in the first weeks of spring. Wait until your grass starts actively growing. Otherwise, you risk overwatering, which can cause lawn diseases such as large patch or take-all root rot.<\/p>
See Related:<\/strong>
— 7 Lawn Watering Tips for Dallas<\/a>
— 8 Signs Your Lawn Needs Watering<\/a><\/p>7. Begin Mowing<\/h2>
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Illustration by Whitney Lehnecker \/ LawnStarter<\/figcaption><\/figure> Mow every other week once the growing season starts in March or April<\/strong> after your grass emerges from dormancy. After about 2 mows, start mowing weekly.<\/p>
Specific start dates for the mowing season vary depending on the weather and the type of turfgrass, so the rule of thumb is to start mowing after your lawn has greened up and shows obvious growth.<\/p>
- Sharpen mower blades. <\/strong>Learn how in our guide on how to sharpen your mower blades<\/a>.<\/li>
- 2. Check Your Mowing Equipment<\/a><\/li>
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