The cold temperatures of New England winter have finally ceased battering your turf. Spring has arrived, and with it comes warm weather and heavy rainfall. Taking advantage of the weather now will set your landscape up for success during those long dog days of summer. Follow our New England guide to spring lawn care and landscaping to ensure your property is prepared for the season ahead.
Start with Landscape Spring Cleaning
Debris collects over your lawn during the winter, such as fallen branches and dead leaves. Additionally, though snow plows and salt are an essential winter service, it can dehydrate patches of your lawn. It’s important to rid your yard of all debris and clear out any matted turf and aerate the soil to promote nutrient absorption. You can also perform deadheading to encourage flowers to grow and bloom.
Fertilize Throughout Spring
For New England, dormant seeding is recommended for fall, as now is the time when it will begin germinating. Otherwise, your grass will have been dormant all winter, relying on fall food storage to withstand the harsh temperatures. Fertilizing your lawn every month until July gives your lawn ample nutrients to grow and recover from winter. You should also increase the habitability of your soil through organic means, such as applying mulch, manure, and compost.
Begin Planting in May
When temperatures hit the 60s, that is the best time to start prepping your garden beds. Late May is the best time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials, as long as the last frost has occurred (UMass’s Massachusetts Freeze/Frost Occurrence Data can help you estimate this). Also, when spreading grass seed, cool-season grass is most durable given the New England climate.
Hold Off on Mowing
Though fertilizing your lawn will kickstart your landscape into growing, mowing too early can agitate the grass before it has a chance to develop deep roots. In New England, the appropriate time to fire up your lawnmower is May. You’ll want to be sure your grass is at least 3 inches tall before you give it its first trim, and be sure you don’t cut more than one-third of the length of the grass.
By following this guide to New England spring lawn care and landscaping, you can become one step closer to realizing your ideal property. However, it takes quite a bit of work to shape your perfect landscape, which is why Dolan Landscaping is here to help. We can take care of everything from constructing your curbside appeal to maintaining your landscape. To learn more about the services we provide, contact us today.