March Lawn Care: Is it Time for Grass Seed?

Spring is a time of renewal and growth, and your lawn is no exception.

As the winter snow melts and the sun starts to shine, it’s time to start thinking about getting your lawn in tip-top shape.

In this article, we’ll share some of our best tips for March lawn care, including mowing, seeding, and keeping your lawn free of debris.

Remove Debris from Your Lawn

Leaves, twigs, and other debris can accumulate on your lawn during the winter, preventing grass from growing and leaving bare spots.

To keep your lawn healthy and reduce the risk of diseases, be sure to regularly remove debris using a mower for light debris like leaves or rake for heavy debris like twigs and branches

Mow Your Lawn Regularly

As your grass begins to grow, it’s important to start mowing it regularly.

In the early spring, set your mower on a higher setting and start trimming the grass. As the season progresses, you can gradually lower the mower height.

Make sure you have a sharp mower blade at the start of the season to improve the cut quality and reduce disease in the grass

Regular mowing helps keep the grass at a consistent length, which promotes a thicker and healthier lawn. It can also helps reduce any dead or yellowing grass, allowing new growth to take its place.

Mowing can help control weed growth by removing the weed’s seed heads before they can spread.

Regular mowing also makes it more difficult for weeds to establish themselves in the first place.

Seed Your Lawn

There are several grass seed options that can be sown in the spring and if your lawn has bare spots or thin areas, seeding can help fill them in.

Some common grass seed varieties suitable for spring planting in the UK include:

1. Rye Grass: A fast-growing grass that is hard wearing with waxy leaves that produce great lawn stripes
2. Fescue: A fine-textured grass that can be shade-tolerant and provides a dense, attractive lawn.
3. Bent Grass: A slow-growing but high-quality grass that is commonly used on golf courses

Wait for the last frosts to pass and temperatures to be above 8-12 degrees Celsius to improve germination speed

Kill lawn Weeds

Once established weeds can spread very quickly and be difficult to control. By controlling weeds early, you can reduce the amount of time and effort needed to maintain a healthy lawn.

To keep any unwanted plants under control, try digging them up by hand or using a selective lawn treatment that kills weeds not lawns.

Some of the most common lawn weeds in the UK are

• Dandelions – easily recognizable by their yellow flowers and are commonly found in lawns.
• Plantain – broad-leaved weeds that often grow in clusters. They have a small, white flower spike and have a fibrous root system.
• White clover – This weed has small, white flowers and is often considered a desirable in natural looking lawns but can quickly take over
• Buttercup – This weed has bright yellow flowers and is often found in damp or poorly drained lawns.

Controlling weeds in the lawn also improves turf health. This is because weeds compete with grass for nutrients, water, and sunlight, which can weaken the overall health of your lawn.

Use a Lawn Fertiliser

Spring is the perfect time to fertilise your lawn to help it wake up after the winter and provide some much needed nutrients as we enter the growing season.

When fertilising, it’s important to choose a feed that is specifically formulated for spring this time such as this high nitrogen lawn feed

I prefer a slow-release granular fertiliser that offers a quick hit of nitrogen but also contains coated granules that release their nutrients over time for long lasting results

FAQ’s

• Can I mow my lawn too short in Spring?
  Yes, you can. Mowing your lawn too short can stress the grass and leave it vulnerable to disease and pests. To avoid this, mowing little and often will give you the best results
• What are the best practices for spring lawn care?
  Mowing regularly, removing dead grass and other debris, aerating the soil, overseeding and applying fertiliser to promote growth.
• How often should I water my lawn in spring?
  At this time of year in the UK there is normally alot of rain which means you often wont need to add water to the lawn.
• When can I seed my lawn?
  After the last frosts and temperatures are above 8-12 degrees Celsius.

March Lawn Care Tips - Time for Grass Seed?