The Ultimate Spring Lawn Care Checklist: Everything You Need to Know for Northeast OH

You want to keep up with all of your Northeast Ohio lawn’s needs throughout the year. 

And spring is one of those important times when you don’t want to delay too long or mess anything up. You don’t want to miss your moment and notice that your grass isn’t performing well or that you missed a fertilization window or that weeds are staging a lawn takeover. 

Spring is the time when you want to get outside to enjoy your lawn. All the neighbors emerge from their cocoons to get some fresh air and sun. You don’t want to be the one with the lawn that neighbors stop and stare at for all the wrong reasons. 

What you need is a lawn care schedule for Ohio that helps you stay on track. Let’s talk about the best lawn maintenance schedule in Ohio so you can get a better handle on what tasks you need to focus on come springtime for your lawn to look its best. 

The Ultimate Lawn Care Schedule for Ohio Lawns

Lawn care is not a one time thing. A lawn maintenance schedule for Ohio is actually a year-long process that ensures good health for your grass. 

Spring is when this endeavor begins, and it’s important because you don’t want your grass to be lacking any essential needs when the growing season kickstart. 

Follow these tips to ensure you give your grass the best start possible. 

Start With Some Spring Cleaning 

Spring cleaning doesn’t only happen inside; it happens outside, too.

Once the winter chill begins wearing away, you want to clean up your yard as part of your lawn care schedule for Ohio. To do this, lightly rake up dead leaves and pick up any debris like branches or twigs or trash. Don’t be too aggressive with your raking. You just want to make sure you remove anything that can limit your grass from receiving sun, air, water, and nutrients. 

Also keep your eyes open for bare spots or areas where your lawn seems impacted by snow mold, salt, or snow plow damage. Flag these areas for repair and overseed them later. 

Prep Your Mower and Remember to Mow Right

It may not be time to mow yet, but you can prepare your mower for use as part of your lawn maintenance schedule in Ohio. 

Start by sharpening your mower blades, filling your mower tires with air, changing the oil, and making sure everything works properly. 

When it’s time to mow, avoid making common mowing mistakes, such as mowing too short, not enough, or using unsharpened mower blades. 

The ideal Northeast Ohio lawn height is 3 to 4 inches. This height helps your lawn resist weeds. You might be tempted to cut your lawn short to save time, but this just stresses it out and can cause yellow or brown color, as well as gives weeds more of a chance to sneak in.

Then, mow weekly to maintain this ideal height. Never cut more than one-third of your grass at any one time.

In spring, don’t mow your grass when it’s wet or it’ll clump. Walk at an even pace – approximately 3 miles per hour or less. Also, keep your mower blades sharp for clean cuts. 

When To Fertilize Your Lawn in Ohio

Everything from home building to foot traffic to rainfall can impact your soil, compacting it and taking away nutrients and organic matter that helps your lawn grow. 

That’s where fertilization comes in as a lawn care schedule in Ohio necessity. It gives your lawn the nutrients the soil may not be providing.

Even though spring is when organic fertilization starts, fertilization is best when it’s done consistently throughout the year. 

Target Spring Weeds

Weeds compete with your grass for water and nutrients. Knowing which weeds infest your lawn and the optimal treatment timing for each weed can help you better control them. 

In spring, putting down a pre-emergent herbicide application as part of your lawn care schedule in Ohio can help you tackle those nasty weeds like crabgrass that are best controlled prior to germination. Pre-emergent herbicides are commonly applied earlier in the spring and then again later in the spring to help control these weeds.  

Water Your Lawn Properly 

In spring, water may not be a big problem since rainfall is usually adequate. But knowing the correct way to water grass is a part of your lawn maintenance schedule in Ohio since water is important for your lawn’s overall performance. 

If you notice yellow grass, for example, this could be a sign of insufficient water. 

Your lawn needs approximately 2 inches of water each week. If it doesn’t receive that from Mother Nature, you want to add water with an irrigation system or sprinklers. 

Lawns can also receive too much water, which can also result in yellowing or lawn disease. 

Watering your lawn involves long, deep watering to encourage strong, deep roots and healthy, green grass. If you water too often for short periods, the roots may grow only near the surface. Watering during the early mornings is also ideal, since sun and wind can evaporate your water before it gets a chance to soak into the soil. 

Embrace the Best Lawn Care Schedule in Ohio 

Tending to your lawn can be time consuming. To succeed, follow these tips above for the best lawn maintenance schedule in Ohio.

We know this process can feel overwhelming. And you might prefer to enjoy the outdoors rather than work in them. We’re happy to take this lawn care job off of your hands. Call Turf Pride. Choose from our different lawn care programs based on the results you want and your budget, and we will help you get the best spring start. 

Ready to learn why Turf Pride is your choice for lawn care services in Northeast Ohio? We’re excited to learn more about you and help you have the best lawn on the block. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your lawn.