The world is full of waiting games. Being stuck in glacier-slow rush hour traffic. Waiting on hold for an hour with Amazon Customer Service. Waiting for paint to dry. The countdown to your number being called at the DMV.
Waiting for green grass to come back in spring falls in line with life’s most least-exciting waiting games, but trust us, friends, the wait is almost over.
The season of green is on the horizon.
A comeback even more majestic than the world champion Kansas City Chiefs’ victorious rally in Super Bowl LVIII is on tap as your lawn returns from its winter hibernation.
But just when can you expect your lawn to go full spring green mode?
A Lawn in Training
Let’s start with the basic facts of spring lawn growth. It’s still March and the ground is still in spring training as it thaws out from winter. On average, Iowa lawns will take in 2.24 inches of rain and between 3-4 inches of snow this month.
Even though winter is going out like a lamb, March is still notorious for snow lion storms. It’s much too early to plant grass seed.
“Temperature alone is not a reliable source for when to put down seed,” a Kody Ketterling, landscaping professional and founder of K-IT Products, a company based in Magic Valley, Idaho, that designs sprinkler system components, told USA Today (www.usatoday.com). “Some northern climates will get a warm stretch in February, and you may think it’s a good time to seed, but don’t be fooled,” he continued. “The day length is not long enough yet, so even though the ground temps may support growth, it’s still not going to work until the daylight hours increase in the spring.”
But it is the perfect time to start planning your lawn’s spring lawn seeding.
A perfect lawn doesn’t grow in a seeding and a day. They take TLC-level attention and patience.
“You can’t throw down seeds at any time and expect perfect results,” This Old House’s Stephanie Koncewicz writes. “Grass seeding should be completed at the right time to ensure proper germination and growth in your lawn.”
In ideal conditions, grass grows from seed to lawn in about two months.
- Annual or perennial ryegrass: 5 to 10 days to germinate
- Kentucky Bluegrass: 7 to 10 days to germinate
- Tall Fescue: 7 to 12 days to germinate
How to Prep Your Lawn for Spring Success
Every successful project starts with a smart plan. Getting your lawn ready to shine come May begins with giving it the things it needs to thrive. Inspect your lawn thoroughly this month and consider these spring prep techniques if needed.
Level the Lawn
Don’t even think of planting seed without first removing any inconsistencies in your lawn. Remove rocks and debris left over from fall and winter and level the various peaks and valleys in your yard with a soil mixture that consists of sand, topsoil, and compost.
Address Bare Spots
Know how desert rough the grass at Wimbledon looks the second week of play after the world’s best tennis players have torn it up with world championship-caliber play? Your lawn may look even rougher after four months of taking hard serve after serve from winter.
Bare spots turn up in lawns for a myriad of reasons including heavy foot traffic, drought, insect infestations and harsh weather. Identify brown spots in your lawn. Then prepare them for overseeding by digging up the area. Mix in new topsoil and use a rake to level the ground.
Now you’re ready for seeding.
Test Your Soil
The key to grass seed’s growth is the pH levels of your soil. Every American lawn’s pH is different, so testing your soil to determine if it’s acidic, neutral or basic is essential.
A soil test will tell you which minerals and nutrients your lawn is missing, and it’s just a trip to Menards, Lowe’s or Ace Hardware away.
Try Aeration
If your soil appears stagnant and compacted, aeration is your next step. Aerating your lawn loosens tightly-packed soil and aids with weed control while fighting drought stress. A simple DIY aeration with a garden fork or aerator shoes allow you to aerate on a budget.
Use Fertilizer
Fertilizer is a multivitamin for new lawns with concentrated nutrients and also establishes a strong root system.
Just like Major League Baseball stars Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger to get in the swing for the season, so does your lawn. Make sure you put your lawn through spring training to make sure it’s ready to grow fast, lush and gorgeous this season.
And stick with your winning game plan.
“To ensure a lush lawn, establish a fertilization routine and watering schedule that will carry your lawn through the summer months and promote healthy growth,” USA Today’s Dan Simms writes.
