Early Season Preparations
The groundhog didn’t see his shadow, early March temperatures have been above average, and the possibility of being quarantined at home for extended periods due to Coronavirus has minds wandering toward early season lawn care and maintenance. We thought we share some of the items off our New England spring lawn care checklist.
Ready the hoses
If you did a proper Fall shut down, your hoses, nozzles, outside spigots and irrigation systems need to be readied for the upcoming season so you can get water to those areas in need.
Digging them out of the garage, basement and/or shed and inspecting them for damage will get you ahead of the game. Don’t forget to check for the state of the rubber washer in the end of your hose. Replacing them is inexpensive, improves water pressure and prevent water waste.
As far as your irrigation system goes, it’s a bit early to fire it back up, but not too early to get on the calendar of your professional irrigation installation and maintenance team. Scheduling a spring irrigation startup now, gets you early on the list and if issues arise during start up, gives you plenty of time to get them resolved before the system is really needed.
WARNING: If you are a DIY we recommend NOT turning on your irrigation systems water until the threat of frost is past in New England. Typically this isn’t until late April. For details on typical first and last frost, Garden.org offers a great resource for dialing in your local town.
https://garden.org/apps/frost-dates/Boston%2C+MA/
Make a patch plan for bare areas with the right seeds
You’ll definitely want to get after those bare spots quickly in prep, but remember that for ideal germination times of your new lawn you’ll want the soil to remain at a consistent 45-55 degrees or higher. That doesn’t mean you can’t get out there early and clear the areas of debris and give it a fresh raking as you watch the mercury rise.
When addressing what grass to plant there are many options and which grass seed variety that is right can depend on the area you are seeding. Some varieties are situated better than others and work best for high-traffic, low-traffic, sunlight, a cold snap, etc.
Here are the most common grass seeds used in New England. Often times they can be found in a commercial seed blend.
Kentucky Bluegrass - A dark and hearty grass that germinates in 18-21 days and can withstand a rogue frost and has good recovery due to its vast root system.
Perennial Rye - This seed germinates in just 5-7 days getting you to a fuller lawn quicker but needs to be overseeded more often as its lifespan can range from 1-3 years.
Fescue - Is often used in many commercial seed mixes as it a very versatile grass standing up often to drought, shade and lots of foot traffic. Like Kentucky Bluegrass it will germinate in 18 days or so.
Tune the Mowers, Blowers and Weed Whackers
Before you know it, it’ll be time to throw on your headphones and goggles and trim up the landscape. As we all know spring in New England can change rapidly. A couple of days of rain and sunshine mix can have behind on getting your lawn back in control. These tips can help you get ahead of the weather and make sure when mother nature is ready to go, you will too.
Clean it
A good old fashion cleaning not only gets your gear looking good but helps you to do an overall inspection of loose parts, wires and other issues that could prevent your first lawn care session of the season. Don’t forget the undercarriage. Grass clippings can build up over the course of the prior season, several months of sitting can harden them and make their removal pretty easy.
Sharpen the blades
For a nice even cut and healthier grass a sharp blade is essential.
Check oil levels
Some people like to change their oil at the end of the season, some at the beginning. Either way, make sure your unit has the proper level of oil. If your didn’t change it at the end of the prior season, no time is better than the present.
Replace the gas or add stabil
Old gas that stayed in the tank over the winter can cause your engine to perform poorly. If you have a substantial amount of gas in the tank, consider draining and replacing or adding stabil to it.
Check the Air Filter
Debris can build up and if the filter is torn can great problems. Take it out, clean it, and give it a good inspection to determine if it needs to be replaced.
Swap the spark plug
A fresh spark can help fire up those horses for you. Remember to follow the instructions and use a proper spark wrench so you don’t overtighten.
Recharge the Battery
After a long winter it is quite possible that your battery has been drained out. A fresh charge will turn over the engine and get you running.
Top off the tire pressure
Before you set out on your first mow, get your tire pressure set to the right levels as winter temps can often drop them.
A little preparation can go a long way. If there is anything Shady Tree Landscaping can help with, please reach out. Lawn care is what we do.
Happy Spring!