The 6 Most Common Lawn Care Mistakes in Spring

It’s finally spring, and the sun is bringing everything back to life. Fortunately, your garden is craving a bit of love and care after the long winter. But before you roll up your sleeves, it’s a good idea to delve into the most common mistakes in spring lawn care.

You use too much or too little Lime

If you didn’t take good care of your lawn in the autumn, your lawn might greet you after winter with a hefty moss carpet. Leaf debris and other dead material lower the soil’s pH, especially during the cold months. Moss and weeds thrive in this environment and happily grow over your grass.

How to fix this:
Using lawn lime can easily counter one of the most common spring lawn care mistakes. Spread lime once the soil temperature reaches five degrees. The ground will then absorb the lime, resulting in gradual deacidification.

You don’t sharpen your garden tools

Every cut injures the plant and needs to heal. If the cut is smooth, the surface remains small and heals quickly. A “larger” cut is harder to heal and also more likely to lead to lawn diseases.

Ensure your tools are always sharp to avoid one of the most common spring lawn care mistakes. Mower blades should be sharpened after 15 uses at most. Schedule a maintenance check for all tools in the spring.

You fertilise too early or not at all

Fertilising your lawn after winter is like a big gulp of water on a hot summer day. Your lawn craves nutrients to recover and strengthen. There’s another important aspect of using fertiliser: it prepares your lawn for the coming season.

In spring, it’s crucial to use two fertilisers. Start with a spring lawn fertiliser once it’s warm enough and follow with a slow-release lawn fertiliser before summer begins.

But let’s focus on spring. As soon as the soil temperature is ten degrees, you can spread the fertiliser. Otherwise, it won’t be absorbed by the ground and will leach away. The high nitrogen content of fertiliser is perfect for feeding your lawn and preparing it for scarifying.

If you don’t fertilise your lawn, the nutrients will eventually run out. The roots can’t nourish the grass, causing it to die off and leaving bare spots. These will be taken over by weeds, and soon it will be “goodbye grass” – “hello moss “!

You scarify too early or not at all

Annual scarifying is essential for combing weeds out of the lawn and keeping the grass nice and tight. I recommend scarifying in both spring and autumn. It removes moss and weeds that formed during the winter, allowing your lawn to grow healthily again.

However, because scarifying is very taxing on your lawn, it’s important to give it time to recover. Avoid this costly mistake in the spring and only scarify when the soil temperature is already ten degrees. Otherwise, lawn diseases and renewed weed infestations beckon. Ideally, fortify the soil two to four weeks in advance with a 2-in-1 moss killer and fertiliser.

MOOWY’s 2-in-1 moss killer & fertiliser

MOOWY’s 2-in-1 moss killer & fertiliser

Iron Sulphate Lawn Fertiliser

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You don’t overseed

A beautiful, dense lawn doesn’t appear by itself. Especially after scarifying, it’s important to sow fresh lawn seeds. Otherwise, new weeds will quickly grow in the newly treated areas. You can easily avoid this spring lawn care mistake.

Use MOOWY’s Quick Repair grass seeds to quickly fill in bare spots with lush green grass. Again, the soil temperature needs to be at least ten degrees. Otherwise, the seeds won’t germinate, and bare patches will remain in your lawn. Moss and weeds quickly grow on bare spots. The best time is in April when cold nights are typically over.

MOOWY’s Quick Repair Grass Seed

MOOWY’s Quick Repair Grass Seed

Quick Repair Grass Seed

• Our choice for repairing your lawn
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You mow too short or too infrequently

Did you know that there are growth hormones in your lawn that you can use to your advantage? More precisely, during mowing. But you need to mow properly. Your lawn needs to recover from mowing and develop runners.

The soil temperature needs to be at least ten degrees so the grass can grow again. Mowing when the ground is too cold is one of the most common spring lawn care mistakes. Your lawn is too weak to recover. Lawn diseases can easily infect your lawn, leaving bare spots behind.

Mowing too early turns your lawn into a weed paradise. Wait for the first growth phase in April. Ideally, combine the first mowing with scarifying and then fertilising. Mow your lawn weekly after that. Regular mowing stimulates the growth hormone. Your lawn spreads out sideways and forms a lush, green, and dense lawn.

By avoiding these common mistakes and following these tips, you’ll ensure a lush, healthy lawn that will make you proud throughout the spring and summer seasons!

Happy gardening!

Louis Hooft

Founder & Lawn expert

Introducing Louis Hooft, the founder of MOOWY and your reliable expert. With a profound love for stunning lawns and extensive experience in garden maintenance, Louis is here to assist garden enthusiasts in achieving a greener and livelier outdoors than ever before. Count on Louis for invaluable tips, clever tricks, and top-notch products to make your garden flourish!