When winter ends and spring arrives in Calgary, it's time to revitalize your grass. A comprehensive spring cleanup restores your yard and prepares it for lush, green, and healthy grass all season. Follow these instructions to guarantee your grass has the best possible start in spring.

Clear the Leaves and Debris

The first step in your spring lawn maintenance routine is removing the winter debris. In addition to suffocating grass, fallen leaves, twigs, and other debris may foster an atmosphere favorable to pests and illnesses.

Garden Beds
 
To begin, rake leaves and debris from covered garden beds with gentle pressure. Or you can blow leaves out of beds. To avoid disrupting newly sprouting plants. Rake leaves on the lawn for any compressed leaves in the grass.

Grass Areas
 
Collect leaves and twigs from the grass using a rake or leaf blower. Be careful to dispose of or compost them properly. Furthermore, clean up dog poop or garbage left over from winter.

Thanks to this first cleaning, your lawn will breathe easier and get more sunshine.

Dethatching and Power Raking

Thatch is the layer of dead grass, roots, and other organic debris that accumulates between the green grass blades and the soil surface. While a modest amount of thatch may be helpful, too much can prevent air, water, and nutrients from reaching the roots and soil. Similarly, too little thatch can damage your lawn by burning and not protecting it, causing more weeds to grow.

When your grass is actively growing, usually in May in Calgary, try to dethatch it. It's best to start in mid-April to early May.

The root system will be strengthened, and the entry of light and moisture will be improved.

Vacuuming the lawn and hand raking to clean up your yard.

There will probably be a large quantity of thatch and debris on the grass after power raking.

Raking by hand to gather the thatch and any other debris, use a robust rake. This additional work guarantees that there are no obstacles on your grass.

Use a lawn vacuum to remove the tiny particles that a rake would overlook for a complete clean.

After completing this process, your grass seems neat and prepared for the next maintenance phases.

Aeration of Lawns To improve the absorption of air, water, and nutrients and reduce soil compaction, lawn aeration entails making tiny holes in the soil.

Lawn aerate, and soil plugs will drop on your lawn; use a core aerator. The soil can more efficiently decompress and absorb nutrients thanks to these perforations. Leave cores (plugs) from the aerator on the lawn to have it break down onto soil for nutrients.
 
When the grass is growing at its fastest pace, in the early spring or autumn, aerating your lawn is the best time; it can still be done in summer. Spring or Fall is the best time.

Aeration encourages root development and increases your lawn's resistance to heat and drought.

It's time to fertilize your lawn once it has been cleaned and aerated.

Selecting Fertilizer

Choose a fertilizer based on the requirements of your grass.

Consider using a slow-release fertilizer in Calgary that contains a balanced combination of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

Spread the fertilizer evenly across the grass using a broadcast spreader. For the proper application rate, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. We use a granular instead of a spray application. Fertilizer

Fertilization gives your lawn the vital nutrition it needs for strong growth and brilliant color.

Re-seeding and Filling Low Spots

Water may collect in low areas of your lawn, damaging the grass and producing an uneven surface.

To level out the surface, fill in low areas with a mixture of soil and compost. I don't use topsoil or dirt, as the garden mix contains peat moss, topsoil, and other nutrients that help grass grow better.

To encourage fresh growth, cover the filled spaces with grass re-seed. Select a seed combination that is appropriate for the climate in Calgary.

Re-seeding and filling guarantee lush grass and avoid problems caused by water buildup.

Think about re-seeding and top dressing treating your lawn to encourage healthy grass growth throughout.

Top dressing, evenly spread a small layer of compost or garden mix over your grass. This layer enhances the nutrient content and soil structure.

Re-seeding: Use a fertilizer spreader to spread grass seed throughout the lawn. Then, apply top dressing and light water. Lightly scrape the surface to ensure that seeds and soil make excellent contact.

Top dressing and re-seeding revitalize your lawn, filling barren areas and promoting thick growth.

For your spring lawn care efforts to be successful, proper watering is essential.

To promote deep-root development, water your grass sparingly and deeply. Depending on rainfall and temperature, aim for around 1 inch (2.54 cm) of water every week. Unless it is raining. 

Give freshly planted seeding regions particular care. Keep the soil continuously wet or moist until the new grass takes root.

Watering your grass enough promotes healthy development and aids in its recovery from the harsh winter conditions.

The best approach to starting a healthy grass season in Calgary is to start with a comprehensive spring-cleaning. By following these procedures, you can give your lawn the maintenance and attention it needs to flourish. Please ask if you need additional information on any of the processes or if you have any special queries! I provide free advice regardless of whether you choose to use my services.

For a free estimate and information on any necessary services, call us. Prices start at $129.00