It’s been a long and frigid winter, but spring is just around the corner. Now is the time to make a plan for giving your lawn some spring TLC so it will grow long and healthy throughout the spring and summer. Here are some tips to help you see a healthy growth to your lawn in the coming months.

Treat with Pre-Emergent
Early in the spring, apply a pre-emergent crabgrass control product to your lawn. This must happen before the soil temperature rises above 60 degrees. The pre-emergent is not effective after that point, because the seeds will start to germinate. If you allow the crabgrass to germinate, it’s almost impossible to get rid of.

Clean Up
Fall allows debris to accumulate on your lawn, and then winter lets it sit there and start getting matted down. This an lead to development of snow mold. In the spring, rake your grass to remove this matted debris and provide fresh air to the new blades underneath.

Feed It
Give your grass a boost of nutrients in the spring to help it “wake up” after being dormant all winter. Choose a fertilizer designed for spring, which may have a pre-emergent weed control built in, and you will prime your lawn for healthy growth through the spring and heat resistance in the summer.

Give it Fresh Air
In addition to getting rid of the debris, consider aerating in the spring as well. Aeration puts tiny holes in the ground throughout your lawn to allow water and air to reach the roots more quickly. This encourages strong root development and new growth of the grass. Again, do this before the soil temperatures reach that 60-degree mark, or it might encourage weed growth.

Consider Re-Seeding
Check your lawn carefully at the start of spring. Are there areas that the lawn suffered damage during the winter? Ice cover, snow plow damage and salt spray from salt trucks can all kill the lawn. If you have areas like this, consider reseeding them. However, you will need to do this as early as possible, so the grass seed can germinate before you apply your pre-emergent. Pre-emergent will destroy the grass seed along with the crabgrass seed, so you need to give it time to take root.

With the coming of spring comes thoughts of summer, outdoor entertaining and beautiful gardens. Set the stage with a healthy lawn using these proven tips.