Spring Lawn Care Tips

This late into the Spring, spraying is the quickest way to keep the lawn looking green. Using a high nitrogen content fertilizer will keep the lawn green. Also, clover is a sign of low nitrogen soil. The nitrogen content in a fertilizer is the first number on the bag. Now is the time to put out fertilizer with crabgrass control. Crabgrass will grow in the fall, so now, before it gets out of control, is the best time to take care of it.

While fighting weeds is a year-round job, weed prevention is best practiced in the fall and early spring to take advantage of the growing season of turf grasses. A healthy, thick lawn is your #1 defense against weeds. In fact, a badly weed-infested lawn is usually a sign of nutrient imbalance or other soil problems. Small patches of weeds can be handled by pulling or digging. All-over lawn weed control is usually not necessary either, as a heavy infestation would be better handled by making the grass healthy. However, for those in-between situations, you may want to consider the use of a chemical or organic herbicide.To choose the correct herbicide, it’s helpful to understand some basic terms that appear on the labels of commercially-packaged weed control products:

• Pre-Emergent herbicides work by preventing seed germination, so they don’t do much good after the weeds are growing. They’re best used as a preventative spot-treatment in known weedy patches.


• Post-Emergent herbicides work by killing growing plants, usually by interrupting chemical processes such as photosynthesis, protein production, or root growth. They are best applied when the plant is actively growing and in the fall when plants are storing up nutrients in their roots. This allows the herbicide to be quickly sucked down into the roots where it is most effective. Post-emergent herbicides can work on contact (killing only the vegetation they touch) or systemic (absorbing into and killing the entire plant).


• Selective herbicides target only certain types of plants by identifying specific enzymes or other plant chemicals. Frequently you’ll see selective herbicides designed to target monocots (such as grasses or other strappy-leaved plants) or dicots (all other plants, often referred to as “broadleaf” plants).


• Non-selective herbicides kill any plant they contact and should be used for spot-treatment only.


• Total vegetation herbicides kill all plants and sterilize the ground for a certain period of time – they should be used very carefully!

For professional help in selecting the best weed control method, fertilizer, and other treatments to keep your lawn looking green and lush, talk to your lawn care specialist. If you live in Charlotte, NC or the Lake Norman region, R&D Real Estate Services can evaluate your yard to establish the best course of action for it and give you a free quote; just click here to visit our website for more information!