Spring and summer are just around the corner. Homeowners everywhere will soon be looking to their lawns to make their house stand out in the neighborhood. The key to all this warm weather fun is a healthy lawn. So, how do you know if your lawn is healthy or not? And, more importantly, if there is an issue, how do you recognize it and act quickly to correct it?  

Spring-Green has over forty years of expertise in lawn care. That is why we have compiled an easy list of ways to check in on the health of your lawn. Start with these tips and be sure to check in with us if you need some support to get that lawn in good shape before your first spring/summer barbecue.  

How Can I Tell If My Lawn Is Unhealthy?

Lawn problems can move quickly throughout your green lawn and create a big, expensive problem while seriously affecting your lawn’s health. Understanding the common lawn diseases and how to spot them early can help you nip problems in the bud. Following are the most common signs of an unhealthy lawn:  

• Dry lawn – Your lawn must be properly hydrated to stay healthy. Look for signs of dehydration of your lawn and address them before they escalate. You can also insert a screwdriver into the soil. (If it goes smoothly into the ground, your soil is properly hydrated.)  
• Bluish-green Color – If you notice a blue-green color in your lawn, this is a sign it needs water.   
• Insect invasion - Insects such as white grubs, armyworms, sod webworms, and chinch bugs can destroy your lawn. Keeping an eye out for bugs and eaten grasses can be essential to preventing a full-scale invasion.  
• Weeds – It’s important to make sure your lawn doesn’t get overrun by weeds that will compete for nutrients, space, water, and sunlight. If you notice small patches of weeds, it may be normal but keep a close eye for areas that seem to be getting out of control.  
• Compacted Soil – If your soil is highly-trafficked, it can become compacted and hard. This can create a problem as nutrients and water won’t be able to seep through the soil to reach the plant’s roots. Watch for this issue in areas that cars or foot traffic pass over frequently on your lawn.  
• Thinning Lawn - A bare spot in the yard is an obvious sign of an unhealthy lawn. Thinning lawn can be a sign of a larger problem and should be addressed promptly.  

What Can I Do To Keep My Lawn Healthy?

• Aerating – If you have cool-season grasses, early fall or early spring are the best times for aerating. For warm-season grasses common to southern lawns, the best time for aerating is late spring or very early summer. When aeration coincides with active growth, grasses recover quickly and fill in areas where aerator equipment exposes soil. Overly dry soil can be tough to aerate, so moisture eases the process.   
   
• Watering – One test to see if your lawn is properly watered is the footprint test. If the lawn wilt when you walk through it, this is your sign that you need to water it. It’s also important to understand the requirements of your unique lawn specifics, your region, and the condition of your lawn.  
   
• Fertilizing – Fertilizing can also help get your lawn healthy and keep it that way. Your fertilizer protocol should be catered to fit your lawn’s unique needs, but here are some best practices. If your grass has bare spots, you may need to use a fertilizing agent with a high phosphorus content because this mineral stimulates seedling and root development. If your grass is suffering from extremely dry conditions, a potassium-rich fertilizer may be a better choice since it promotes tolerance against disease and drought.  

When Do I Need To Call In A Lawn Care Pro?

When things get out of hand, you can always call in the professionals to take on the heavy lifting if your lawn appears to be unhealthy. You can even call the pros in to help with preventative care and maintenance to help stop problems in their tracks before they happen.  Spring-Green has been the go-to resource for quality lawn care since 1977. Our team of experienced lawn care professionals can help diagnose and address your lawn’s problems.    

Get started with a Spring-Green today!