I asked gardening experts the secret to a greener lawn — here's what they want you to do this spring

Spring is here and the perfect time to start getting our yard and lawn in tip-top condition for the warmer weather ahead. And if, like me, you take satisfaction in having lush, green grass, a dull or lacklustre appearance can be an eyesore. This is especially true if you’re planning on hosting guests for backyard gatherings.

Fortunately, there’s no need to wait for the summer, you can do all the preparation right now. And since I wanted to revitalize my own grass and make it green again for the coming months, I called on the lawn experts to share their top tips.

Here are the key things you should be doing this spring to get your lawn healthy, lush and summer-ready.

1. Give your lawn a post winter clean-up

After the winter conditions, you’ll need to give your lawn a good clear-up. Start by clearing away any accumulated debris, such as broken twigs, branches, and leaves, to ensure the roots can easily access the air, water, and nutrients they require for healthy growth.

This is also a good time to assess your lawn to check for signs of damage caused by winter’s freeze-thaw cycles and heavy snow loads.

“Pick up branches and leaves from your yard,” states Allison Koenig, Lawn and Garden Expert at Tractor Supply. “Debris traps moisture, blocks light, and prevents air from reaching the grass. This can lead to mold growth and pests even in colder weather.”

In addition, you can use a spring tine rake to lightly rake the thatch out of the lawn, to allow the roots to breathe. “Lastly, make sure to check in on thin spots, drainage issues, and recurring weeds,” adds Koenig. “Addressing them early will save you time, money, and frustration.”

2. Be sure to aerate

Spring is also an ideal time to aerate your lawn. Knowing how to aerate a lawn can give your yard a new lease on life. Essentially, this gardening task involves using a lawn aerator (spike or core) to pierce or dislodge the soil to some extent, to reduce compaction and increase air circulation.

“The first thing I’d recommend would be aerating your lawn to give it a healthy base ready for the growing season to begin again,” advises Chrissie Handley, Lawn Care Specialist at Online Turf.

“This can be done while temperatures are still a little bit low, as long as the soil is still malleable and workable, so it’s a good task for early March time. Over winter, the increased rainfall and constant freeze-thaw cycles can cause your soil to become compacted. If you notice areas of water pooling on your lawn, this is a key sign that it’s not draining correctly.”

The best time to aerate your lawn largely depends on the grass type. Cool-season grasses are typically best aerated in early fall, while warm-season grasses should be aerated starting in the spring. Just avoid doing this task during summer when the weather is hot and dry — and can potentially harm your lawn.

What’s more, if you don’t have an aerator, a garden fork will work just as well. “You can use a garden fork to deeply poke holes into the ground if you’re experiencing minor drainage issues,” agrees Handley.

“Or, if waiting over winter has caused significant drainage issues and you have clay like soil, you may need a hollow tine aerator that removes plugs of soil deep from the ground to drastically improve airflow and drainage for healthier lawn growth.”

If in doubt however, check out these 9 signs your lawn needs aerating for best results this season.

3. Apply fertilizer

Once your lawn is cleared up from debris and fully aerated, apply fertilizer to encourage growth. Feeding your lawn correctly will ensure healthy growth and lush green grass — which is the ultimate goal.

“This is one of the key jobs you want to do to help improve the colour and growth of your grass in spring,” states Handley. “Fertilizing helps bring the grass out of dormancy by giving the ground a well-needed nutrient boost as it begins to grow again.

“You’ll want to do this when temperatures are a little warmer and you can actively see your grass growing, so you can be sure it’s fully out of dormancy and can absorb the fertilizer by the roots.”

So when is the best time to fertilize your lawn and how much should you apply? Most lawn experts suggest a gentle spring feeding. The key here is moderation, as too much fertilizer can actually encourage more weeds.

In addition, ensure you choose the right fertilizer for your soil type, and you can buy a spring lawn fertilizer that is also available from most garden centers or online.

“If you’re able, you should test your soil to see what pH it is to see what nutrients it’s deficient in for the most tailored fertilization,” adds Handley.

“A feed that’s high in nitrogen and phosphorus will help give the lawn a growth boost and help it look nice and green as it begins to grow – the nitrogen specifically can be attributed to brightening up the grass and making it look nice and green.”

While it seems easy enough to do, avoid these key mistakes when applying fertilizer to your yard.

Gardening essentials we love

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

More from Tom's Guide

• 7 lawnmower mistakes
• The best time to water your lawn
• How to plant grass seed