After the winter, the lawn presents a battered appearance. High time for professional lawn care. You can find out here which fitness program around the first lawn cut in spring transforms the stubble meadow into a velvety green carpet.

Careful preparation simplifies maintenance

During the cold season, tangles, moss and discolored areas dominate the lawn. The causes are high snow pressure and permanent wetness, which clog the blades of grass over a long period of time. In addition, all kinds of plant remains have accumulated, which the cold wind blew in. It is therefore important to prepare the stressed grass surface after the winter. In February, these measures are recommended:

  • Sweep up all leaves and other plant remains with a fan broom or rake and dispose of in the compost
  • Then sweep over it lightly with the street broom to loosen stuck lawn parts
  • Rake any noticeable holes in the lawn with a little compost and sand to close them

February is also the best time to take the lawn mower out of its winter quarters. If you now bring the knives to the specialist workshop to be sharpened, you won't be annoyed with a blunt cutting mechanism the first time you cut the lawn in spring. Skilled hobby gardeners sharpen their lawnmower blades themselves in February.

When is the best time for the first lawn cut in spring?

Hobby gardeners are always unsure about the right time for the first lawn cut in spring. The following signals point to the ideal date in March:

  • The temperatures no longer drop below 10 degrees Celsius at night
  • Early bloomers, such as daffodils, indicate the end of the winter break in growth
  • The blades of grass have reached a height of about 8 centimeters
  • The weather will be overcast and mild with no rain
  • The lawn is as dry as possible

If you want quantitative proof, you can add up all mean temperatures above 0 degrees Celsius from January. If these add up to more than 180 degrees, spring lawn care can begin. This value is usually reached in March.

How to properly mow the lawn

If all requirements are met to your satisfaction, the mower can be used for the first lawn cut in the spring. Set the device to a cutting depth of 3-4 centimetres. If the lawn has grown higher than 8 centimeters, mow in two stages, first to 6 centimeters and then to 3 centimeters. Ideally, you should not step on the uncut lawn.

Watching the time keeps the peace in the neighborhood

Even with the first lawn cut in the spring, prudent hobby gardeners make sure not to mow during the legally prescribed rest periods. However, the times 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. only apply to motor lawn mowers. Quiet lawn mowers with the EU Ecolabel have the green light from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Sundays and public holidays, the lawn may at best be trimmed with a hand mower.

Scarifying allows the lawn to breathe - this is how it works

After the first lawn cut in spring, experienced hobby gardeners inspect the grass surface. If moss, felt and weeds suffocate the stalks, targeted scarifying is the next point in the care protocol. All unwanted plant parts are combed out with a special device. In March or April, follow these steps:

  • The freshly mown lawn is dry, but not dried up
  • In the first step, set a working depth of 3 mm, which is only increased if necessary
  • With the scarifier (€84.00) first go quickly across the surface in the longitudinal direction
  • Work a heavily weeded area in the second pass in the transverse direction

Do not stand still while scarifying, otherwise the rotating blades will dig too deep into the turf. Only opt for this component of post-winter lawn care when weeds and moss are dominant. However, if the healthy grass predominates, a sufficient supply of nutrients is sufficient for vital and dense growth.

tips

With a simple trick, you can automatically aerate your lawn with every mowing cycle. To do this, simply strap lawn aerator sandals under your work shoes. The robust sandals are equipped with 5 centimeter long ground spikes that supply the turf with oxygen with every step.

Liming in March keeps moss in check - this is how you do it right

The be-all and end-all of a vital, deep green lawn is the correct pH value of the soil, which is around 6-7. If the value is below this, more mosses than blades of grass thrive in the acidic soil. An uncomplicated test from the garden center provides information on whether the pH value can be regulated with the help of lime. The following table gives proven guide values for dosing lawn lime:

Guide values for lime per square meter of lawn Light bottom with lots of sand Medium soil with clay and sand Heavy soil of loam and clay
pH below 5 150-200 grams 300-400 grams 350-450 grams
pH 5-6 120-180 grams 180-250 grams 250-350 grams
pH 6-7 do not lime do not lime do not lime
pH above 7 do not lime do not lime do not lime

Liming is done immediately after scarifying in March, since the aerated lawn can now optimally utilize the active ingredient.

How to properly fertilize your lawn after winter

Adequate nutrient supply goes hand in hand with the first lawn cut in spring and scarifying. Experienced hobby gardeners allow 3-4 weeks after liming before the lawn fertilizer is applied.

Environmentally conscious hobby gardeners do not use mineral fertilizers, as these are quickly washed out and pollute the groundwater with nitrate. Organic fertilizers promote the growth and vitality of the lawn more sustainably and over the long term. Plant manure made from stinging nettles or comfrey work wonders here. In addition to the NPK fertilizers, there are also a number of biological preparations to be found in specialist shops. How to do it right:

  • Apply fertilizer granules preferably with a spreader
  • Then water the lawn repeatedly
  • Distribute liquid fertilizer with the pressure sprayer
  • Avoid overlapping application if possible
  • Only mow again when all fertilizer grains have rained in

tips and tricks

Mowing the lawn and naturally fertilizing is now possible in one operation. The new lawn mower with mulching function shreds the clippings into the tiniest particles that remain between the blades of grass. This eliminates the annoying and tedious disposal. At the same time, the lawn is regularly supplied with fresh nutrients and shines in a lush green.

Category:

Garden design