Our Spring Lawn Care Guide for Charlotte, NC Lawns

For warm-season North Carolina lawns in the transition zone, it’s time to prepare for a new growing season. When it comes to getting your lawn ready after a long winter season, there’s a lot to take into consideration. Spring lawn care in Charlotte can be overwhelming at times. Thankfully, we’ve compiled a guide reviewing the most important steps to a successful spring lawn care season!

Lawn Clean Up 

Spring cleaning doesn’t just apply to the home! The first task in preparing your lawn for spring should be clearing any limbs or debris from the lawn. Additionally, raking and bagging leaves or areas of thatch build-up should be addressed. Spring lawn clean up allows for more sunlight, water, and nutrients to make its way into your soil and assist your lawn out of winter dormancy.

When to Start Mowing in Spring 

As your lawn begins transitioning out of dormancy, you may want to consider spring scalping. While scalping your lawn is normally something you’d want to avoid, it can be beneficial for Bermuda and Zoysia lawns in early spring. It’s important to wait until there is no longer a chance of winter frost before scalping your lawn. Make sure to bag your clipping after the first mow to prevent further thatch build-up. The recommended timing for scalping a North Carolina lawn is approximately early March through April. Remember, spring scalping is a one-time maintenance practice for Bermuda and Zoysia lawns only. 

Crabgrass Prevention

One of the main lawn care concerns as spring time rolls around are spring weeds. As your lawn is waking up, it’s important to apply preventative weed control. Spring pre-emergents are crucial to preventing crabgrass in your lawn come summer. Crabgrass is an invasive, grassy weed that begins to germinate when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees fahrenheit. Crabgrass spreads by seeds which is why a spring pre-emergent is so important to preventing crabgrass in your lawn. Pre-emergent herbicides are intended to stop seeds from germinating which will make weed control much more manageable in the summertime. 

Core Aeration 

Aeration should be at the top of your lawn care ‘to-do list’ every spring. It’s easily one of the most beneficial annual maintenance practices for overall lawn health. Core aeration is a process involving a machine that perforates the lawn, pulling 1”-3” plugs from the soil. The plugs are dispersed back into the lawn naturally. The new holes in the soil allow for sunlight, oxygen, water, and fertilizer to make their way deeper into the root systems. Aeration improves turf density, root strength, soil nutrient uptake, and alleviates compaction. You can compare aeration to your lawn taking a breath of fresh air. After continuous traffic and usage on a residential lawn, Bermuda and Zoysia aeration should be an annual spring lawn care plan. 

Spring Fertilization & Weed Control

When spring begins kicking off in Charlotte, the next step in your spring lawn care plan should be fertilization and weed control. Spring lawn care prep can be a lot of work and sometimes you need to hire some help. If you’re looking for a comprehensive lawn care service in Charlotte, NC and surrounding areas, you can trust the professionals at Turf Brothers Lawn Care. Our monthly program includes weed control, fertilizer, and limestone, as well as curative fungicides, insecticides and fire ant control for no extra cost. We use premium products to make sure your lawn is thriving and healthy in each season. Feel free to contact us today for a free lawn care quote to make sure your lawn is ready for a successful spring.