As the cherry blossoms reach peak bloom, Washington, D.C., homeowners should bring out their rakes, mowers, and fertilizer from the garden shed. Whether you’re dealing with warm- or cool-season grass, these 11 spring lawn care tips for Washington, D.C., lawns will help give your turf the major boost it needs after winter dormancy.
Here’s your 11-point spring lawn care checklist:
- Rake deeply
- Overseed
- Dethatch
- Skip aeration
- Fertilize
- Apply fresh mulch
- Start up the irrigation system
- Clean the gutters
- Prune and trim
- Apply pre-emergent herbicide
- Bring out your mower
Why bother with spring lawn care? Our grass grows in the complicated transition zone, so it’s going to need all the help it can get to heal after our freezing winter and survive the boiling summer. Let’s get mowing!
1. Rake deeply
When spring arrives, your turf is ready to shed the winter layers. The winter winds and frigid temperatures left behind a blanket of dead grass, acorns, leaves, and twigs. So grab the rake and comb through the turf to gather up the debris.
Raking deeply not only removes hard-to-see waste, but it also helps prevent thatch buildup.
What is thatch? Thatch is a layer of dead and living organic matter that accumulates between the soil and grass. Too much thatch can:
- Compromise your turf’s health
- Block nutrients, water, and oxygen from reaching the root system
- Attract pests and disease
- Encourage poor drainage
2. Overseed
The key to achieving a thick, carpeted lawn isn’t about fixing up bare spots –– it’s about preventing the patches from developing in the first place. Overseeding your yard is one of the best ways to minimize thinning and promote new turf growth.
If you’re planting warm-season grass, like Zoysiagrass or bermudagrass, the best time to overseed is in spring or early summer.
On the other hand, cool-season grass won’t grow so well in hot summer temperatures. It’s better to hold off on spring overseeding and wait till early fall when the temperatures are ideal for new growth. The best time to grow cool-season grass types is September. If you’re off to a late start, avoid overseeding after mid-October.
| Grass Type | Best Time to Plant |
| Tall Fescue (Cool-Season) | September through Mid-October |
| Fine Fescue (Cool-Season) | September through Mid-October |
| Kentucky Bluegrass (Cool-Season) | September through Mid-October |
| Perennial Ryegrass (Cool-Season) | September through Mid-October |
| Bermudagrass (Warm-Season) | March through July |
| Zoysiagrass (Warm-Season) | March through July |
3. Dethatch
Remember the thatch we mentioned earlier? We don’t want too much of it in our yards.
Raking is an excellent way to minimize thatch, but if a ½-inch-thick layer has already developed, remove the thatch with a verticutter or power rake. A garden rake can help remove a tough layer, but the job is much easier with a mechanical tool (or with the help of a local lawn care pro).
When to dethatch:
- Dethatch your warm-season turf in late spring or early summer.
- If your D.C. lawn is a cool-season turf, wait and perform this chore in fall when the grass is repairing after the summer heat.
4. Skip aeration
You might be eager to knock out dethatching and aeration in spring so you can relax the rest of the year. Dethatch your warm-season grass in late spring, but hold off on the aeration.
Why you shouldn’t aerate in spring: Turf needs to heal after an invasive treatment like aeration, and the best time for healing is during a turf’s active growth season.
- Aerate your warm-season turf in summer when the warm temperatures are ideal for growth.
- Fall is the optimal time to aerate your cool-season turf, right before overseeding.
5. Fertilize
Fertilizer is a Thanksgiving meal for your lawn. And just like some of those visiting relatives, your grass is a picky eater.
Feeding your turf the wrong fertilizer isn’t healthy, so you want to make sure you’re giving it just what it needs at the right time. Performing a soil test is the best way to learn how to fertilize your turf.
A soil test identifies:
- nutrient deficiencies
- salt levels
- pH imbalances
- soil factors that might be hindering your turf’s growth
- the fertilizers and soil amendments that will enhance the soil and ensure healthy growth
According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension, the best time to fertilize warm-season turf is mid-spring through summer, after it completes spring greening.
If you’re growing a cool-season turf in your Washington, D.C., lawn, fall is the best time to fertilize. Why? According to the Kansas State University Extension, the stress of summer drains the grass of vital nutrients it needs to grow in fall.
6. Apply fresh mulch
Your garden beds need some attention in spring, as well. Mulch offers many advantages to your growing plants.
A fresh layer of mulch:
- retains moisture in the soil
- limits erosion
- deters annual weeds
- regulates temperatures
- adds nutrients to the soil (if organic)
Two inches of mulch is typically enough for your flowers and veggies to reap the benefits.
Have an old mulch layer from last winter? No need to remove it. Use a rake to fluff up and loosen the old mulch before adding the new layer. This helps prevent the old mulch from matting.
Apply mulch mid to late spring. Mulching too early won’t allow the soil to warm, resulting in delayed plant growth. Early mulching also hinders new plants from sprouting, as it can be difficult for plants to penetrate a thick layer of mulch.
7. Start up the irrigation system
In autumn, you have to turn off the irrigation system to prevent frozen pipes and broken sprinkler heads. Spring is the time to start the sprinkler system again.
Remember, the amount of water your lawn needs depends on the type of grass you have. Most lawns need about 1 to 1 ½ inches of water per week, but some D.C. lawns may need more or less depending on rain levels and daily temperatures.
Irrigation tips:
- The best time to water the lawn is before 10 a.m. Water too late in the day, and the water will evaporate before the soil has a chance to absorb the moisture.
- Avoid watering in the evenings. Water droplets will remain on the grass blades through the night and encourage disease.
- Water your lawn infrequently for long periods to promote a deep root system. Watering frequently but for short periods will promote a shallow root system.
8. Clean the gutters
What’s one more chore on your to-do list? While you’re outside clearing up debris, overseeding, and dethatching the lawn, give your gutters a good cleaning, too. After the autumn leaves and winter storms, your gutters are likely overflowing with leaves and twigs.
Clogged gutters can lead to:
- water damage
- unsightly curb appeal
- mold growth
- pests
9. Prune and trim
Spring is an excellent time of year to prune your plants and shrubs.
Pruning allows you to:
- shape the plant
- promote new growth
- remove any dead or diseased parts that didn’t survive the winter
Removing dead or diseased parts of the plant can be done any time in spring, but pruning to promote new growth needs to be timed. When and how much you prune will all depend on the type of plant. For instance, some plants need pruning before new growth appears, while others need pruning once the plant has already bloomed.
10. Apply pre-emergent herbicide
If your lawn is littered with weeds, you won’t be making much of an impression on the neighbors. Stop the dandelions and crabgrass before they have a chance to ransack your lawn by applying a pre-emergent herbicide.
The best time to apply it is when the soil temperature reaches at least 55 degrees for at least two days.
11. Bring out the mower
When your grass reaches its optimal growing height, it’s time for the first spring cut.
Keep in mind that cutting heights vary among grass types. Before you mow, do your homework and check the recommended mowing height for your grass type.
A good rule of thumb: Cut cool-season grasses to at least 3 inches high and warm-season grasses 1 ½ to 2 inches high.
Pro tip: Don’t cut more than ⅓ of your grass’s height at a time. Cutting too much grass in one mow can stress the turf blades. For example, if your turf is 3 inches tall, don’t cut off more than 1 inch of grass.
Spring Lawns in D.C. Require TLC
After surviving a brittle winter, your Washington, D.C., lawn needs help recovering in spring. But you can’t stop there because you also need to prepare it for the scorching summer heat ahead.
But with the proper care done in the spring (and fall), including fertilization, overseeding, and dethatching, you can enhance your turf’s strength, health, and color –– despite the transition zone’s harsh growing conditions.
Realizing that spring lawn care might be a bit much for your busy schedule? You can still have the greenest lawn in D.C. without lifting a finger. Hire a local lawn care professional who can get the turf ready for summer while you enjoy a summer vacation.
Main Photo Credit: Pixabay
