{"id":9742,"date":"2022-05-23T23:52:50","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T23:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=9742"},"modified":"2024-02-10T16:20:01","modified_gmt":"2024-02-10T16:20:01","slug":"spring-lawn-care-tips-durham-chapel-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/spring-lawn-care-tips-durham-chapel-hill\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Spring Lawn Care Tips for Durham-Chapel Hill, NC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Springtime in Durham is the time for March Madness, azaleas coming into bloom, and a return to some of our favorite activities along the Eno River. It\u2019s also the perfect time to whip your lawn back into shape.  <\/p>

So how can you rejuvenate your frost-bitten lawn and restore its lush, healthy green appearance? Follow these 10 spring lawn care tips.<\/p>

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  1. Tune up your lawn care equipment<\/a><\/li>
  2. Clean up yard debris<\/a><\/li>
  3. Test your soil<\/a><\/li>
  4. Treat lawn diseases<\/a><\/li>
  5. Do not over fertilize<\/a><\/li>
  6. Prevent and treat weeds<\/a><\/li>
  7. Aerate<\/a><\/li>
  8. Overseed bare spots<\/a><\/li>
  9. Do not mow too short<\/a><\/li>
  10. Prevent and control pests<\/a><\/li><\/ol> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
    \"Man
    Gustavo Fring<\/a> | Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    1. Tune up your lawn care equipment<\/span><\/h2>

    Have your lawn tools been hibernating in the garage all winter? Spring is the time to tune them up. If you aren\u2019t into DIY, there are a number of qualified lawn care repair and maintenance shops located in the Durham area. <\/p>

    Push lawn mowers:<\/strong> Replace the spark plugs, change air filters, replace the fuel filter, change the oil, fill with fresh gas, clean the underside of the mower, and sharpen the blades<\/p>

    Riding lawn mowers:<\/strong> Check your tire inflation, check belts for cracking or fraying, change the oil, clean the mower deck, sharpen the blade, and fill with fresh gas<\/p>

    Battery-powered lawn mowers:<\/strong> Sharpen the blade, and charge the battery (If the battery doesn\u2019t come to a full charge, you\u2019ll want to replace it; battery life is typically four to five seasons)<\/p>

    Edgers:<\/strong> Replace line, check shield, replace spark plug, replace air filter, fill with fresh gas\/oil, check straps and handle, and check cord for cracks (electric trimmer)<\/p>

    Leaf blower:<\/strong> Clean the blower, check air filter, replace fuel filter, check spark plug, add fresh oil, check battery (cordless blowers)<\/p>

    Hedge trimmers:<\/strong> Clean trimmer, check machine for leaks, sharpen blade, check spark plugs, clean or replace air filter, add new fuel, check battery and cord (on electric trimmer)<\/p>

    \"Racking
    Peggychoucair<\/a> | Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    2. Clean up yard debris<\/span><\/h2>

    Now that your lawn care equipment is ready for the new season, it\u2019s time to go to work. As soon as the last frost hits and temperatures stay above freezing, you should begin your spring yard cleanup. Follow this checklist below, and you\u2019ll be well on your way to hosting those beloved North Carolina backyard barbecues and garden parties. <\/p>

    1. Remove any debris cluttering your lawn<\/strong>, including fallen branches, twigs, and pet waste.<\/li>
    2. Rake leaves when your grass is dry<\/strong>. Raking over wet grass can lead to bald spots.<\/li>
    3. Prune and trim your trees, shrubs, and hedges<\/strong> being sure to remove any dead or diseased branches.<\/li>
    4. Clear your garden beds<\/strong> of weeds, fallen limbs, leaves, and dead foliage.<\/li>
    5. Pressure wash your patios, decks, walkways, and siding<\/strong> but tackle this after tree pollen season ends, which generally runs until about late April to early May. <\/li> <\/ol>
      \"worker
      Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>

      3. Test your soil<\/span><\/h2>

      Soil testing can help you determine nutrient deficiencies so you can amend your soil to support grass and plant growth<\/a>. It will measure primary nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and also secondary nutrients and micronutrients.<\/p>

      Soil testing<\/a> is the only way to find out the pH of your soil, which measures acidity or alkalinity. Your soil\u2019s pH determines how well your soil can absorb nutrients. Even though most turfgrasses thrive in soils with a pH level between 5.0 and 7.0, each grass type is different. <\/p>

      For North Carolina residents, soil testing is free from April to November through a North Carolina State University program<\/a>. <\/p>

      \"large,
      Brown patch | Scot Nelson<\/a> | Flickr | public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure>

      4. Treat lawn diseases<\/span><\/h2>

      April showers bring pretty May flowers, but they can encourage lawn diseases. With rising temperatures and humidity, your lawn is at risk of some of the most common North Carolina lawn diseases.<\/p>

      Dollar spot<\/span><\/h3>

      Signs of dollar spot:<\/strong> Small circles of tan, white, or straw-colored patches of grass that are generally around the size of a half-dollar but can grow up to over 6 inches in diameter. Dollar spot<\/a> is a fungus that becomes active when the temperatures at night reach 50 degrees or more. Heavy dew and consistently wet weather also encourages its growth. <\/p>

      How to treat dollar spot: <\/strong>To prevent dollar spot, practice good lawn care by watering before 10 a.m., mowing at the proper height, applying adequate nitrogen fertilizer, and removing excessive thatch. To treat it, combine good lawn care treatments with  fungicides<\/p>

      Brown patch<\/span><\/h3>

      Signs of brown patch: <\/strong>Brown patch<\/a> appears as large brown, tan, or yellow circular patches of turf ranging anywhere from 6 inches to many feet in diameter. Similar to dollar spot, brown patch thrives on wet lawns. <\/p>

      How to treat brown patch: <\/strong>Take a leaf rake and fluff the grass where there is brown patch to help the grass dry, and avoid excessive shade. Mow to the proper height, and use proper irrigation practices. Fungicides also can also be used to treat brown patch. <\/p>

      Large patch<\/span><\/h3>

      Signs of large patch: <\/strong>Large patch is a fungal disease similar to brown patch except it only affects warm-season grasses like centipedegrass, Zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and bermudagrass in the spring. Large, discolored patches can grow up to 25 feet in diameter. <\/p>

      How to treat large patch:<\/strong> Prevention is key to avoiding large patch. Proper watering, mowing, and fertilizing and other management practices will prevent it from taking over your lawn. Fungicides are effective for large patch control, but they must be applied on a preventative basis. For more tips on how to prevent and control large patch, check out this helpful NCSU guide<\/a>. <\/p>

      Fairy ring<\/span><\/h3>

      Signs of fairy ring<\/strong>: They may sound cute, but these odd looking fungi appear as large, dark green circles or rings of mushrooms. Fairy ring<\/a> is a highly invasive lawn disease can grow well over 100 feet in diameter. <\/p>

      How to treat fairy ring: <\/strong>Like most lawn diseases, this fungi needs excess moisture, infertile soil, and a damaged lawn to thrive. If you see fairy rings in your lawn, you should apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer, dethatch the lawn, aerate, and maintain proper watering techniques. Select fungicides also can help control fairy ring. <\/p>

      \"Man
      Shutterstock<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>

      5. Do not over fertilize<\/span><\/h2>

      Fertilizers are made up of three primary nutrients \u2014 nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, abbreviated as \u201cN-P-K.\u201d  If a fertilizer says it has 24-6-6, it means the content is 24% nitrogen, 6% phosphorus, and 6% potassium. <\/p>

      Many homeowners apply too much fertilizer when their grass starts to grow. However, fertilization amounts really depend on your specific grass type and soil test results. <\/p>

      For more info on how and when to properly fertilize your lawn based on your grass type, check out these best practices<\/a> listed on NCSU\u2019s website. Here is good fertilization schedule to follow based on grass type:<\/p>

      Grass type<\/strong><\/td>Recommended fertilization<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
      Bermudagrass<\/td>Early April-May<\/td><\/tr>
      Centipedegrass<\/td>June<\/td><\/tr>
      Kentucky bluegrass mix<\/td>Mid September-November<\/td><\/tr>
      Tall fescue<\/td>Mid September-November<\/td><\/tr>
      Zoysiagrass<\/td>June-August<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>
      \"close-up
      Crabgrass | NY State IPM Program at Cornell University<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>

      6. Prevent and treat weeds<\/span><\/h2>

      To prevent spring weeds from sprouting, apply a pre-emergent herbicide<\/a> around mid-March. Pre-emergent herbicides work by creating a protective barrier that contains chemicals that inhibit plant growth by preventing root growth, impeding cell division, and ensuring nutrients won\u2019t reach weeds.. They do not kill existing weeds.  <\/p>

      For weeds that have already sprouted, a post-emergent herbicide<\/a> can be an effective treatment. The best time to apply it is in early to late spring. The granules or liquid contain a combination of chemicals that kill the weed and prevent them from growing back.<\/p>

      Post-emergent herbicides can be \u201cselective\u201d or \u201cnon-selective.\u201d Selective herbicides will kill some plants and not others. Non-selective herbicides can kill or damage most plants, including your grass.<\/p>

      Some common weeds found in Durham lawns:<\/p>