WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MARCH 11, 2021 25
As a homeowner, now is the
perfect time to start thinking
about lawn care again. Spring
is your fi rst - and best - opportunity to
get your outdoor living space in top
shape for the warmer months ahead.
And depending on where you live in
the U.S., that window begins whenever
the soil starts warming.
To help you get ready for a healthy,
lush green lawn this spring, Tru-
Green, America’s #1 lawn care company,
shares fi ve things you should
do.
START WITH A SPRING
CLEANUP
Spring cleaning isn’t just for the
inside of your home. Your lawn has
collected fallen leaves, sticks and
other debris over the winter months.
Leaving behind this plant matter can
smother the growth of your lawn
and leave behind unsightly dead
patches on the turf. A cleanup will
give your lawn room to breathe, so
it can take in water and sunshine, as
well as any fertilizer or weed control
treatments.
CLEAN UP THE MOWER
Spring is also time to dust off the
lawn mower, fi ll it with fresh fuel and
get your fi rst mow. The fi rst mowing
of the season removes dead blades of
grass and encourages the lawn to start
waking from its winter slumber.
GET A STEP AHEAD OF
WEED GROWTH
The return of crabgrass is not something
to look forward to, however, the
good news is, you can get these and
other unsightly weeds under control
by applying a treatment before they
start popping up around your lawn.
But keep in mind, it’s important to get
the timing just right.
“Timing is critical when it comes
to applying preventative weed treatments,”
says Brian Feldman, Tru-
Green’s Director of Technical Operations
- North. “Treatment should be
applied under very specifi c soil and
temperature conditions. Otherwise,
it won’t work and you’ll end up wasting
both product and eff ort.”
To take the guesswork out of weed
control, consulting with a lawn care
professional - such as TruGreen - can
bring you peace of mind and deliver
desired results.
NOURISH YOUR LAWN
Spring presents yet another important
window of opportunity to
achieve a thick, healthy lawn. Aft er
being dormant all winter, it will need
a dose of food to help it spring back to
life and start growing.
Because by summer, your turf
will be facing many stresses - heat,
drought, insects and disease. A light
application of fertilizer can help your
lawn take full advantage of spring
growth and have it at its best. Don’t
forget your trees and shrubs, too! The
amount of fertilizer needed varies
with the age and where your trees
and shrubs are located, so contact a
professional for expert treatment.
SET A SIMPLE WATERING
SCHEDULE
Regular rainfall is optimal for healthy
grass. But when the sun is beating down
and it’s been more than a week since the
last rainfall, you’ll need to supplement
the lack of rain with a sprinkler. Luckily,
you can keep it simple as most lawns
will thrive and grow with one inch of
water per week. To keep track, set a
few empty tuna cans around the lawn.
When they get full - indicating an inch
of water - you can move the sprinkler
to a diff erent section. Trees and shrubs
also need some watering TLC; keep
them hydrated also, particularly when
temperatures start to spike.
It’s important to remember that every
state and region has unique grass and
plant types that present their own needs
and challenges. Yet, a thick, green lawn
you will feel proud of is closer than you
think. Call your local lawn professional
and they’ll create a plan that’s tailormade
for your outdoor living space to
get it into great shape this spring.
— Courtesy of BPT
AT HOME
Five expert tips to renew your lawn
/WWW.QNS.COM
