How to take advantage of the rainy season for your lawn!

How to make the most of the rainy season

During the spring rain and sun cause your lawn to grow unlike any other time of the year. This is a good thing for lawns that will need that extra water for when the summer heat hits. There are a couple of key things to do though during this time to take advantage of this rain. 

1. Be consistent with your mowing. If your growth allows for you to mow 1 once a week then mow consistently 1 once per week. Whatever that number is for you, try your best to work around the rain in the week and mow your lawn constantly!

1. Use fertilizer. Using fertilizer will help take advantage of all of those nutrients that are in your lawn and allow you to be able to have fuller growth and build the stability of your lawn! We recommend starting with a slow release and then putting down a good amount of potash. Towards the end of the growing season we recommend using something like a high nitrogen or anything that has a 2-3% iron in it. We always recommend that you put down your fertilizer before it rains and if you can’t do that make sure to generously water your fertilizer in so that you're getting your money's worth! Don’t forget! Fertilizer is yours to choose what you want and as long as you're getting plenty of water with whatever fertilizer you choose you really can’t go too wrong. PLEASE NOTE!!! - for those who are grazing cattle and or horses it’s best to just stay away from UREA based fertilizer. This is typically anything with a nitrogen count higher than 33. 

1. Use this time to overseed if necessary. While the temps are still somewhat cool and there’s plenty of rain for seeding we recommend that you overseed during this time. You always want to make sure that you are using a good seed that has high ratings. One that is going to do all the things that you need it to do. Make sure that you are seeding onto ground that has been freshly scoured. You will want to dethatch your lawn as best you can. Seed that is not in contact with soil will not take off and will not grow. Grass seed is expensive so do your research and plan out how you will handle that seed once you get it.

1. Use sod or plugs if necessary. Applying sod or plugs during this time of the year works very well. With sod it is imperative that you keep it adequately watered in, this process is much less of a burden if you do it during the spring when the rain will take care of the majority of that work for you! Always make sure that your soding over ground that has been properly prepared to accept sod and plugs. Make sure that the prior vegetation has been killed and mowed down, till the area well and even aerate if necessary. Apply your plugs or sod and water in. Continue to water at least once a day for roughly 3-4 weeks or until your sod starts to take hold on it’s own.  

1. Trim away shade!!! Hopefully while your grass was dormant over the winter months you trimmed up a lot of trees and maybe even cut some down. If so, now is a good time to get out there and do some limb trimming to help keep those trees in check. For most people the biggest issue they will have in getting grass to grow and stay full is battling shade! Shade will not allow your lawn to get the sunlight it needs to grow. 

Take advantage of your rainy season as much as possible and enjoy the proceeds of your work! Remember a healthy lawn will directly impact insect control and many other factors of your home!