With spring arriving across the region, a lawn care expert says April offers a critical window for homeowners to prepare their yards for the growing season.
Warren County Master Gardener Dale McDaniel said the weather has changed in the Upper Cumberland over the last 25 years. She added that while cold weather can be good for your lawn, it is best to start prepping once winter is officially gone.
“At the very most, you don’t want your soil to be above 60 degrees, and it is prime if your soil is 50 to 55 degrees for most of your preventative work,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel also said April is a good time to use your herbicides to kill unwanted crabgrass. McDaniel said one of the most important first steps to having a good-looking lawn this spring is conducting a soil test, something many homeowners overlook.
“If you want a really nice lawn, or frankly, garden, whether it be vegetable or flowers, you really need to do a soil sample, and it’s not expensive at all,” McDaniel said. “It could take up to two weeks. Mine never has, but they do say that it could be two weeks. So, then they will tell you what you need, and they will give you the perfect custom soil mix to fertilize.”
McDaniel said local extension offices provide kits and instructions, and results can guide customized treatment. Aeration is another option, particularly for areas with heavy clay soil common across the Upper Cumberland. McDaniel said aerating can improve water absorption and root growth, but should be done no later than mid-April.
“When you aerate your lawn… you’ll break up all that clay,” McDaniel said. “You’ll be able to get the water down to the deeper roots more easily.”
McDaniel said one of the most common mistakes homeowners make is mowing too early and too short.
“You do not want to mow any shorter than four inches… five inches is perfect,” McDaniel said.
The Master Gardeners are also encouraging residents to participate in a “No Mow April” initiative, allowing early-season blooms like dandelions to support pollinators.
“Our dandelions are the very first pollinator that attracts our bees,” McDaniel said. “If you can stand looking at them, don’t mow them down until the end of April.”
Even for those not aiming for perfection, McDaniel said taking a few simple steps, like testing soil and cleaning up debris, can go a long way.
