Spring is the time for lawns to look lush and healthy as grass, flowers, and trees begin actively growing. However, after a winter full of snow and ice, your lawn can begin to look dreary.
But don’t lose hope because you can revive it with the right spring lawn care steps in Ontario.
So, if you want spring lawn care in Ontario into your own hands, you have come to the right place. Here is a complete guide that will help your lawn to look lush throughout the year.
What is the Best Time to begin Spring Lawn Care in Ontario?
The best time to begin spring lawn care in Ontario can vary between late March and early April. We recommend beginning the preparation of your lawn once the snow has melted and the temperature has gotten better.
Don’t begin too early or too late, as this can cause damage to your lawn in Ontario. As a general rule, you must begin the spring lawn care steps once the ground is dry enough to support foot traffic and the use of lawn equipment.
On the other hand, if you live in a colder region in Canada, then it is best to begin the process in late May or the beginning of June.
It is best to check the soil temperature and weather predictions to ensure you can begin your spring lawn care correctly.
Spring Lawn Care Calendar for Ontario: When to Start Spring Lawn Care?
We have divided spring lawn care in Ontario into the various duties you will have to perform at various times. It is an estimated calendar that will help you follow the right spring lawn care steps at the right times.
Please note that you can vary from the recommendations based on the weather conditions.
| Lawn Care Duties | Estimated Timing |
| Adding Seeds | Between late April and early May |
| Spring Clean up | Between late March and early April |
| Aerating and Dethatching | Between March and April |
| Watering | Begin from March onwards |
| Fertilization | Between late April and early May |
| Weed & Pest Control | Begin early April |
| Lawn Mowing | Begin between mid to late April |
Spring Lawn Care vs. All Year Lawn Care: 8 Key Differences
Now, you might wonder why spring lawn care can’t come under the umbrella of all-year lawn care. The reason for this is that springtime is the beginning of the seasons, which is why what you do then will determine how your lawn will look for the rest of the year.
Other than that, here are some key differences between spring lawn care and the rest of the year to help you understand its importance:
1. Overseeding
Overseeding helps fill in any bare spots or brown patches on your lawn. You plant the new grass seed to ensure that these spots remain flourishing throughout the year.
Spring is a great time to begin this process, as winter in Canada can leave your lawn bare and patchy. When you do this in spring, it will help you create a dense turf before the hot summer months.
We recommend you select a cool-season grass for this purpose that will be suitable for spring lawn care in Ontario. Make sure you follow the instructions on the grass seed bag for the best results.
2. Fertilization
As compared to the rest of the year, it is important to fertilize with a slow-releasing fertilizer that will be appropriate for the climate in Ontario. Such fertilizer will provide your grass with the nutrients it needs to help it grow strong.
So, springtime requires slow fertilization, while the other months in the year require different types of fertilization, depending on the lawn care you want to do.
3. Aeration
Spring is one of the best times to aerate and dethatch your lawn in Ontario. These spring lawn care steps will help your soil begin thawing after a long winter and start the process of active growth.
Your soil will loosen, and your grass will grow even better than before. During other times of the year, you might not need to aerate your lawn as much.
4. Cleanup
During winter, your lawn goes through a tough time, as the snow can make it difficult to clean up. Grass clippings, dead grass, and a lot of other debris can accumulate on the lawn.
So, cleanup is an important part of spring lawn care in Ontario as compared to the rest of the year.
5. Recovery Time
After a cold and harsh winter, you have to assess whether your lawn has suffered any damage because of it. A lot of things can harm the lawn, such as frost, ice, snow, and much more.
So, it can take longer for your lawn to recover in spring as compared to the rest of the year. We recommend you follow spring lawn care steps, such as looking for signs of damage and repairing them as you like.
6. Controlling Weeds
If you don’t care for your lawn beforehand, weeds can take control of it in the springtime. As compared to the rest of the year, spring is the best time to add some herbicides so that weeds can’t grow properly.
Otherwise, they will prevail on your lawn throughout the spring and summer months. Our lawn care experts in Ontario recommend you follow the instructions on the package to ensure safe use of the herbicides.
7. Watering Schedule
Temperatures begin to rise during the springtime, which is why you will have to begin a watering schedule for your lawn. The key is to ensure that your lawn doesn’t dry out in the weather.
You also have to monitor the levels of moisture in your lawn in the spring. During springtime, it is best to water deeply from time to time.
Doing this will encourage the roots of the plant to grow strong for the rest of the year. During the rest of the year, you can water lightly and infrequently.
8. Lawn Mowing
Mowing is an important part of spring lawn care in Ontario to keep your grass looking healthy throughout the year. As soon as your grass reaches three inches of height, it is time to mow.
You can keep it at a height of 2.5 inches. As a general rule, you shouldn’t cut more than 1/3rd of the grass at a single time, as this can stress your grass and make it prone to different diseases.
Tools and Equipment Required for Spring Lawn Care in Ontario
Now that you know what spring lawn care in Ontario entails as compared to the rest of the year, it is time to gather some tools and equipment to begin this process.
Let’s review some tools and equipment you can gather to begin spring lawn care steps:
- Aerator
- Rake
- Dethatcher
- Edger or trimmer
- Sprinkler system or garden hose
- Mower
- Drop spreader
- Fertilizer (slow-release)
- Cool-season grass seeds
- Products to control grubs and other pests
- Pre-emergent herbicides
All of these tools and equipment will help your lawn begin getting ready and thrive in the summer.
Spring Lawn Care Steps: A Complete Guide
Once you have all the tools and equipment, it is time to begin the spring lawn care steps in Ontario. Here are all the steps you can follow to care for your lawn in the best way:
1. Inspect for Winter Damage
First things first, you have to inspect your lawn for winter damage that might have taken place, such as winter frost. There may be areas of your lawn that might require extra love and attention.
Some examples of winter damage can include:
- Dead or brown patches in the lawn
- Snow mold
- Signs of infestation
- And much more
Once you have identified these issues, you can take the necessary steps to make your lawn look lush before springtime.
2. Clean the Lawn to Remove Debris
Winter means debris and buildup on your lawn as many things accumulate over the winter. You have to use a rake to clean the lawn so that your soil can breathe.
Make sure your lawn isn’t covered by anything before you begin the rest of the spring lawn care steps. As you clean the lawn, it will help prevent any diseases on the lawn and will ensure circulation throughout the year.
Ontario experiences heavy snowfall in winter, which is why cleaning your lawn before springtime becomes more important than ever in this region. You can also opt for winter lawn care to ensure it is ready for spring in Ontario.
3. Time to Use a Lawn Aerator
Once you have removed all the debris from your lawn, you must use an aerator to improve the penetration of nutrients in your soil.
Aeration also decreases any soil compaction. This leads to everything reaching the grassroots better.
It will break up soil compaction by introducing thousands of tiny holes inside your soil. There are various options for using an aeration machine.
For example, you can choose from:
- Spike Aerators: These use solid tines to penetrate the ground
- Plug Aerators: These help you pull out a plug or core of grass and oil that will let it decompose on top of the grass to ensure more nutrients
You have the option of renting these machines or purchasing them. On the other hand, if you want an affordable option, you can contact a professional lawn care company such as Falcon Landscaping in Mississauga to aerate your lawn.
4. Eliminate any Excess Thatch from the Lawn
You might not need to do this, depending on the conditions of your soil. However, if you have any excess thatch, we recommend you eliminate it as soon as possible with this method.
A dethatcher will help you with this task during your spring lawn care steps in Ontario. The reason for this is that excess thatch on the lawn can restrict the penetration of water and air into the soil.
A good way to know this is that if the thatch is more than half an inch thick, then it is time to dethatch it. You can use a gentle leaf rake to help break up any thatch on top of your lawn.
On the other hand, a dethatcher will work just as well for this purpose. So, make sure that you eliminate the thatch layer if it becomes too thick.
5. Test Your Soil
Testing the soil pH is important to know how to care for your lawn with the right steps. For example, if you have moss around your soil, it can mean that your soil has high acidity.
As a general rule, acidic soils have a pH level below 7. On the other hand, alkaline soils have a pH level higher than 7.
A neutral pH is important to keep your soil growing well. If your soil is acidic, then a lime amendment can help bring it back to neutral pH levels.
If you want to test the soil pH, you can buy an at-home soil test kit to conduct this test.
When the soil is too acidic, you can use a fertilizer spreader to apply lime. However, we recommend you don’t take this too far because if the soil becomes too alkaline, then it will lead to a myriad of other issues.
If you don’t know how to begin soil pH tests at home, you can connect with our experts to assess your soil and help bring it back to neutral pH for optimal spring lawn care in Ontario.
6. Fill any Brown or Bare Spots on the Lawn
After bringing the soil pH levels back to normal, you might notice that parts of your lawn are thin or bare. There might also be some bare or brown spots throughout your lawn because of the harsh winter weather.
To prevent this from getting worse, it is important to overseed your lawn to promote a healthy and dense lawn for the remaining year. There are many cool-season grasses you can apply with a drop spreader to introduce new seeds to your grass.
The best cold-season grasses for Ontario include ryegrass, red fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass. Once you have chosen the grass seeds, you must follow the instructions of the manufacturer to apply the grass seeds in the right amount.
7. Apply Fertilizer
You have to nurture your new grass seeds the right way to ensure optimal growth of your grass. A slow-release fertilizer can help with that, as it provides your lawn with the essential nutrients during springtime.
So, one of the important spring lawn care steps is to apply the right fertilizer in Ontario. Look at the lawn fertilizer numbers and the correct NPK ratio that will help you have a lush lawn in spring.
Even the soil test you conducted before will help you understand the best fertilizer for your grass.
8. Create a Watering Schedule
Creating the right watering schedule will ensure your grass gets the best during springtime. We recommend you water your grass deeply but not too often.
For example, a good spring watering schedule in Ontario can be to use one inch of water for your lawn each week. Doing this will encourage the roots to grow deeply.
We also recommend you water your grass early in the morning to reduce evaporation and the risk of any fungal diseases on the lawn.
9. Take Steps to Prevent Weed Growth
A weed-free lawn is a happy lawn for your home. Spring lawn care steps include conducting weed prevention to foster the growth of a healthy lawn.
Pre-emergent herbicide is the key to prevent any weed growth on your lawn. These will prevent the growth before they even get a chance to develop.
There will be instructions on the herbicide package for you to follow. Be sure to keep those in mind when applying this for a happy and healthy lawn.
10. Mow Your Lawn Accurately
It is time to mow your lawn. As a general rule, you must maintain a height of 2.5 inches for your lawn.
Don’t cut more than 1/3rd of your grass at a time. Start mowing as soon as you reach the desired height.
You can use an edger or trimmer for this purpose, as it will help you mow any areas that are difficult to reach. If you have a huge property, you can also opt for professional landscaping in Mississauga to mow your lawn.
11. Keep an Eye Out for Lawn Maintenance
Even after following all the spring lawn care steps, it is important to monitor your lawn for any issues and maintain it with time. You must address any issues or stressors that arise on your lawn.
Conduct weekly inspections of your lawn to identify any pest, illness, or stress problems. Then, you can adjust your spring lawn care in Ontario based on your findings.
A lawn that you maintain well will help you have a healthy lawn that will also be pleasing to the eyes.
FAQs
What is the first thing you put on your lawn in the spring?
Putting in new grass seeds will help you have a thriving lawn in spring. After you seed the lawn, be sure to add the right fertilizer to help it grow.
What is the best lawn treatment for early spring?
There is no best lawn treatment. It is important to follow the right spring lawn care in Ontario to ensure that the lawn looks stunning in spring.
How do I prepare my lawn for spring in Ontario?
Prepare your lawn for spring in Ontario by breaking up any excess thatch, applying pre-emergent herbicides, raking leaves, and much more. You can follow our spring lawn care steps to prepare your lawn in the optimal manner.
When should I seed my lawn in spring in Ontario?
You should conduct spring seeding in Ontario as the ground is in the condition to be worked upon. Then, as you water and take care of other steps, the seeds will grow well throughout the year.
Final Thoughts
Follow these spring lawn care steps to ensure your lawn looks ideal in the springtime. Ontario experiences a lot of snow and cold in the wintertime, making your lawn look dry and dead.
So, revive your lawn with our guide for spring lawn care in Ontario. On the other hand, if you want professionals to take your lawn to the next level, then be sure to get in touch with Falcon Landscaping.