A key part of looking ahead to the new season is remembering where we left off last fall. Most areas in the Northeast were somewhere between abnormally dry and a severe drought at the end of October 2024. These conditions carried well into the winter. Fortunately we’ve had some more normal winter conditions, providing some frozen ground and snow cover to protect the turf. You should still anticipate thinner turf and more repairs this spring due to fall 2024 conditions.
Key Cultural Practices for Early Spring
1. Soil Test
A must for any organic turf care customer! An easy early season step you can take before the soil has fully warmed up. Markedly, soil test results provide the starting point for program recommendations. The results take the guesswork out of product requirements and keep your sale objective. Soil tests give your clients information on how to best influence their underlying soil conditions to grow healthy turf. Run your soil tests through PJC Organic and we’ll provide you with collateral to make your sales even easier. You can get on it as soon as the ground has thawed.
2. Spring Clean-Up
No matter how much time you spend on fall clean-ups, winter has its own plans. Over the winter, grass naturally dies back and goes dormant. Dormant grass is not the same as thatch, and in an organic system, thatch is generally not a problem as the soil biology breaks it down. So be careful – aggressive raking and dethatching can damage crowns of dormant grass, remove valuable organic matter, and create a thin lawn for crabgrass and other weeds to take hold later in the season. It is important to monitor soil temperatures so that you are not expecting the lawn to be doing something that it is still to cold for. Remove any wet leaves and branches from smothering grass, prune trees and shrubs, edge and mulch your garden beds. As a result, you’ll set the stage for a successful growing season and get ready to enjoy the spring weather.
3. Remove Weeds
Is this the first thing you think of when you hear “spring organic turf tips”? Sure, dandelions and clover will be starting to pop as soon as temperatures allow, often below when our cool season grasses start to grow. These plants can get a foothold on local soil nutrients and crowd out turf plants before they can grow. So, be proactive and pull if possible and bag clippings when mowing if flowers are present. Word of caution: Do not try to mow them away as they will grow at shorter heights than our grass would like.
4. Repair
Pay attention to areas where snow was piled or heavy foot traffic, as these are prone to soil compaction and compaction weeds (e.g., plantain, crabgrass). Repair damaged areas from winter puddles, snow plows, and areas affected by snow-melt applications on walkways and driveways. Bare soil is the first place weeds take hold, so address thin or stressed areas promptly. Once soil temperatures reach 50°F, slice-seed or top dress and over-seed with a seed mix heavy in perennial rye. Remember, lawns may be thinner this spring due to poor germination from fall over seeding affected by the drought.
5. Mowing Height
Mowing is a critical part of our Spring Organic Turf Tips. Once you’ve finished spring clean-up and repairs – mow high or perform a “clean-up” cut. This helps your turf to stand up straighter. In addition, this practice chips up any leftover organic matter missed in your spring clean-up. It also gives you a chance to see if anything needs to be adjusted or repaired on your mower. Once your cleanup is done, lower your height of cut to 2 ½” for the first couple of cuts to push lateral growth, raising HOC to 3 ½” by mid-May. Finally, return clippings to get valuable organic matter back into the soil.
6. Irrigation Check
If you have an irrigation system, check for damage over the winter. Replace any heads that may have been broken. Check your watering schedule. Water deep: 1” week and in the morning when the time comes this Spring.
Get Your Lawn Ready for a Successful Season
Incorporating these tips into your Spring routine will help address winter damage and create a solid foundation for healthy turf to grow. Let us know if you need product recommendations, soil testing assistance, or someone to review your fertility program!
