With Spring being ever so close, I’ve begun thinking about what to do for my lawn. Currently, it looks pretty sad. The house at the end of my street appears to be in full bloom with lots of bright yellow daffodils and a green lawn greeting me as I turn onto my street. I might admit a hint of envy. It’s really sparked me to come to the realization that Spring is indeed around the corner and 
I might want to start preparing for my first spring lawn care season. So, I headed to Lowe’s this last week armed with a gift card left over from Christmas and bought myself a seed spreader, some pre-emergent and a hose. I went home, very excited about my new purchase; And then I just stared at it. I was clueless. The guy at the store suggested that this was the key to a healthy lawn. However, I wasn’t completely convinced that this was the only necessary step. So I did what any resourceful single lady should do… I called my dad. About five minutes into conversation with him I came to the realization that although my Dad can fix broken hearts and boo boos, he’s clueless when it comes to lawns. So I Googled it. There’s a host of information out there. The best source of information I’ve found so far is a little website called allaboutlawns.com
First thing’s first, as much I hated doing it when I was a kid, and since I don’t yet have my own slave labor, uh, I mean children… I had to get to raking it myself. You must first rake the lawn not only to get rid of the leaves, but to combat thatch and also aerate the lawn. Thatch is a layer of grass stems, roots, clippings, and 
debris that settle on the ground and either slowly decompose and/or accumulate over time. Thatch buildup is commonly found in lawns where grass has grown tall, mulch is frequently left, and lawns that have never been aerated. The problem with thatch is that, in excess, it creates a dry layer impervious to the flow of air, water, fertilizer and other materials to the roots. If the thatch stays moist, it can harbor a host of different fungi which can cause turf diseases. If you don’t combat thatch, when temperature and moisture conditions are right, you’ll end up with a lawn only a mother could love.
If you have some other areas that are a little more stubborn than a rake can combat, I might also suggest some aerating shoes; They’re available at your favorite home improvement store for $15-$25. I got mine on Amazon.com for about $12 including shipping. You may feel like a moron in them, but you’ll be a moron with a well aerated lawn and a lot of saved time. I may be considering fashioning some of these bad boys for my dog… I mean, she needs to earn her keep, right?
After raking and aerating, I spread the pre-emergent on my lawn and watered it so it wouldn’t blow away in the wind. In a few more weeks I’ll be seeding and fertilizing. You have to wait a few weeks, otherwise the pre-emergent will also kill your grass seed. Hopefully, I’m doing it right and I’ll have a happy, healthy lawn this spring and summer. Bottom line: Do your research and get 
started now. It’s never really too early, and a nice, well manicured yard will do wonder’s for your home’s curb appeal. Remember, do a little of your own research, find out what’s best for your lawn type.
If you’re not quite the do-it-yourself type, consider hiring a good lawn service. Get suggestions from friends and neighbors. You wouldn’t want these guys in your yard.
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