In order to have a picture-perfect lawn, you need to know how to take care of it. And spring is one of the most critical times of the year for your lawn! If you mess up during this season, it can be tough to maintain a nice lawn. To prevent this, here are seven tips for preparing your lawn for spring.

Clean up your lawn carefully

The first step in preparing your lawn for spring is cleaning it up! Do not underestimate the importance of doing this because your lawn gets a ton of debris during fall and winter. Branches, rocks, and such all end up in the grass. And it can make it very dangerous to mow your lawn when necessary since the blades of your mower can get caught in the debris and either get damaged or launch whatever was caught in them at dangerous speeds. Besides, it is an excellent way to make your house feel more comfortable since a clean lawn provides a much nicer aesthetic. It doesn't take too long to clean up a lawn either since you are really only getting rid of the large things stuck in your grass.

Know how to aerate the soil

Aerating the soil, once you know how to do it, is not difficult. We do, however, recommend you use a lawn aerator. It is possible to rent one in a hardware store if you don't own it. If you insist on doing this on your own, then you will need a garden fork. Simply push it all the way into the soil, lean it back, and then pull it out. Space out your stabs by about three to four inches, and be careful not to do it too densely. You risk hurting the roots of your grass if you do! Note that you might not need aerating if you don't use your lawn often. However, the dirt will get too compacted if you walk over it frequently. Without aerating it, your grass won't be able to get the oxygen it needs.

Know how to aerate the soil

Aerating the soil, once you know how to do it, is not difficult. We do, however, recommend you use a lawn aerator. It is possible to rent one in a hardware store if you don't own it. If you insist on doing this on your own, then you will need a garden fork. Simply push it all the way into the soil, lean it back, and then pull it out. Space out your stabs by about three to four inches, and be careful not to do it too densely. You risk hurting the roots of your grass if you do! Note that you might not need aerating if you don't use your lawn often. However, the dirt will get too compacted if you walk over it frequently. Without aerating it, your grass won't be able to get the oxygen it needs.

Apply fertilizer if needed

Fertilizing your lawn is a somewhat troubling subject due to environmental concerns. If your soil is rich and doesn't require it, we recommend you skip this step entirely. However, if you've noticed that your grass struggles to grow properly, fertilizer might be the missing element. There are different fertilizers, so make sure you get the type meant for spring. If you want a fertilizer with moss and weed killers included, check if it's dangerous to children and pets. As the storage experts from Van Express Movers note, fertilizer with such substances must also be carefully sealed before being placed in storage. Finally, if you are worried about using fertilizer or unsure you can do it right, it's better to contact a professional gardener to help you.

Tidy up your lawn's edges

During the fall and winter seasons, your lawn will likely experience a lot of rainfall and potentially snow. This can lead to it 'stretching' out of bounds. It is very common to see the soil from your lawn being washed partially onto the street. Or for your tidily arranged lawn to infringe on your garden. This is why it's crucial to reshaping it once the weather is nicer and you can work with the soil. Thankfully, all you need is an edging tool. This gardening implement resembles a spade, but it's sharper and more specialized in use. You can use it to cut your lawn's edges into neat lines. And even separate plots for your garden! This is a straightforward way to achieve home improvement in your yard since the tool doesn't require much strength or skill to use.

Fix any problems with your grass coverage

Bald spots are very annoying to deal with, but they do happen from time to time. There are two ways to deal with it. First, you can choose to overseed your lawn as one of the steps for preparing your lawn for spring. Once nature starts waking up, your lawn will likely become verdant once again. The other option is to transplant turf into your yard. This can be tricky since if the turf doesn't take, it will quickly wither and look very unappealing.

Pay attention to your lawn's needs

The final step of preparing your lawn for spring is simply tending to it. Keep an eye on how it's looking, and if you notice any sign of the soil growing too parched, water it! At the same time, note that if you see too much water in your soil, it can be a sign that you need a plumber. A pipe leaking enough can even cause puddles on your lawn, which is bad news for your wallet and grass.

For a verdant lawn year-round

With our seven tips for preparing your lawn for spring, you'll have a solid foundation for your lawn during the rest of the year. After all, if you set up your grass properly at the start of the year, it's relatively easy to take care of it later!

 Guest Contributor: Sophia Perry