As the chill of winter begins to fade, we know many of you here in southern Missouri are eager to enjoy the outdoors again. A lush, green lawn doesn’t just happen on its own—it takes planning, effort, and the right know-how to get it there. At Nightingale Lawn & Landscape, we’ve seen firsthand how following a few key steps this time of year can set your yard up for success all season long. Let’s dig into five practical tips that can help you prepare your lawn for spring and make it the envy of the neighborhood.
#1: Clean up the lawn
The first step in preparing your lawn for spring is a good old-fashioned cleanup. Winter can leave behind a mess of fallen branches, leaves, and other debris that need to be cleared out. Not only does cleaning up improve the look of your yard, but it also allows sunlight and airflow to reach your grass—key ingredients for healthy growth.
How we suggest tackling cleanup:
- Clear away dead leaves and grass clipping, use a blower or sturdy rake. For matted areas, a metal rake works best.
- Pick up sticks and branches left behind by winter storms.
- Keep an eye out for mold or fungus in shaded or damp areas and treat it as needed with fungicide.
Why this matters for southern Missouri lawns: The ups and downs of Missouri winters often lead to compacted soil and lingering debris. A clean lawn ensures your grass gets a fresh start when the growing season kicks off.
#2: Test and amend your soil
Healthy soil is the foundation of a beautiful lawn. If you’ve noticed your grass looking a little lackluster in the past, there’s a good chance your soil might need some extra love. Testing your soil helps you figure out what it’s missing and how to fix it.
Our recommendation for testing soil:
- Pick up a DIY soil test kit or send a sample to the University of Missouri Extension for a professional analysis.
- Test for pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) levels. Around here, most lawns thrive with a slightly acidic pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Making adjustments:
- If the soil is too acidic, add lime. If it’s too alkaline, sulfur can help balance things out.
- Address nutrient deficiencies by applying fertilizers or organic matter like compost.
- In southern Missouri, where clay-heavy soils are common, aeration can be a game-changer for improving drainage and nutrient absorption.
#3: Apply pre-emergent weed control
Weeds love to steal the spotlight from your grass. The good news is, you can get ahead of them with pre-emergent weed control. This step is all about preventing weeds like crabgrass and foxtail before they even have a chance to sprout.
Timing is everything:
- Keep an eye on soil temperatures. Pre-emergent should go down when the soil hits about 50°F. In southern Missouri, that’s usually by late March.
- Don’t have a soil thermometer? No problem—gardening apps or local weather updates can give you a good idea of when to apply. GreenCastOnline.com is a great website that tracks soil temperatures.
A few pointers for success:
- Water your lawn lightly after applying pre-emergent to help it soak in.
- Avoid aerating the lawn after using pre-emergent, as it can disrupt the herbicide barrier.
- Choose a product that works well with your grass type. Fescue lawns, which are popular in our area, benefit from pre-emergents designed for cool-season grasses.
#4: Aerate & overseed your lawn
If your lawn feels like it’s lost its lushness, aeration and overseeding can work wonders. These steps help to loosen up compacted soil and fill in thin or bare spots, leaving your lawn thicker and healthier.
Why aeration is key:
- Aeration involves creating small holes in the soil to improve airflow, water absorption, and nutrient penetration.
- It’s especially important for areas that see a lot of foot traffic or have clay-heavy soil (a common issue here in southern Missouri).
How to overseed the right way:
- Once you’ve aerated, spread grass seed evenly over your lawn. Tall fescue is a great choice for our region.
- Water regularly to keep the soil moist while the seed germinates.
Timing tip:
- Do your aeration and overseeding before applying pre-emergent weed control to avoid disrupting the herbicide.
#5: Fertilize for early growth
Finally, give your lawn the nutrients it needs to wake up from its winter slumber. Fertilizing in early spring jumpstarts growth and helps your grass recover from dormancy.
Choosing the right fertilizer:
- Look for a lawn fertilizer with a mix of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), or one with a little extra nitrogen to encourage growth.
- If you’ve already used a pre-emergent, avoid fertilizers with added weed control to prevent overdoing it.
- Look for a slow release lawn fertilizer, this makes the nutrients available over several weeks, instead of all at once. If all the nutrients are suddenly available all at once, it can make mowing a big chore!
Timing and application tips:
- Wait until your grass has been mowed once or twice before fertilizing. This ensures it’s actively growing and ready to absorb nutrients.
- Use a broadcast spreader to apply the fertilizer evenly, and water lightly afterward to help it soak in.
bonus tip: don't forget your landscape beds!
While you’re prepping your lawn, take a moment to freshen up your landscape beds. Adding new mulch not only spruces up your yard but also helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Edging your beds can give your entire yard a polished, professional look.
Why Starting Early Makes a Difference
Spring in southern Missouri can be unpredictable, and getting ahead of the growing season means less worries about your lawn down the road. When you tackle these steps early, you give your lawn the best possible chance to thrive before the summer heat rolls in.
Let Nightingale Help You Get Started
We get it—preparing your lawn for spring can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to help. At Nightingale Lawn & Landscape, we’ve spent years working with southern Missouri homeowners to create healthy, beautiful lawns. Whether it’s soil testing, aeration, or weed control, our team has the expertise and tools to handle it all.
Give us a call today to schedule your spring lawn care services. Let’s work together to make this your lawn’s best year yet!
