Tips for Spring Green Up

Do you want a greener lawn faster? Here in the Delmarva area grasses change color in the cold winter months. Our Zenith Zoysia and Tahoma 31 Bermuda turn hay color when they go dormant around late October. Our DuraBlend Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrasses stay green most of the year but with a good freeze it can turn brown/yellow come January and Febuary.

You want your lawn to be vibrant green and lush as soon as possible each Spring (preferably before your neighbors' lawns). Here are some tips to encourage early Spring green up each year:

1. For the first mow of the season - cut it to 1.5" - 2" short. Wait until temperatures warm up from winter, late March or early April in the Maryland area and mow your Tall Fescue and Kentucky bluegrass lawns down to about an inch and a half. Zoysia and Bermuda can be mowed as low as one inch in late April. This will do 2 things: it trims off the yellow dormant grass blade leaving the new green growth exposed, and also allows more sunlight to reach the soil. Soil temperature is a major driver for green up and new growth.
2. Fertilize your lawn. Wait until the grass has naturally started to green up (late March or Early April for cool season grasses, and late April for Zoysia and Bermuda). Fertilizer provides much needed nutrients that encourage healthy growth.
3. Be patient. Grass turns dormant each year to protect itself from cold winters and reduce its energy use when photosynthesis is happening at a reduced rate.