Would you also like to take out the lawnmower and start taking care of the lawn? It is logical, because the spring sun not only pulls plants out of the ground, but also gardeners from their homes. But be careful: The first spring mowing is the moment that decides how the lawn will look for the whole year.
We decide whether the lawn will be a thick green carpet in the summer or a sparse stubble full of weeds right now, i.e. in early spring. So when and how should we start taking care of the green pride so that we can really enjoy it this year? Although there is a specific magical date that we should circle on the calendar, the thermometer and ruler will be even more important than the calendar for this time.
Watch the following video to learn more about proper lawn care:
March 22 is not the only condition
Most experts agree that the ideal time to start lawnmower engines for the first time is around March 22. But of course this date is not set in stone. It serves more as orientation information, when the length of the day and the dose of light needed for the growth of grass, which willy-nilly after all be damaged a little by mowing. So while we should have some regard for the date, but it is mainly importantsoil temperature.
Beware of waterlogging
Grass only starts to grow when the ground temperature does not drop below 5 to 8 degrees Celsius. So if we go into action too early, when the ground is still frozen or too waterlogged, we only risk the unnecessary destruction of the root system and the formation of bald spots, which will be difficult to heal throughout the season. What does this mean for us? That the plant will have to devote more energy to its underground part and it will not have the strength left for a beautiful bunch.
The ten centimeter rule
Experts in the field of turf remind the so-called “the ten centimeter rule”. Before we start the mower for the first time, the blades of grass should reach a length of at least eight, but preferably up to ten centimeters. After winter, grass needs enough leaf area to obtain enough energy for photosynthesis root healing. If we cut it short when it is just waking up, we will cause the plants a shock from which they will recover for weeks. The first spring cut should only be cosmetic – no more than about one third of the height of the lawn.
For bees and other pollinators
In addition to the lawn itself and its condition, the opinions and advice of ecologists are also increasingly coming into play, who advise not to hurry with the first mowing due to and other pollinators. The first spring flowers in the lawn, such as daisies or dandelions, offer an extremely important food source for awakening insects. By postponing the mowing date by a week or two, we not only help our lawn to be in better condition throughout the following season, but we also give useful residents and garden visitors a chance to survive. After all, a healthy lawn is not a sterile area, but a living ecosystem.
Check the mower
But there is one more rule that we must never forget. Even before we actually get to work, we need to pay close attention state of the art. The blunt blades of the lawnmower do not cut the grass, but crush and tear it. The wounds on the stalks created unnecessarily in this way are the entrance gate for fungi and diseases, which spreads at lightning speed in wet spring weather. A clean and sharp cut is the basis for rapid healing. If, in addition, after winter we find that the lawn is covered with a thick layer of moss or old growth, it is better to first do light digging with a hand rake and to wait until the grass is in full force, i.e. in mid-April at the earliest, with a more vigorous scarification.
It takes a little patience
Having the most beautiful lawn in the street is not about the power of the machine, but about the patience of the gardener. Watch the weather forecast and wait for dry daywhen the stalks will not be covered with morning dew. If you resist the temptation to mow as soon as it warms up and wait until the end of March, you will be rewarded with a healthy and beautiful green area that will handle the upcoming summer heat without any problems.
