Spring is an exciting time for homeowners, but it’s also one of the most important periods for long-term lawn and landscape health. Here at Fairway Green, Inc., we see that proper lawn and landscape care in the spring sets the tone for how your property performs throughout the entire growing season.
Spring lawn maintenance isn’t about doing everything at once, it’s about following the right spring lawn schedule, addressing winter damage, and applying treatments at the proper time. Understanding how and when to approach both lawn and landscape care directly following winter helps create stronger turf, weed free lawn and landscape beds, healthier roots, and better overall results throughout the year, especially in our unpredictable climate.
Start Early for a Beautiful Lawn
We see the best results when homeowners focus on preparation, evaluation, and timing. A well-planned spring lawn and landscape schedule ensures each step of spring maintenance is completed when plants can actually benefit from it. Addressing the right tasks early helps prevent weed outbreaks (think stubborn crabgrass), reduce disease pressure, and set the foundation for healthy growth.
Lawn Considerations for the Spring
Clear Winter Debris from Your Lawn
Winter often leaves behind fallen branches, lingering leaves, and matted grass. This type of debris will block sunlight and trap moisture, which can delay spring green-up. With our years of experience, we have noticed it also contributes to turf disease issues. Light raking helps improve airflow and allows the turf to warm evenly.
Avoid aggressive raking while the soil is still soft, as this can damage grass that is just coming out of dormancy. Excessive raking can also disrupt any pre-emergent weed control that has already been applied.
Look for Damage
Early spring cleanup is also the perfect time to inspect for winter damage.
We frequently find the following issues on our customers’ properties:
- Snow mold or fungal activity (check out our Snow Mold blog here)
- Salt damage near walkways and driveways
- Compaction from snow piles or foot traffic
- Thinning turf or bare spots
- Damage from snowplows and other snow removal methods
The impacts of snow removal and de-icing efforts on turf is routinely overlooked. Each spring, some of the most consistent dead or thinning turf we see appears in straight lines along driveways, sidewalks, and walkways. In our experience, this damage is rarely random and is often tied directly to winter snow removal and de-icing practices.
When snow is repeatedly piled onto turf or salt-based de-icers are heavily used, grass along hardscapes is exposed to concentrated stress. As snow melts, salt is carried into the soil, disrupting the grass’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. The result is delayed green-up, thinning turf, or complete turf loss in these areas.
Since Fairway Green, Inc. began, more turf friendly de-icing products have been developed. Rock salt (sodium chloride) is the most damaging option for turf and plants and should be avoided near landscaped areas whenever possible.
Calcium chloride is a more plant-friendly alternative when used correctly. Magnesium chloride and potassium chloride are also less harmful options. However, even these products can cause damage if overapplied.
Apply Fertilizer and Pre-Emergent Herbicide (Weed Prevention) to Your Lawn
Spring fertilization as well as pre-emergent weed control applications are imperative for a lush, green and weed free lawn. Both are the backbone of professional lawn care.
Spring Lawn Fertilization – a balanced, slow-release lawn fertilizer should be applied. Effective spring lawn fertilization focuses on supporting root development and steady growth—not forcing rapid top growth too early in the season. Another goal is to replenish nutrients lost over the winter months.
Pre-Emergent Weed Control – pre-emergent products work by creating a protective barrier in the soil that stops weed seeds from successfully germinating. This approach is particularly effective against annual grassy weeds such as crabgrass, which are common in NJ and PA lawns. It is important to note pre-emergent weed control products do not kill existing weeds and are not effective against established perennial weeds. Pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control work in tandem to keep weeds at bay in our Gold and Platinum Lawn Care Programs.
Don’t Seed or Aerate Just Yet
While both aeration and lawn seeding are an important part of a long-term turf plan, experience has shown us that early spring is not the ideal time. Each year, we have a handful of customers that take on large seeding projects in the spring. We typically observe the same results, spring seeding projects result in nice short term improvements, but by the end of the summer those seeded areas have few surviving turf plants and a lot of thriving weeds. This is why we strongly recommend waiting until early fall to tackle these projects for great long-term results that last.
Here are some of the details as to why we recommend waiting until the early fall. As mentioned, pre-emergent weed control works by forming a barrier. Aerating punctures that barrier and makes the pre-emergent weed control less effective. Additionally, pre-emergent weed controls will prevent new grass seed from germinating. If spring-seeded grass does germinate, it usually doesn’t thrive because it competes with weeds, struggles with inconsistent rain, and then suffers in the summer heat. In our area, we use cool season grass varieties that struggle in the high temperatures of summer. An immature plant that was seeded just a few months before the summer heat is going to have a difficult time with the heat stress alone, but now factor in all the weeds that thrive in those conditions that it has to compete with make it extremely difficult for the new plant to survive.
Although it’s not ideal, sometimes you can’t wait and you have to do some spring seeding. We have a lot of customers that get new walkways, patios, or other types of home additions done in the spring and they need to do some seeding. We will discuss the best way to go about this, but it’s important to keep your expectations low for what these areas will look like long term.
Spot Seeding vs. Pre-Emergent: Our Most Common Spring Conflict
One of the most frequent spring requests we receive is advice on seeding smaller bare areas of a homeowner’s lawn. “Touch-ups” or spot seeding concerns are by far our most common service call this time of year. As we mentioned above, a lot can happen over the winter that can cause turf damage and having to wait until fall to repair these areas can be very frustrating.
This is where real-world lawn care gets tricky.
Pre-emergent weed control applications provide the greatest control over one of our area’s most troublesome weeds—crabgrass. However, pre-emergents do not distinguish between weed seed and grass seed; they prevent all germination. If a pre-emergent has already been applied, and you decide to seed after, this will cause a problem and your new seed will not survive germination. To solve this problem, simply add a few inches of topsoil to areas where you want to seed, this will add a new substrate for the grass seed to germinate in where the pre-emergent barrier will not impact it. While there are pre-emergent products on the market that claim to allow new grass growth, our experience has shown they are not nearly as effective as conventional pre-emergent applications.
When spot seeding is necessary in the spring, we’ve also found success by isolating seeded areas from the rest of the lawn care program. These areas can be safely seeded as long as your lawn care technician avoids them during spring weed control applications.
Homeowners can become frustrated because these newly seeded areas cannot be treated with weed control for the remainder of the spring. New grass must be established and typically mowed three times before weed control can be safely applied.
Our goal is to help you make an informed decision about whether seeding in the spring is truly necessary or if waiting until the more ideal time later in the year will deliver better results.
Plan Your First Mowing of the Spring
The first mow of the season is an important milestone in spring lawn maintenance, and here at Fairway Green, Inc., we often see early mowing mistakes that can stress turf for the rest of the season. While seeing new growth can make it tempting to mow as soon as grass starts greening up, timing and technique matter far more than the calendar date.
When Is Your Lawn Ready for Its First Mow?
In our service area, cool season grasses typically begin active growth once soil temperatures stabilize, not just sporadically during warm days. Your lawn is ready for its first mow when:
- Grass is actively growing, not just greening
- Soil is firm enough to support equipment without rutting
- Grass height is long enough that if you mow ⅓ of it, you’re still left with 3-3.5 inches of blade
Mowing too early, especially when the soil is wet, can compact soil and damage developing roots. We also recommend starting the season with a slightly higher mowing height. Taller grass:
- Encourages deeper root growth
- Shades the soil surface, reducing weed germination
- Helps turf recover from winter stress
Lower mowing heights too early in spring can weaken turf and increase weed pressure later in the season.
Sharp Blades Matter More Than You Think
Dull mower blades tear grass rather than cut it cleanly, leading to increased moisture loss and a higher risk of disease. Early spring is the ideal time to sharpen mower blades before regular mowing begins. Clean cuts promote faster recovery and healthier growth.
Follow the One-Third Rule
A key rule in lawn care is never removing more than one-third of the grass blade in a single mowing. Removing too much at once can shock turf, slow recovery, and reduce density.
Start Up Your Irrigation System
While our area often sees frequent rain in the spring, it is important to get your irrigation system in order before too long. Early spring gives you the time to get it turned on and assess leaks, broken heads, and coverage issues. Fixing issues with heads and lines can prevent water waste and uneven lawn growth. Additionally, we very commonly see irrigation systems set incorrectly. We strongly recommend you share our watering schedule with your irrigation company so your lawn will be watered correctly.
Be Patient as Turf Comes Out of Dormancy
As spring temperatures rise, it’s natural to expect lawns to green up quickly. We often remind homeowners that turf does not come out of dormancy all at once, especially when spring weather can fluctuate dramatically from week to week.
Dormant turf begins waking up when soil temperatures remain consistently warm and roots become active again. While you may notice patches of green early in the season, full, uniform growth takes time. Lawns may appear uneven or slow to respond at first, and this is completely normal.
Why Early Spring Lawns Look Uneven
Differences in sun exposure, soil temperature, drainage, and grass type often cause uneven green-up. Shaded areas, compacted soils, and north-facing slopes typically warm more slowly and may lag behind sunnier sections of the lawn. Some turf varieties come out of dormancy at higher soil temperatures, this can also be a lead contributor to an uneven looking green up.
Effective spring lawn maintenance supports dormancy recovery rather than rushing it. Proper timing of fertilization, weed prevention, and mowing allows turf to strengthen naturally as conditions improve.
Let the Experts Handle Spring Lawn Care
From early-season fertilization to weed prevention and soil health, spring lawn care is all about timing. Our team knows exactly when and how to apply treatments for the best results in our area. Contact Fairway Green to learn more about our spring lawn services and customized treatment plans.
Landscape Considerations for the Spring
Inspect Your Trees and Shrubs
Trees and shrubs are an essential part of your landscape and should be included in your early spring assessment and clean up.
Prune Shrubs and Clean Landscape Beds
We recommend early spring pruning to remove dead, broken, or diseased branches before new growth begins. Cleaning landscape beds and cutting back perennials improves airflow, appearance, and overall plant health.
Apply Fresh Mulch to Landscape Beds
The benefits of fresh mulch to your trees and shrubs is often overlooked. We recommend maintaining a 3 inch-thick layer of mulch. This helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature—but too much can cause root and moisture problems. Avoid mulch volcanoes and stacking mulch up against the plant base! For more information on the importance of mulching check out our blog.
Fertilize Trees and Shrubs, Too
Trees and shrubs benefit from targeted fertilization to support root development and recovery from winter stress. These applications are different from lawn fertilization and should be customized for plant variety.
Learn more about our comprehensive Tree and Shrub Care Programs designed to support long-term plant vitality.
Pre-Emergent Weed Control for Landscape Beds
Managing weeds with a two-pronged approach is not just a task for lawn care. Early spring is the ideal time to apply a pre-emergent weed control application to your landscape. Doing so can dramatically reduce weed presence and the amount of post-emergent weed control that’s needed throughout the year. In response to our customers’ needs, we’ve expanded our services to now include pre-emergent weed control for hardscaping as well.
Check out our extensive weed control options here.
Bringing It All Together: Spring Success
Successful spring lawn and landscape care is less about rushing tasks and more about understanding how turf responds to changing conditions. As your property comes out of dormancy, patience and proper timing are essential.
Following a thoughtful spring schedule—one that includes evaluation, properly timed fertilization, pre-emergent weed control, and careful mowing—sets the foundation for stronger turf and fewer problems later in the season. Your landscape beds and their associated trees and shrubs also benefit from decluttering, applying weed control and fresh mulch!
Let the Experts Help
If you’re unsure how to approach lawn or tree care this spring or want an optimized plan for your property, our team is here to help. Here at Fairway Green Inc., we tailor our lawn, tree, and shrub care programs to our local conditions and your property’s unique needs.
Contact us today to schedule a professional evaluation and take the guesswork out of spring lawn care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spring Lawn and Landscape Care
Q: When should I start spring lawn care?
A: Spring lawn care should begin when snow has melted off for the year. Once you have access to your turf and landscape plants you can begin assessing, cleaning and caring for your property.
Q: Is raking my lawn in early spring necessary?
A: Light raking is helpful to remove winter debris, leaves, and matted grass that can block sunlight and airflow. However, aggressive raking or dethatching too early can damage turf that is still recovering from winter dormancy. The goal is cleanup—not disruption.
Q: Should trees and shrubs be fertilized in the spring as well?
A: Yes. Trees and shrubs benefit from spring fertilization to support root development, leaf growth, and overall stress resistance. These plants have different nutritional needs than turf, so targeted applications are needed.
Q: Do I need to water my lawn in early spring?
A: Natural rainfall often provides enough moisture in early spring, but watering may be necessary during dry periods. Deep, infrequent watering encourages stronger root growth. Overwatering can lead to shallow roots and increased disease pressure.
Q:What is the best way to control weeds in the spring?
A: Preventing weeds before they emerge is the most effective strategy. Pre-emergent herbicides stop weeds like crabgrass before germination. Once weeds are visible, control becomes more difficult and may require additional treatment. It is important to note that not all weed types respond to pre-emergent weed control. Some can only be treated post-emergently.
Q:Can I seed my lawn in the spring?
A: While small bare areas can be spot-seeded, spring is generally not ideal for full overseeding. Spring-seeded grass often struggles against weeds, inconsistent watering and summer heat. For most New Jersey lawns, late summer/early fall provides better conditions for successful seeding and long-term results.
Q: Should I aerate my lawn in the spring?
A: In most cases, it’s better to wait until fall. Spring aeration can interfere with weed prevention programs and may increase weed pressure. Fall aeration allows turf to recover quickly while improving soil structure and root growth.
Q: How much mulch should I apply in spring landscape beds?
A: An inch of fresh mulch is usually sufficient. Too much mulch can restrict airflow, hold excess moisture, and damage plant roots. Mulch should never be piled against tree trunks or shrub stems.
Q: When should I start mowing my lawn in the spring?
A: Mowing should begin once grass is actively growing. Always use sharp blades and avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. Proper mowing height and consistency help encourage thicker, healthier turf.