What steps should be taken to prepare a lawn for spring?

Assess any damage, such as dead patches and evidence of grubs.

Using a garden rake, collect any debris that has accumulated over the winter.

Aerate and dethatch your lawn to enable needed water, air, and nutrients to reach grass roots. Pay particular attention to well-traveled areas, which will be more densely compacted.

Overseed sparse patches to facilitate a rich, thick lawn.

Fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer.

At this point, you can use a pre-emergent herbicide to minimize the growth of weeds later in the spring and summer.

If required, deeply water the lawn infrequently to cause roots to grow well. It is best to water the lawn early in the morning.

Cut the grass when it has reached three inches.

Regularly check the condition of your lawn in order to adjust care as needed.

What equipment is needed to properly care for a lawn?

To remove debris from the lawn, you’ll need a rake.

A manual or motorized aerator will break up compact soil and allow water, air, and nutrients to penetrate to the grassroots.

A dethatcher can be used to remove excessive thatch and dead plant material from the lawn.

A lawn mower or lawn tractor, depending on the size of the lawn, allows grass to be maintained at the ideal height.

A string edger or trimmer allows grass to be trimmed in hard-to-reach areas as well as creating neat edges around the lawn.

A hose or sprinkler system allows for the ideal level of water saturation.

A lawn spreader allows for the distribution of lawn care products, including fertilizer and grass seed.

In Ontario, when should I prepare my lawn for the spring and summer?

Rake your lawn between late March and early April.

Aerate and dethatch it mid- to late April.

Apply grass seed between late April and early May.

Begin to fertilize your lawn between late April and early May.

Begin to water your lawn between mid-May and early June as needed.

Begin to weed and deal with pests between mid-May to early June.

Begin to mow and trim your lawn as needed between late May and June.