Here in Louisiana, we handle lawn care a little differently. Due to our unique climate, our yards aren’t looking their best right now…but that doesn’t mean you can’t start prepping for summer. Looking for a few landscaping tips? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.
Evaluate Your Lawn
Before you start tackling any lawn care, it’s important to evaluate your yard’s condition during the dormant season. Be sure to take note of any brown spots—these can be caused by insects, shade, pets, or even disease.
It can sometimes be hard to determine the exact cause of a thinning lawn. However, your environment can lend you a few clues. Does your property have mature, shady trees? Does your dog often relief himself in a particular spot? Do you have a history of bugs? All of these are factors to consider, and they’ll help you determine the proper treatment.
Eliminate Weeds
Weeds—we all have them, and we all hate them. Luckily, you can devote a little more time to stopping them in their tracks during the dormant season. Don’t start treating your lawn right away, though—you’ll first need to determine if you have annual or perennial weeds.
Annual weeds, such as henbit, chickweed, wild geranium, burweed, and annual bluegrass, die on their own in April and May. However, perennial weeds like dollarweed, oxalis, white clover, dichondra, dandelion, and Indian strawberry will go dormant and come back again next winter. This type is worth treating with a lawn weed killer from your local hardware store.
Plant New Sod
Many homeowners believe that spring is the best time to plant new sod. Believe it or not, February is also a sweet spot for growth…as long as you do it the right way. Sodding during the winter can be risky, but in many cases, it’s absolutely necessary.
Be sure to buy sod from a reliable provider and consider enlisting a professional for installation. Don’t be afraid if your new grass turns brown at first, either—this is actually a good sign! As long as the sod is dormant like the rest of your lawn, there’s a good chance that it’ll establish roots and green up come summertime.
Leave It Alone
Once you’ve given your lawn the treatments it needs, the best thing you can do is leave it alone. Grass is more sensitive during the dormant season, and aside from performing any required maintenance, you’ll want to avoid messing with it if you can. That means you shouldn’t step on it, either!
Although it might be tempting to fertilize your lawn, this won’t do anything to perk it up. Using fertilizer during the winter can actually do more harm than good, and studies show that March is the best time to start treatments in Louisiana.
Looking for More Lawn Care Tips?
If you’re getting ready to buy a home, you’ll want to be prepared for everything that might happen along the way. The Nugent Freeland Team has all the tips you need to find your dream home, and we can even help after you’ve moved in! Feel free to ask us any questions—we’re only a phone call away.