How to Get Your Lawn Ready for the Growing Season

Spring is one of the most important times of year for lawn care. After months of cold, wet weather, your lawn may look tired, patchy or covered in moss. As temperatures begin to rise and grass starts growing again, a few simple jobs can help your lawn recover and prepare it for the year ahead.

Good lawn care in spring focuses on encouraging healthy grass growth while dealing with problems such as moss, weeds, compacted soil and bare patches.

When Should You Start Spring Lawn Care?

Avoid rushing onto the lawn at the first sign of sunshine.

Wait until the soil is no longer waterlogged and the grass has started actively growing. Working on saturated ground can compact the soil and cause more damage than good.

In most UK gardens, lawn growth begins to increase from March onwards, although weather conditions will vary.

Give the Lawn Its First Cut

Once the grass is growing and conditions are reasonably dry, give the lawn its first mow of the year.

Set the mower blades relatively high for the first few cuts. Removing too much grass at once can stress the lawn.

A useful rule is to avoid removing more than one-third of the grass height in a single mow.

As growth becomes stronger, gradually lower the cutting height if required.

Remove Leaves and Debris

Rake away any remaining fallen leaves, twigs and other debris that has collected over winter.

Thick layers of leaves block sunlight and trap moisture against the grass, encouraging moss and potentially causing patches of grass to die.

A light rake can also lift flattened grass and improve airflow.

Deal With Moss

Moss is particularly common after a wet winter.

If your lawn contains a significant amount of moss, it can be removed by scarifying or vigorously raking the affected areas.

However, moss is usually a symptom of another problem rather than the problem itself.

Common causes include:

  • Waterlogged soil
  • Poor drainage
  • Heavy shade
  • Compacted ground
  • Cutting grass too short
  • Low soil fertility

Try to correct the underlying cause to reduce the chances of moss returning.

Scarify the Lawn if Necessary

Scarifying removes moss and excess thatch from around the base of the grass.

Thatch is the layer of dead grass and organic material that collects between the green grass and soil.

A small amount is normal, but a thick layer can prevent water and nutrients reaching the roots.

Small lawns can be scarified with a spring-tine rake, while larger lawns may benefit from an electric scarifier.

Avoid heavy scarifying if the lawn is weak or the weather is very dry.

Aerate Compacted Soil

Lawns can become compacted through foot traffic, children playing, pets and regular mowing.

Compacted soil restricts the movement of water and air around the grass roots.

Aeration helps by creating holes in the ground.

For a small lawn, simply push a garden fork into the soil at regular intervals and gently ease it backwards.

Larger lawns can be treated using a lawn aerator or hollow-tine aerator.

Feed Your Lawn

Once grass is actively growing, a spring lawn feed can provide the nutrients needed for stronger growth.

Spring lawn fertilisers normally contain relatively high levels of nitrogen, which encourages healthy green leaves.

Always follow the manufacturer's application instructions and avoid applying more than recommended.

Organic lawn feeds can also be used if you prefer a slower-release approach.

Repair Bare Patches

Spring is a good time to repair small bare or thin areas.

Remove dead grass, lightly loosen the soil and sow fresh grass seed.

Keep the area moist while the seed germinates.

For the best results, prevent people and pets walking over newly seeded areas until the grass becomes established.

Remove Lawn Weeds

Weeds often begin appearing rapidly during spring.

Common lawn weeds include dandelions, daisies, plantain and buttercups.

Individual weeds can usually be removed using a hand weeder.

Try to remove deep-rooted weeds such as dandelions with as much of the root intact as possible.

Remember that a few flowering lawn weeds can provide useful food for bees and other pollinating insects.

Overseed Thin Lawns

If the entire lawn looks thin rather than having individual bare patches, overseeding can help increase grass density.

Scatter suitable lawn seed over the existing grass after mowing and lightly raking the surface.

Keeping the area consistently moist will help encourage germination.

A thicker lawn also provides less space for weeds and moss to establish.

Spring Lawn Care Checklist

During spring:

  • Begin mowing gradually
  • Remove leaves and debris
  • Scarify excessive moss and thatch
  • Aerate compacted areas
  • Apply lawn feed if needed
  • Repair bare patches
  • Overseed thin areas
  • Remove unwanted weeds
  • Keep newly seeded areas moist

Final Thoughts

Good lawn care in spring creates the foundation for healthy grass throughout the rest of the year.

Rather than trying to achieve perfect grass immediately, concentrate on improving soil conditions and encouraging steady growth.

Regular mowing, sensible feeding, aeration and repairing damaged areas will gradually produce a thicker and healthier lawn.

For more year-round advice, see our complete lawn care guide covering mowing, watering, feeding, scarification, aeration and seasonal lawn maintenance.