Spring is Here!
Spring is finally here, and we’re all feeling the excitement as the signs of the season unfolds. The snow and cold temps are behind us, and our plants are starting to wake up. Earthworms are making their appearance, and everyone is eager to get outside and do what we love — caring for your property.
The Droughts of the Past
We’re still seeing the lingering effects of the past two years of fall droughts. Those dry falls have left our turf struggling to build the resources it needs to survive winter and emerge from dormancy strong and healthy for another Iowa growing season. As a result, this Spring, we’re noticing a lot of “winter kill” under trees. The combination of drought and trees robbing the soil of water and nutrients has left shaded areas weaker, causing the grass to die off. If you’re seeing this, you may need to reseed. Smaller areas (about the size of a basketball or less) might fill in naturally, but anything larger will require seeding.
When choosing grass seed, make sure it has a high percentage of bluegrass, as this will provide better long-term results. Grass blends from big box stores tend to include a lot of rye and shade grass, which grow quickly but struggle in hot Summer months. We recommend a blend with at least 50% bluegrass. If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be happy to help!
Springtime Grubs
As we move into spring, we’re seeing the first cycle of grubs in our lawns. This is perfectly normal. Grubs typically have two life cycles — spring and early fall — when they come up to the surface. During this first cycle there is typically no need to treat for grubs, as our cool-season grasses are strong and able to fight them off. It’s the second cycle in the fall that we monitor closely, due to grasses already being in a weakened state after the hot summer months. This is why we apply a preventative product to protect your lawn from grub damage later in the year.
New Grub Control
We’re excited to introduce a new grub preventative this season! Our previous product wasn’t performing well when soils became saturated, so we’ve switched to the best available control on the market. This new product is also safe for our pollinators, which is incredibly important to us.
Pre-emergent and Seeding
Our first round of applications, which includes crabgrass preventative, is underway. Please note that once this product is applied, you’ll need to wait until early August to seed. If you plan to seed areas, let us know, and we can avoid using the pre-emergent. If you decide to seed after the application, you can break the barrier by disturbing the top inch of soil. Also, if you plan to sod after the application is put down, it will not be affected by the pre-emergent, so you can proceed without issue.
Different Shades of Green
As your lawn wakes up this season, it’s normal to see varying shades of green and growth heights. Different types of cool-season grasses react differently to the changing weather. For example, fescue grasses often grow earlier than bluegrass, and older bluegrass varieties tend to green up sooner than newer ones. The warmth of concrete, south-facing slopes, and tire tracks can also stimulate early growth. Moisture accumulation and varying soil profiles can play a role as well. Don’t worry — once the weather stabilizes, everything will even out and your lawn will start to grow consistently together. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us. We’re here to help you make the most of this season! Thank you for trusting us with your lawn care. Let’s make it a great Spring!
