Spring is here, and so is the sometimes daunting task of reviving your lawn from the harsh winter weather.  Compacted snow, moles, lack of sunlight, and an abundance of moisture all worked together to hammer your lawn into submission.  Now the sun is beginning to shine and the snow is melting, uncovering your lawn that you worked so hard on last summer to keep looking beautiful. Now the work begins to restore your lawn to its prior glory!

Spring cleanup is a task that very few people enjoy to do; but we all know it is a necessity in order to nurse your lawn back to health.  There are many steps that can and should be taken every spring to give your lawn a boost.  I will cover some of the more important steps that are sure to make a difference in your lawns health within weeks. 

These important steps are: 

• Thatching                                                Ask us how you can get 1/2 day of use free with our weekend special!!

• Aerating

• Over Seeding and Fertilizing

• Sitting Back and Enjoying Your Beautiful Lawn!

Thatching

Every winter lawns around the country start to die off as a result of the harsh weather.  This process leaves behind a lawn full of dead-brown grass, which is very unsightly.  The first step in restoring your lawn to health is getting the dead grass off of the perfectly healthy grass.  To do this you should thatch your lawn.  Thatching is the process of removing the dead grass and letting the healthy grass breathe.  The best and most efficient way to thatch a lawn is with a thatcher.  Thatcher's can be rented for a very reasonable price and are well worth every penny.  Power Pac Rentals has a full line of quality Thatcher's for a price that won't hurt the pocket book. 

To thatch you lawn, position the Thatcher at one end of your lawn and turn it on.  Thatcher's are run much like lawn mowers.  They are walk behind units which have special rake like attachments that rip the dead grass out of your lawn and bring it to the surface for easy removal.  Cover your entire lawn with the Thatcher at a slow and steady pace.  This will ensure that all of the dead grass is raked up to the surface.  Repeat the process in the direction perpendicular to the direction you first went (see the picture to the right).  This goes after the dead grass in a different direction ensuring all is pulled to the surface. Once the entire area is thatched, rake the dead grass into a pile and dispose of it.  Its that easy.  Thatching is necessary in order to have a healthy lawn.  It helps your grass breathe and gives it room to grow. 

Aerating

After your lawn is thatched and the dead grass is removed, it is time to aerate.  Aerating your lawn is basically poking holes in the ground.  This process has several benefits that will guaranteed make your lawn more healthy.  Aerating loosens up the soil so the grass can grow more easily; and it allows water, air, and nutrients to more reach the roots more easily.  This all results in happy grass!  Aerating can be done in several ways.  One way is to purchase spike shoes and walk the entire area of your lawn over and over until there are thousands and thousands of holes.  Or you can do it the easy way!  Rent an aerating machine from Power Pac Rentals.  We carry both professional and smaller models of aerators to fit any size job.  They are self-propelled and easy to use.

The process of aerating is almost exactly the same as thatching.  Pass the aerator over the entire surface of the lawn just like a lawn mower.  As with the Thatcher, pass over the lawn again with passes perpendicular to the first pass.  The aerator has several speed settings depending on how fast you want to walk.  We suggest only passing over each area only one time.  Doing it more than once may lead to too much aeration, which will probably make your lawn less attractive than when you started.  After you pass over the entire lawn, rake up the plugs and dispose of them.  Once again, its as easy as that!

Over Seeding

Over seeding should be done after both thatching and aerating are finished.  First sprinkle a light layer of peat moss over your lawn to help add nutrients and with the retention of water.  Next, buy some grass seed which is designed for your climate and place the seed in a seed spreader.  There are several types of spreaders to choose from.  Walk behind push spreaders are the best and most effective (see picture to the right).  We carry several types of spreaders both for rent and for purchase, which will make your job much easier. 

Once you have your seed and the spreader, walk at moderate pace while spreading the seed.  Try not to stop during this process.  It will cause uneven coverage and clumps in your lawn.  After you have covered your lawn in seed, repeat the same process with a fertilizer geared toward your soil.  You may need to take a sample of your soil to the local garden center for analysis, but most lawns will take a spring start up fertilizer.  Spread the fertilizer on in a thin and even manner, being careful not to release too much as it will burn your grass. 

Enjoying Your Lawn

Well, now all of the hard work is over.......for now anyway!  Give your lawn a few weeks to snap out of its shock and you will notice a 100% improvement.  Spring lawn maintenance is one of the most important things you can do for your lawns health.  It starts off the season right and gives your lawn a much needed boost.  Just look at the process as an investment in the beauty of your home. 

Now that your lawn is ready to go, look around the rest of your yard for more projects.  Trim the hedges and trees, plant some shrubs, or if you are really ambitious install an in-ground sprinkler system.  Just remember, any job is easy with the right tools!  Power Pac Rentals and Sales is your source for all of your projects around the house.  Save some money and do the projects yourself!  The professionals at Power Pac will help you every step of the way and show you ways to make your home the most beautiful on the block!