The Benefits of a Year-Round Lawn Care Program

A healthy, vibrant lawn requires consistent care throughout the year, not just seasonal attention. Each season presents unique challenges and opportunities for your lawn, from pest control and fertilization to aeration and overseeding. A year-round lawn care program ensures that your grass receives the proper nutrients, moisture, and treatments at the right times, keeping it resilient and beautiful in every season. Let’s explore the importance of maintaining a continuous lawn care plan and how it contributes to the long-term health and appearance of your lawn.

Spring Lawn Care

 

Spring is the season of renewal for your lawn, and it sets the foundation for healthy growth throughout the year. As temperatures rise, your grass enters its most active growing period, making it crucial to address any issues that winter may have caused and to prepare your lawn for the warmer months ahead.

Key Tasks for Spring Lawn Care

 

Aeration and Dethatching: Winter can lead to soil compaction, and your lawn may have accumulated thatch, an organic layer that prevents nutrients and water from reaching the roots. Aerating your lawn in the spring allows for proper airflow, improves water infiltration, and encourages root growth. Dethatching removes this barrier, ensuring your lawn can thrive.

Fertilization: After a long winter, your lawn is hungry for nutrients. A balanced spring fertilization helps kickstart the growing season by providing essential nutrients, particularly nitrogen, to promote healthy blade and root development. However, fall fertilization is much more important and is when approximately 70% of the nitrogen your lawn needs should be applied.

Pest and Weed Control: Spring is also when weeds and pests begin to emerge. Pre-emergent herbicides are essential to stop weeds like crabgrass from taking root. Early pest control measures, such as targeting grubs before they hatch, will save you trouble later in the year.

Overseeding: If winter has left patches in your lawn, spring is a great time to overseed. This fills in thin areas, helping the grass grow thicker, which prevents weeds from gaining a foothold.

By tackling these spring tasks early, you provide a solid foundation for your lawn, giving it the strength it needs to endure the upcoming summer heat.

Summer Lawn Care

 

Summer brings intense heat, which can stress even the healthiest lawns. A robust summer care routine is essential to help your lawn withstand heat, drought, and increased pest activity. The focus during this season is maintaining moisture levels, protecting your lawn from pests, and minimizing stress.

Key Tasks for Summer Lawn Care

 

Watering: Deep, infrequent watering is essential in the summer. Watering early in the morning reduces evaporation and ensures your lawn can absorb moisture effectively. Aim for about 1-1.5 inches of water per week, depending on your grass type and the weather.

Mowing: Keeping your grass at a higher length during summer helps shade the soil, reducing evaporation and heat stress. For cool-season grasses like Fescue, maintain a height of around 3-4 inches. Be careful not to cut more than one-third of the grass blade at once, as this can shock your lawn.

Pest Control: Summer is peak pest season, with insects like chinchbugs and grubs causing significant damage if left unchecked. Regular monitoring for pests is essential, and spot treatments may be necessary to prevent infestations from spreading. Dreamlawns’ pest control services are designed to target these seasonal threats effectively.

Weed Management: Weeds often thrive in the summer heat, especially in areas of the lawn that are thin or stressed. Applying post-emergent herbicides and manually removing weeds can help reduce competition for nutrients and water.

Fertilization: While it’s important to continue feeding your lawn in the summer, too much fertilizer can burn your grass under intense heat. Consider applying a slow-release fertilizer in early summer to give your lawn a steady nutrient supply without overwhelming it during periods of extreme heat.

By paying close attention to your lawn’s needs during summer, you can help it maintain its resilience and health despite the stresses of high temperatures and potential drought.

Fall Lawn Care

 

Fall is one of the most important seasons for lawn care, as it prepares your grass for the upcoming winter and sets the stage for a healthy spring. In Virginia Beach, cool-season grasses like Fescue benefit greatly from the attention they receive during fall.

Key Tasks for Fall Lawn Care

 

Fertilization: Fall fertilization is critical to strengthening your lawn’s root system. Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer in early fall to boost growth, followed by a winterizing fertilizer high in potassium in late fall to prepare your grass for colder temperatures.

Aeration: Aeration in the fall helps relieve soil compaction and increases airflow to the roots. This improves water absorption and allows your lawn to better access the nutrients it needs before winter dormancy.

Overseeding: Fall is the ideal time for overseeding, especially for Fescue lawns. By filling in thin or bare patches, overseeding helps your lawn grow thicker and more resilient to disease and winter damage. Overseeding in conjunction with aeration ensures better seed-to-soil contact, improving germination rates.

Pest Control: Fall pests, like armyworms and grubs, can wreak havoc on your lawn before winter. It’s important to monitor for pest activity and apply appropriate treatments. We recommend a proactive pest control plan in the fall to prevent lawn damage that can carry over into the next growing season.

Winter Lawn Care

 

Although winter in Virginia Beach tends to be milder compared to colder regions, your lawn still requires attention to prevent damage and ensure a healthy return in the spring. Cool-season grasses like Fescue are still active during winter, even though their growth slows down.

Key Tasks for Winter Lawn Care

 

Minimize Foot Traffic: One of the easiest ways to protect your lawn during winter is to minimize foot traffic. Frozen grass is brittle and more susceptible to damage. Walking on it can break the blades, which may lead to brown patches that take longer to recover in the spring.

Monitor Moisture Levels: Although winter may bring periods of rain, Virginia Beach can also experience dry spells. Your lawn still needs occasional watering, especially during extended periods without rainfall. However, be cautious not to overwater, as excess moisture combined with cold weather can lead to fungal diseases.

Keep the Lawn Clear: Remove debris, fallen leaves, and other obstructions that can trap moisture and lead to disease. A clear lawn allows for better airflow and prevents areas of grass from becoming matted, which can suffocate the turf and weaken it.

Snow Mold Prevention: Although snow is rare in the Tidewater area, if it does occur, heavy snow cover can cause snow mold, a fungal disease that damages your lawn. Make sure to clear any snow quickly, especially in shady areas where it may linger longer.

By implementing these practices during the winter, you protect your lawn from damage and ensure it remains healthy throughout the colder months. Proper winter care is essential for a strong recovery when spring arrives.

Dreamlawns’ Year-Round Lawn Care Programs

 

At Dreamlawns, we tailor each round of treatments and services based on the weather, season, forecast, the turf’s life cycle, and what to expect in the upcoming months. Both summer and cool-season turfs have unique needs throughout the year, and we adjust our approach accordingly. When assessing a new property, we consider the upcoming season, the nutrients required to help the turf thrive, and any planned renovations or adjustments the homeowner might have. We customize our applications, adjusting the chemical makeup to meet these specific needs.

A great example of this is how we handle pre-emergent applications: for summer turfs, we apply pre-emergent in the fall, while for cool-season turf, pre-emergent is included in late winter or early spring applications. We base our treatment timing on extensive research and science to ensure the most effective use of herbicides, fertilizers, and other nutrients that promote turf health.

Additionally, we make recommendations based on the needs of your turf and your goals as a homeowner. For instance, while we highly recommend fungicide treatments for fescue lawns (which are particularly prone to disease), we do not require our customers to purchase this program. Instead, we educate them on the benefits, provide a detailed cost breakdown, and respect budgetary or other restrictions that may influence their decision.

Another key service we offer is soil sampling and conditioning recommendations. We send soil samples to a lab and use the results to provide tailored recommendations for soil conditioners. For homeowners who prefer a DIY approach, we are happy to offer guidance and schedules for soil conditioners, aeration, seeding, and other services to ensure their lawn gets the care it needs year-round.

Protect Your Lawn Year-Round with Dreamlawns

A year-round lawn care program is essential for maintaining a healthy, vibrant lawn in Virginia Beach. Each season presents unique challenges and opportunities, from spring weed control and aeration to fall fertilization and pest control. By giving your lawn consistent attention, you ensure it remains resilient and beautiful throughout the year. Dreamlawns offers customized, season-specific care that takes into account your lawn’s unique needs, soil conditions, and goals. With a professional team managing your lawn’s health year-round, you can enjoy a thriving lawn no matter the season. Contact us today to get started.