For many homeowners, allowing the lawn to go dormant over the winter can be a tough choice. However, if you’re one of these homeowners, you’ll be glad to know that your lawn is nearly ready to resume its lush, green color. Unfortunately, grass can’t bounce back on its own. Here’s a brief guide to breathing new life into your lawn after dormancy:
· Ryegrass/bermudagrass
Many Arizona homeowners choose to have a green lawn all year long, which they accomplish by planting rye grass in the fall and Bermuda grass in the spring. If this describes your lawn, you’re just about ready to make the transition from ryegrass to Bermuda grass. In early April, you should stop watering your lawn for at least two weeks. Once the ryegrass has turned brown, you can resume watering—the underlying Bermuda grass should be ready to take over.
· Aeration
Over the winter, the soil of your lawn will likely have been compacted beneath a layer of thatch. Since thatch can prevent your lawn from getting the nutrients it needs, you should consider thinning the soil with a core aerator. Water, oxygen and grass seed will then have a much easier time penetrating the soil.
· Fertilizing
Once your grass begins to turn green, most likely around mid-May, you should apply a layer of nitrogen fertilizer. This will give your lawn the boost it needs to survive well into the summer.
· Watering
Since most Arizona grass is hardy, drought-resistant Bermuda grass, you don’t need to water it as much as other grasses. In the spring, a 20-30 minute watering session once a week should be enough, while once every couple days is plenty for the hot days of summer.
If you have any questions about how to bring your landscape back to life this spring, come by Moon Valley Nurseries. While you’re here, you might as well take a look at our fine selection of trees and flowers. Moon Valley Nurseries has 7 tree nurseries in the Phoenix area, so you’re bound to find a few items that go very well with your landscape. For more information, call our landscape design experts today at (602) 938-6666.