Top 5 Lawn Care Mistakes to Avoid This Spring

Spring is here, and with it comes the opportunity to create a lush, green lawn that will thrive throughout the year. However, many homeowners make common mistakes that can hinder their lawn’s growth, leading to patchy grass, weeds, and poor soil health. At Southern Sodgrass, we want to help you avoid these pitfalls so you can enjoy a beautiful and healthy lawn.

Top five lawn care mistakes to avoid this spring 

1. Mowing Too Short (Scalping Your Lawn)

One of the most frequent mistakes homeowners make is cutting their grass too short. While it may seem like a great way to reduce mowing frequency, scalping your lawn can cause serious damage.

Why It’s a Problem:

• Short grass blades expose the soil to more sunlight, leading to increased weed growth.
• The grass has less surface area to absorb sunlight, weakening the root system.
• Scalped lawns are more susceptible to drought stress and disease.

How to Avoid It:

• Set your lawnmower to the appropriate height based on your grass type. For warm-season grasses like Bermuda or Zoysia, aim for 1.5 to 2 inches. For cool-season grasses like Fescue, a height of 3 to 4 inches is ideal.
• Never remove more than ⅓ of the grass blade in a single mowing session.

2. Overwatering or Underwatering

Many homeowners overwater their lawns in the spring, assuming more water means healthier grass. Others are underwater, thinking spring rains will provide enough moisture. Both mistakes can lead to problems.

Why It’s a Problem:

• Overwatering encourages shallow roots, making the lawn dependent on frequent watering. It can also lead to fungal diseases.
• Underwatering can cause dry, weak turf that struggles to grow.

How to Avoid It:

• Water deeply but infrequently—about 1 to 1.5 inches per week, including rainfall.
• Water early in the morning (between 6-10 AM) to prevent evaporation and fungal growth.
• Use a rain gauge or smart irrigation system to monitor moisture levels.

3. Ignoring Soil Health

Many people focus only on the grass itself and forget about the foundation of a healthy lawn—soil. Poor soil quality can prevent sod and grass from thriving.

Why It’s a Problem:

• Compacted soil restricts root growth and reduces oxygen flow.
• Soil with low nutrients or incorrect pH can prevent proper grass development.

How to Avoid It:

• Aerate your soil in the spring if it’s compacted. This allows air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots.
• Test your soil’s pH and nutrient levels with a soil test kit. Ideally, soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0 for most turfgrass.
• Topdress with compost or organic matter to improve soil structure.

4. Neglecting Weed Control

If you don’t tackle weeds early in the season, they can quickly take over your lawn, stealing nutrients and water from your grass. Many homeowners either wait too long to apply weed preventers or use the wrong type.

Why It’s a Problem:

• Weeds spread aggressively and can choke out healthy grass.
• Once weeds establish deep roots, they become much harder to remove.

How to Avoid It:

• Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring to prevent weed seeds from germinating. This is especially important for crabgrass and dandelions.
• Hand-pull or use a post-emergent herbicide for existing weeds.
• Maintain a thick, healthy lawn, as dense grass naturally crowds out weeds.

5. Fertilizing at the Wrong Time or Using the Wrong Product

Applying fertilizer is crucial for lawn health, but doing it too early, too late, or using the wrong type can cause more harm than good.

Why It’s a Problem:

• Fertilizing too early can encourage weak growth that’s susceptible to disease.
• Using a high-nitrogen fertilizer too late in the season can promote excessive growth before summer stress.
• Over-fertilizing can burn your grass and lead to runoff pollution.

How to Avoid It:

• Apply a slow-release fertilizer in mid-to-late spring when the grass is actively growing.
• Choose a fertilizer with the right balance of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) for your lawn’s needs.
• Follow the recommended application rates to prevent over-fertilization.

Lawn Care Mistakes to Avoid This Spring – Resources 

• Our Products: Greensboro Landscaping Materials, Sod, Seeds, Fertilizers, Compost, Sodgrass
• Our Company: Greensboro Sod Company | About Southern Sodgrass | Chapel Hill Sod
• FAQs: What Is Sod, Can I Install Sod, Can I Maintain Sod, Sodgrass FAQ’s
• Our Location: Southern Sod Grass

Consider Fresh Sod for a Head Start

If your lawn is struggling or you want an instant transformation, installing fresh sod from Southern Sodgrass is a great option. Sod provides immediate coverage, prevents erosion, and establishes quickly when installed correctly.

Need high-quality sod delivered to your home or business? We provide premium sod throughout Central North Carolina, including Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Raleigh, Durham, and surrounding areas.

Get Your Lawn Spring-Ready with Southern Sodgrass!

Avoiding these common mistakes will set your lawn up for success this spring. Whether you need expert advice, fresh sod, or high-quality landscaping materials, Southern Sodgrass is here to help.

📞 Call us today at (336) 996-4763
🌱 Visit www.southernsodgrass.com for a FREE quote

Let’s grow something beautiful together this spring!