The Wasatch Wake-Up: A 5-Step Spring Lawn Care Guide for Salt Lake and Utah County Homeowners

When do I start? What do I do?

Lawn Care in Utah can be intimidating at times.. The grass goes dormant, but weeds are still germinating; Snow can cause disease; How often should I water in the Spring? Don't worry! We're happy to help ease the pain.

4 min read

5-Step Guide to help each Spring

Step 1: The "Screwdriver Test" - Late February to Early March

Don't just guess if your soil is ready. Utah's clay-heavy soil stays frozen longer than it looks. And most weeds (especially crabgrass) doesn't start to germinate until the soil temperatures are about 50 degrees.

  • Our Advice: Push a long screwdriver into the soil. If it goes in easily, then ground has thawed and it's time for pre-emergent weed control! If the screwdriver resists, do your best to stay off. Consistently walking on frozen ground can contribute to soil compaction and lead to dead spots come mid-Summer.

Step 2: The "Snow Mold Rake-Out" - Mid-March

After a heavy Winter, many lawns (especially in the foothills) develop circular, matter grey or pink patches. This is a fungus called Snow Mold.

  • Our Advice: Once you've done the screwdriver test and you know you can walk on the lawn, take a leaf rake and gently "fluff" those matted areas. This allows sunlight and air to reach to root crown of the grass and effectively killing the fungus naturally without the use of chemicals.

Step 3: The "Forsythia Rule" for Pre-Emergent - Late-March

Timing crabgrass prevention is the #1 mistake Utah homeowners make in terms of DIY fertilizing. Important enough that I mention it in step 1 AND step 3. You've REALLY gotta pay attention to this one.

  • Our Advice: Don't go by the date; Go by the flowers. When the bright yellow Forsythia bushes start to bloom in the Salt Lake and Utah Valley, it's THE signal that the soil temperatures are hitting 50-55 degrees. That's your 7-day window to apply your pre-emergent weed control to your lawn.

Step 4: The "3-Inch Rule" - First Mow of the season

When it's time to mow for the first time this year, you're going to want to drop the mower blades just a little bit..

  • Our Advice: Drop your mower blades down to about 3 inches for the very first cut of the season. This will help to remove the dead winter tips from the grass blades. Then immediately raise the mower blades back up to 3.5-4 inches (don't even put the mower away first or you'll forget!). Taller grass in Utah means deeper roots. Deeper roots are the only way your lawn survives the 100 degree July heat waves without a $400+ water bill.

Step 5: Sprinkler Start-Up and Water Audit - Mid-April

It's easy to just turn on the water and assume everything is good to go. I mean, it worked perfectly last year, right? Well......

  • Our Advice: Don't just turn on the timer and water and walk away. Check the whole system for breaks or cracks caused by the winter "deep freeze". In Northern Utah, we don't need to start regular watering until the middle to late April or even early May. If you start watering too early, you train your grass to have lame shallow roots. Lame roots means lame grass. Nobody wants that!

There you have it—your 5-step guide to a legendary lawn this season.

If you’d rather spend your weekends up the canyon than behind a mower, we’ve got you covered. From the "Screwdriver Test" to the first mow of the season, Ready, Set, Mow! provides expert, local care for SLC homeowners who want a perfect yard without the stress.