Key Spring Lawn Tasks:

• Rake and Clean Up: Start by gently raking away any leaves, twigs, or debris that accumulated over winter. This helps prevent mold and allows sunlight and air to reach the soil.
• Tune Up Your Sprinkler System: Before you need it, it’s wise to inspect your irrigation system. Check for damaged heads or leaks that occurred over winter. A professional sprinkler service can ensure your system is efficient and ready for the dry months ahead.
• Apply Pre-Emergent Weed Control: The best way to fight notorious weeds like crabgrass is to prevent them from germinating. A pre-emergent treatment in early spring creates a barrier that stops weed seeds from sprouting.
• Core Aeration: Boise’s soil often has a high clay content, leading to compaction. Aeration is the process of pulling small plugs of soil from the lawn. This service is crucial for reducing thatch, relieving compaction, and allowing water, air, and nutrients to penetrate deep into the root zone.
• First Fertilization: Feed your hungry lawn with a quality, slow-release fertilizer. This initial application provides the essential nutrients needed for a rapid green-up and robust growth as the season kicks off.

Smart Watering for the Treasure Valley:

During hot months, lawns in our area typically need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. The key is to water deeply but infrequently. This encourages deep root growth, making your lawn more drought-tolerant. The best time to water is in the early morning (between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m.) to minimize evaporation.

Key Summer Lawn Tasks:

• Mow High: Raise your mower blade to 3-4 inches. Taller grass blades provide shade for the soil, reducing water evaporation and preventing weeds from getting the sunlight they need to grow.
• Monitor for Grubs: Brown patches that pull up easily like carpet may be a sign of grub damage. These pests feed on grassroots and can destroy a lawn quickly. A preventative or curative grub control treatment is the most effective solution.
• Manage Pests: Summer is peak season for insects. Protect your home and yard with a comprehensive pest control plan, especially focusing on spider barriers and other common invaders.
• Spot-Treat Weeds: Address any broadleaf weeds like dandelions or clover as they appear to prevent them from spreading and competing with your grass for resources.

Key Fall Lawn Tasks:

• Continue Mowing: Keep mowing your lawn as needed until it stops growing. For the final mow of the season, you can lower the blade slightly to about 2.5 inches to help prevent snow mold.
• Aerate & Overseed: Fall is the prime time for aeration and overseeding. Aerating again breaks up summer compaction, and overseeding fills in bare spots, creating a thicker, more resilient turf next year.
• Apply a Winterizer Fertilizer: A late-fall fertilizer application is vital. It provides nutrients that strengthen roots and helps the lawn store food over the winter, leading to a quicker green-up next spring.
• Sprinkler Blow-Out: Before the first hard freeze, you must have your sprinkler system professionally winterized. A sprinkler blow-out removes all water from the lines, preventing costly damage from frozen and burst pipes.
• Leaf Cleanup: Don’t let a thick layer of leaves sit on your lawn all winter. Rake them up to prevent them from smothering the grass and creating a damp environment for diseases.

Key Winter Lawn Tasks:

• Minimize Foot Traffic: Frozen grass blades are brittle and can be easily damaged. Try to keep foot traffic on the dormant lawn to a minimum to avoid creating bare patches in the spring.
• Focus on Tree Health: Winter is an excellent time for pruning trees and shrubs. It’s also an ideal opportunity for specialized tree services like deep root feedings or dormant oil applications to protect them from insects and disease.
• Plan for Next Year: Evaluate what worked and what didn’t. Consider signing up for a year-round lawn care program to take the guesswork out of maintenance and ensure every task is done at the perfect time.

When is the best time to aerate my lawn in Boise?

The best times for lawn aeration in the Boise area are spring (March-May) and fall (September-October). Fall is often considered optimal as it gives the grass roots time to recover and strengthen before winter dormancy. Aerating relieves soil compaction, which is crucial for our local clay-heavy soils.

How often should I really be watering my lawn in Meridian during the summer?

During the peak heat of summer, your lawn typically needs watering 2 to 3 times per week. The goal is to apply about 1 to 1.5 inches of water in total for the week. It’s much better to water deeply and less frequently than to do a shallow watering every day, as this encourages a stronger, deeper root system.

Why do I need a sprinkler blow-out in Idaho?

A sprinkler blow-out is essential in Idaho due to our freezing winter temperatures. If water remains in your sprinkler lines, it will freeze, expand, and can easily crack pipes, break sprinkler heads, and damage valves. A professional blow-out uses an air compressor to force all water out of the system, preventing this costly damage.

Aeration: The process of perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. This helps alleviate soil compaction and improve root growth.

Dormancy: A period in which a plant’s growth and development temporarily stop. Grass in Boise typically goes dormant during the cold winter months.

Grub: The larvae of certain beetles that live in the soil and feed on grassroots, often causing significant lawn damage if left untreated.

Pre-emergent: A type of herbicide applied before weeds germinate. It forms a chemical barrier in the soil that prevents weed seeds from sprouting.

Thatch: A layer of living and dead organic matter that occurs between the green matter and the soil surface. A small amount is normal, but excessive thatch can block water and nutrients from reaching the soil.

Winterizer: A type of fertilizer applied in late fall that is typically rich in potassium. It is designed to help the lawn’s roots store nutrients and survive the winter, promoting a healthier start in the spring.