Spring lawn care tips: How to revive your turf in time for warmer weather

Once the coldest months are behind us, it's time to start thinking about spring lawn care tips. After all, it won't be long before everything bursts back into life after the dormancy period of winter – your turf included (with the right care, that is).

For many of us, a luscious lawn is one of the most important features of the garden once the temperature warms. We all want picture-perfect grass that's a beautiful shade of green – lovely for lounging on, running across barefoot, or simply admiring from the patio. We certainly don't want an eyesore of shabby, moss-filled, half-dead turf to be the focal point of our plot.

To achieve the former, preparation is key. And whether your garden is large or small, we're here to help you on your way and give your grass the best head start in time for summer. 

We have lawn care tips for you to try this spring, from how to use your best lawn mower for perfect results to advice on over-seeding, and more.

Welcome in the new season with these spring lawn care tips – your garden's grass will be looking beautiful in no time.

Give it a rake (but gently)

The turbulent weather of winter can cause leaves, twigs, and all other kinds of debris to fall onto your lawn. So, to kickstart its spruce-up, grab your best garden rake and clear it all up, so you're just left with the grass.

Then, you might want to think about scarification. This is the process of working through the lawn to remove organic matter that can undermine its health. 

You may have already learned how to scarify a lawn back in the fall. But, if it needs it, there's no harm in doing it again, albeit with a lighter touch. However, it's important to only do so when the grass is back into its growing phase and the soil is warm. This will ensure it recovers properly in time for summer. It's also a good idea to give your lawn a mow, first – this will remove as much initial debris as possible.

But how can you tell if your grass needs scarifying? Well, RHS turf expert Nigel Downs shares his advice. He explains how you should start by taking a good look at your grass. If you can't see the soil, there's probably a build-up of thatch or moss that needs removing. Use a metal grass rake to do this and the improved air circulation and water filtration will lead to much healthier turf.

'Although it seems like a way to thin out the lawn, it will in fact come back denser,' says David Hedges Gower, the Chairman of the Lawn Association.

'Once the lawn has been scarified, it can often lead to a thinner sward for a time and can bring out moss plants. Adding a moss control product directly after scarifying will allow those plants to dehydrate and die off,' he says.