Journalist Doug Larson use to say, “Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.” Personally, I know it is a sign of spring when my husband is whistling while he combs our lawn for every twig that fell during winter’s Nor’easters and rakes those last-to-fall leaves.  After a long winter, we typically turn our attention to cleaning up our properties. The reason why spring clean ups are so important to the landscape goes beyond aesthetics, however.  “Plant material debris left on your lawn from winter’s storms can add toxins and unwanted minerals which spread disease to the lawn,” explains Juan Rodriquez, Senior Sales Account Manager for Fairway Landscaping.  

Clearing away leaves, branches and any uninvited plant guests from lawn areas and landscape beds is an important first step in property care management.  Snow mold is a common lawn disease which can result from not performing a complete fall and spring cleanup.  “If you leave piles of leaves or grass clippings the snow mold will grow under this debris and after the snow melts in spring and you finally rake up those leaves, what is left is white, web-like spots on your grass,” says Rodriguez.  The best defense is good lawn care practices; but if something is left that causes this issue, Rodriguez says, “it will likely clear up if you rake everything and dispose of it, then allow the area to air out.” 

In early spring, examine lawn areas close to the street edge where snowplows can easily catch a corner of the lawn and pull it away from its root base.  Loaming and seeding these areas in early springtime allows the grass to grow quickly to fill in.  Likely your community’s snow service contractor has already tackled these areas. Additionally, says Rodriguez, “you want to look for any potential diseased areas in the lawn that need to be addressed.”  Catching lawn disease early before it has the opportunity to spread, (depending on the type of disease) can make the difference between a loam and overseed job or a new lawn installation.  Common lawn diseases in Massachusetts include: Brown Patch, Dollar Spot, Snow Mold and Red Thread. 

The fungus that causes brown patches over the winter in debris and grass thatch can make its appearance when the warm weather arrives, especially if there is too much watering when the temps rise.  “This is why in the summer it is so important to water early in the morning so the water has time to evaporate before evening comes to prevent the perfect storm for this type of fungus,” says Rodriguez.  Brown patches can impact just about any type of grass.  Its signature appearance is 3 to 10-foot circles of brown grass, hence its name. 

Dollar Spot commonly appears in spring and also in the fall because that is when there are the largest swings in temperatures from night to daytime.  “This fungus usually appears first as a patch of dead grass the size of a silver dollar,” notes Rodriguez.  Then it starts to spread and comingle with the other patches becoming a huge area of dead grass. “Aerating your lawn is typically the best defense against dollar spot because it allows water to penetrate down to the soil and sends oxygen to the roots,” explains Rodriguez.   

Spring clean-ups should also include the first mow of the season. “By cleaning up the thatch from last season’s lawn, within a couple of cuttings, you will notice the difference in the fullness and thickness of your lawn, and of course, a start fertilizer should be applied to have a great lawn for your summer enjoyment,” he adds. 

Now is the time to also inspect all your shrubs and make decisions on replacement plants as this is an ideal time for planting new shrubs.  Winter can be harsh on shrubs and trees.  “As existing shrubs mature they may also grow beyond the space they were originally intended for, or they may have not been planted in the right spot due to sunlight and drainage,” says Rodriguez.  Planting in spring when natural water resources are at their peak helps the new plants take hold, “and that is something to whistle about,” he adds.