4 Easy Steps to a Beautiful Lawn Featured

Four Steps, and four easy to remember dates for a greener lawn all year round. Both Scotts and Ace have made it easy for the homeowner to have a lush cookout worthy lawn to enjoy and entertain all summer long. Have your friends asking you for advice because the crabgrass and dandelions haven’t taken over.  It is all as simple as 1, 2, 3, 4. Below we will detail the four steps and offer a few tips for success.

Special Note:  Make sure to purchase all 4 steps early in the season to ensure that you can complete the program.

Step 1 Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food

Apply by: Easter

StepOneCrabgrassPreventerPlusLawnFood

Kick start the year with Step 1.  This formula is specifically designed to prevent invasive grasses from taking over.  Crabgrass and other invasive species are annual grasses which grow, reproduce, and die with in one season cycle.  If left untreated crabgrass quickly can take over your entire lawn as each plant can produce 150,000 seeds per season.  Get ahead of this problem quickly by applying Step 1 on a cool day when temperatures are averaging 80 degrees and make sure to apply before or on Easter.

Step 2 Weed Control Plus Lawn Food

Apply by: Memorial Day

Step2WeedControlPlusLawnFood

Now that our lawn is flourishing, it is time to protect it from the early summer weeds such as dandelions. The beauty of blowing on the clocks of a dandelion sending it’s single seeds drifting through the air are part of everyone’s childhood memories.  Dandelions are asexual meaning they do not need pollination to reproduce.  The seeds on the head of the dandelion are called achenes, and they are attached to pappus which is a series of fine hairs.  This enables the dandelion to spread throughout your lawn with just a simple breeze. Step 2 prevents broadleaf weeds such as dandelions. Apply Step 2 on a calm day ideally on damp grass with no rain in the forecast for the next 24hrs.

Step 3 Lawn Food with 2% Iron

Apply by: 4th of July

StepthreeLawnFood

It’s summer and its hot!  Your grass needs an extra boost this time of year and with Step 3 it is guaranteed to fight off heat and drought.  When applying make sure to water well unless a good rain or two is expected.  You should not have many weeds but a few might be trying to make up ground.  Make sure to treat those areas as needed.

Step 4 Fall Lawn Food

Apply by:  between Labor Day and Halloween

step4FallLawnFood

A strong Spring owes a lot of credit to a well-planned Fall.  Give your lawn everything it needs to withstand Maryland’s unpredictable Winters. Apply Step 4 as your last major lawn care step of the year.  Two major things happen when applied.  First your lawn will green up for the fall after the harsh summer.  Second, you give a significant advantage to the root system of your lawn.  Giving your lawn the nutrients it thrives on while the temperature plummets throughout the winter.

Both Scotts and Ace brand products are available at Sneade’s Ace Home Center.  One of our Outdoor Experts will be happy to help answer any questions and help you create a complete lawn care plan.