Spring Lawn Care Checklist for North Carolina Homeowners

North Carolina lawns wake up fast. What you do in March and April sets your grass up for the whole season — or leaves you fighting weeds and thin patches all summer. Here's the spring checklist we follow on the properties we care for across Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and Durham.

March: Wake it up

• First clean-up mow at 3 inches for fescue, 1.5 inches for Bermuda
• Rake or blow off leaf mulch and winter debris
• Pre-emergent weed control before soil hits 55°F (crabgrass prevention)
• Inspect for vole trails, snow mold, and bare spots

April: Feed and repair

• Slow-release nitrogen for fescue lawns
• Spot-seed thin areas and keep them moist
• Sharpen mower blades — dull blades tear grass and invite disease
• Edge beds, walkways, and driveways for a clean line

May: Set the summer baseline

• Raise mowing height on fescue to 3.5–4 inches to shade out weeds
• Deep, infrequent watering — 1 inch per week including rainfall
• First application of iron for deep green color without pushing growth
• Treat any broadleaf weeds that escaped pre-emergent

When professional service is recommended

If your lawn has more than 30% weeds, bare patches larger than a dinner plate, or you've never had a soil test done, a professional visit is worth it. We handle mowing, fertilization programs, aeration, overseeding, and cleanup for properties across the Triangle.

Common mistakes homeowners make

• Applying pre-emergent too late — crabgrass has already germinated
• Scalping the lawn on the first spring mow
• Watering shallow and daily instead of deep and weekly
• Skipping soil testing and guessing at fertilizer