March signals the start of a new season. Snow disappears, the sun’s vibrancy grows, and stalks of grass begin to shoot out from the earth. Spring is primetime for coming up with a lawn care plan.

Tending to it now can ensure a lush lawn year-round, which can pay off this summer when your neighbors and passersby are in awe of the brightest, greenest yard on the block.

Remember, before heading off to grab your equipment and some supplies, you should know a little bit about your lawn and landscape beforehand, such as the type of grass you have, which will determine the ideal time for fertilizing, watering, and when, and how your grass grows best. The

The time of year best for things like overseeding and aeration will also depend on the health of your lawn, and what you are trying to accomplish.

For example, spring is the suggested time to overseed from winter damage, but fall is the best time to overseed on a recurring basis to keep lawns young, thick and vigorant.

1. Take a look around, assess damage: Walk around your yard and visually assess areas that may need attention, and generally take note of what is going on with your grass and yard. Are there any bare patches? Document what damage exists and areas that could use care. This information will help devise a spring lawn care plan appropriate for your needs, also.

2. Prune trees & shrubbery: Spring is also the time to prune select varieties of trees and shrubbery and attend to any damaged areas while promoting new growth. Doing so will also improve the overall appearance and aesthetic of your landscape.

3. Remove debris: Snow can conceal unwanted things in your yard, like dead leaves, garbage, sticks, and fallen tree limbs, to name a few. Removing this debris before getting to work on your lawn is a good idea. Some may want to wash sand or salt from the grass if it builds up over winter, also.

4. Rake: This sort of goes along with moving debris. When winter ends, piles of leaves may be leftover from the previous autumn. Raking can remove things from the surface of the lawn that can suffocate and even kill the grass. The ideal time to rake is when the ground is no longer frozen and dry.

5. Prepare lawn equipment (mower, etc.): The best time to make sure your lawn equipment is working is before you go to use it. Check oil, filters, gas tanks, and other pertinent items. Keeping it clean and sharpening the blades isn’t a bad idea either.

6. Check soil compaction/acidity: Soil shouldn’t be too compact or tough to break through, as it can make it hard for plants to get what they need via the soil, inhibiting growth, and can interfere with proper water drainage.

Like compaction, acidity and lack thereof can also interfere with a plant’s ability to process nutrients, which can be fatal to the plant. Lime is typically used to treat soil that is too acidic.

7. Dethatch (when warranted): Dethatching may not be necessary every year. In fact, the recommended interim for doing this is typically three-five years. The time of year you dethatch will also depend on the type of grassyou have. It’s also worth noting that particular types of grass may see more thatch accumulation than others.You should dethatch your lawn if it is a problem.

8. Weed: Weed early on in the season, when the ground is no longer frozen, and the grass has started growing; during the morning hours,following a healthy rainfall.Pro tip: mulch each spring or install landscape fabric to help reduce weeds in landscape areas.

9. Water the lawn: While needed at regular intervals, water grass before aerating, also.

10. Mow: It’s a good idea to mow before aerating and over seeding. However, after over seeding, it’s recommended to wait for at least one to two weeks before cutting the grass again.

11. Aerate (if needed): If you are experiencing issues with compacted soil, which can be especially true of clay soil or areas with heavy traffic, you may choose to aerate your lawn to remedy this once per year or perhaps more. However, if you do not see soil compaction as an issue, you likely will not need to aerate every year. The time of year you aerate your lawn will also depend on the type of grass you have.

12. Overseed (where appropriate): After dethatching and aeration is the best time to overseed, as this is when grass can better absorb water, fertilizer, and nutrients. Overseeding can help fix bare, balding, or thinning areas and patches on your lawn while protecting against erosion, as grass can keep the soil together while absorbing water.

Moles, voles, sitting water, snow mold, heavy amounts of traffic, mowing the wrong way, and misusing fertilizer can all cause damage to a yard.

Keep in mind, if you choose to use a type of pre-emergent or herbicide, you should hold-off at least four months before over-seeding, as the pre-emergent can interfere with growth.

Avoid mowing when the weather is still reaching freezing temperatures.