The Lawn Care Season in Connecticut Starts Now- What needs to be done first and what’s next?

We know March Madness is a huge deal… but not just with basketball, it’s also the perfect time of year to “jump” into lawn care season. While everyone’s filling out their brackets and watching college hoops, I’m gearing up for what I like to call the “Sweet Sixteen Weeks” of spring lawn care – that crucial period when what you do (or don’t do) determines if your lawn is going to be a champion or sit on the bench all season.

I’m Steve Bousquet, owner of American Landscape & Lawn Science, and after 41+ years in the business, I’ve learned that winning the lawn care game isn’t about making flashy moves – it’s about executing the fundamentals with precision, just like a well-coached basketball team.

I want to thank Ryan Knorr Lawn Care for creating this awesome 7 step process to your Spring Lawncare.

The Starting Lineup: Getting Your Equipment Game-Ready

Just like basketball teams spend the pre-season tuning up their equipment and skills, your lawn care tools need the same attention. Before the madness of spring growth hits, take time to check all your equipment.

Here in Eastern Connecticut, whether you’re in Franklin, Norwich, or along the shoreline in Madison, our weather can change quickly. You don’t want to be caught with a mower that won’t start when that first growth spurt hits.

At American Landscape & Lawn Science, we maintain our professional equipment with meticulous care – oil changes, blade sharpening, and thorough cleaning of mower decks. These aren’t just good practices; they’re essential for the clean cuts that promote lawn health.

Make this your championship preparation checklist:

• Change the oil in gas-powered equipment
• Sharpen mower blades (a dull blade tears grass, inviting disease)
• Clean the underside of mower decks thoroughly
• Check and replace spark plugs if needed
• Ensure batteries are charged for electric tools

Remember, you wouldn’t start a basketball game with a flat ball – don’t start your lawn care season with flat equipment.

Tip #1: Scout Your Opponent with Soil Testing

The best basketball coaches study their opponents’ tendencies before stepping onto the court. Similarly, you need to understand what you’re working with before treating your lawn.

As the University of Connecticut Soil Testing Labs‘ largest customer, we’ve analyzed thousands of soil samples across Eastern Connecticut. What we’ve learned is that every property is different – even neighboring lawns can have completely different soil chemistry.

Once the ground has thawed in March, take samples from several areas of your lawn. This will reveal:

• Soil pH levels (most Connecticut lawns need lime adjustment)
• Nutrient deficiencies specific to your property
• Organic matter content

Without this information, you’re shooting blindfolded – you might get lucky, but more likely you’ll waste money on the wrong treatments. Our professional assessments guide every treatment decision, ensuring we apply exactly what your lawn needs, when it needs it.

Tip #2: Beat the Crabgrass Deadline – The Shot Clock Is Running!

This is perhaps the most critical timing play in your lawn care season. In Connecticut, you have until approximately the end of April to apply pre-emergent crabgrass control. Miss this window, and just like a shot clock violation, you forfeit your chance.

What makes our approach at American Landscape & Lawn Science different is our two-pronged attack on crabgrass:

• Early spring application targeting initial germination
• Late spring application to control summer crabgrass that emerges with summer thunderstorms

This double-team defense is why out of our 3,000+ customers, less than 3% ever call back with crabgrass issues. Compare that to the industry average, and you’ll see why our approach is championship-caliber.

A critical note: if you’re planning to seed your lawn this spring, be aware that pre-emergent herbicides will prevent grass seed germination as well. You’ll need to choose between crabgrass prevention and seeding – you can’t execute both plays simultaneously.

Tip #3: Strategic Timing for Your First Mow

Knowing when to make your first move of the season is crucial. In Connecticut, many homeowners rush to mow at the first sign of green – but that can be a rookie mistake.

The key signs to watch for:

• Several consecutive days of temperatures above 50°F
• No more frozen ground
• Active growth (not just green color)
• Nighttime temperatures consistently above 25°F

When you do start mowing, set your deck slightly lower than your fall height. This helps remove dead tops and allows sunlight to reach the crown of the grass. But don’t scalp your lawn – that’s like fouling out in the first quarter. You want to trim, not stress the grass before the season really begins.

Our technicians at American Landscape & Lawn Science are trained to adjust mowing heights based on grass types and seasonal conditions. We know that fescue varieties common in Norwich and inland areas have different needs than the bluegrass and ryegrass mixes often found along the shoreline in Madison and Clinton.

Tip #4: The Spring Seeding Decision – To Play or Not to Play

This is where many Connecticut homeowners face a tough coaching decision. If winter left you with bare patches, should you seed in spring?

Here’s my honest assessment after 41 years in the business: spring seeding is challenging in Connecticut. You’ll face:

• Rising temperatures that stress seedlings
• Competition from aggressive summer weeds
• The choice between seeding or crabgrass prevention

For small bare patches, spring seeding can work if you’re committed to careful watering and weed control. But for major renovations, I typically advise my customers in Eastern Connecticut to address soil issues now and plan for fall seeding when conditions are much more favorable.

If you do decide to seed, remember that you’ll need to skip pre-emergent herbicides in those areas. At American Landscape & Lawn Science, we can create a custom plan that targets crabgrass in established areas while allowing for successful seeding in damaged spots.

Tip #5: Don’t Overdo Spring Fertilization – Play the Long Game

Many lawn care companies push heavy spring fertilization – but that’s like exhausting your star player in the first quarter. Cool-season grasses naturally surge in spring growth even without fertilizer.

Our approach with dual-action compost-based fertilizer provides balanced nutrition that:

• Feeds the grass appropriately for spring conditions
• Builds soil health for long-term performance
• Doesn’t trigger excessive growth that demands constant mowing

Unlike competitors who use single-action synthetic fertilizers (like giving your grass a Twinkie – a quick sugar rush with no lasting value), our organic-based approach provides steady nutrition. This builds root strength that helps your lawn withstand summer heat – essential for Connecticut’s increasingly hot summers.

Remember: championship lawns aren’t built in a single treatment; they’re developed through consistent, intelligent care throughout the season.

Tip #6: The Dethatching Decision – Timing Is Everything

Should you dethatch your Connecticut lawn in spring? This is another strategic decision where timing matters.

If you have a serious thatch problem (more than ½ inch), it’s best to wait until you’ve mowed a few times and the lawn has started actively growing. Dethatching too early can damage crowns and set your lawn back significantly.

At American Landscape & Lawn Science, we offer a game-changing alternative: our compost tea applications actually break down thatch naturally by feeding beneficial microbes that decompose the dead material. This eliminates the need for mechanical dethatching altogether – no dump trucks of removed material, no recovery time.

For our customers in areas like Groton, Mystic, and along the shoreline, this biological approach is especially valuable where sandy soils benefit from the additional organic matter that decomposed thatch provides.

Tip #7: Build Your Championship Team with a Complete Program

Just like a basketball coach needs a deep bench and comprehensive strategy, your lawn needs a complete care program to thrive in Connecticut’s challenging climate.

Our All-American Lawn Care Program provides the comprehensive approach every Connecticut lawn needs:

• Five organic lawn food applications with dual-action compost-based fertilizer
• Two crabgrass control applications (early and late spring)
• Two broadleaf weed control applications using water-based, family-safe formulas
• One grub prevention treatment with pollinator-friendly products
• Two liquid organic aeration applications that penetrate 7-10 inches deep
• One surface insect control for chinchbugs and deer ticks
• Two compost tea applications to improve soil biology and reduce thatch

This isn’t just a collection of treatments – it’s a carefully choreographed program where each application builds on the last. That’s why we don’t offer single applications or allow customers to pick and choose components. Each element works with the others to create championship results.

With our 90% program retention rate and over 180 customers who return to us after trying other services, we know our approach works for Connecticut lawns.

Ready to Make Your Lawn a Champion This Season?

As March Madness heats up on the basketball court, remember that your lawn is starting its own tournament run. With the right game plan, consistent execution, and an experienced coaching staff, your yard can be cutting down the nets as the neighborhood champion this year.

Don’t wait until the buzzer sounds on the crabgrass deadline! Contact us today for your free lawn evaluation and let us create a winning strategy for your property.