Spring lawn care isn’t complicated, but the order matters. Here’s the sequence we run on client properties every April and May, adapted for Guelph’s soil and season.
1. Wait for the ground to firm up
Working a lawn while the soil is saturated does more harm than good — footprints and equipment compact wet clay soil for the whole season. When the squish is gone, start.
2. Cleanup first
Rake out matted leaves and winter debris so light and air reach the crowns. Matted patches left until June often die out and become weed real estate. This is the core of our spring cleanup service, and it’s the least skippable step on this list.
3. First cut at 3 inches
Not shorter. See our guide on when to start mowing in Guelph for timing.
4. Overseed thin areas
Spring seeding works in Guelph if you do it early enough for roots to establish before summer heat. For badly compacted lawns, aerating first dramatically improves germination.
5. Hold the heavy fertilizer
A light late-spring feeding is fine once the lawn is growing hard; a heavy early dose pushes weak top growth. The most important application of the year is actually September — the full schedule is in our Ontario fertilizing guide.
6. Edge and mulch the beds
Recut bed edges and top up mulch before summer: it locks in spring moisture and blocks the light weed seeds need. Our mulching service handles both in one visit.
Want the whole list done for you? Get a free quote — spring slots fill fastest.