It’s spring in Tennessee and Mississippi, which means the familiar smells of cut grass and backyard barbecues will soon fill the air. In both states, a yard is an extension of yourself and something many folks take great pride in. At Greenkeeper, we know how much time, effort, and money you put into your yards. That is why we are providing you with a list of helpful tips to give you a head start on your lawn care goals this year. 
Start With Testing Your Soil
First things first. We highly recommend getting your soil tested before you do anything to your lawn. You can buy a soil test kit at your local hardware, or you can hire someone to do it for you. A soil test can tell you the types of nutrients in your soil, if your soil is too acidic or alkaline, and it can tell you what will grow best. Soil tests should be taken from different parts of your yards, such as sunny areas, shady areas, and areas that receive equal amounts of shade and sunlight. With your soil test results in hand, you can now select the perfect fertilizer blend for your lawn.
Apply Weed Control Early
There are literally thousands of weed seeds waiting in your soil right now. They are waiting for a few conditions to be met; enough sunlight and the right temperature. When those conditions are met, they will germinate and quickly outcompete your grass. These seeds are leftover from last fall from weeds you did not get rid of in time or were blown into your yard on the wind. Applying a pre-emergent weed killer now will stop these weeds from sprouting and taking over your lawn. Applications of pre-emergent in the spring will significantly reduce the number of weeds in the summer, which will reduce the number of weeds in the fall.
Fertilize Your Lawn
Now that the soil test is out of the way, it’s time for the fun part; fertilizing your lawn. Spring fertilization helps promote vigorous leaf growth so grass can get thick and prevent weeds from germinating.
Get The Lawn Mower Ready
Lawnmower maintenance is an essential part of your spring checklist. Your lawnmower does a lot of work for you over the year. It’s better to deal with any issues now than later when you need it. Start by checking the oil and making sure the engine is running properly. Change the sparkplugs if needed and sharpen the blades. Sharp blades cut smoothly and allow for the grass to grow healthy. A dull blade rips and creates ugly brown tips on your grass blades. A sharp blade means the difference between a green and healthy lawn and a scraggly, brown lawn. 
Control Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes can ruin any plans you had for gathering outside in the evening. If you want to have a carefree barbeque without the threat of mosquitoes showing up, then follow these steps.
- Eliminate standing water
- Use mosquito repellent that contains DEET
- Don’t wear dark-colored clothes
- Don’t use scented lotions, shampoos, or perfumes
Hire The Experts at Greenkeeper
The pros at Greenkeeper know how hard it is dealing with lawn care and all the chores that go with it. That’s why we are here to help. We have been providing the people in Collierville, Tennessee, and Olive Branch, Mississippi, with top-notch lawn care for over 20 years. Our eight-step lawn care program offers the balanced fertilizer that your lawn needs to stay healthy and the pre and post-emergent weed control to keep weeds at bay and under control. Our highly effective mosquito control will keep your family and pets safe by applying a barrier to the surrounding areas of your home.
Give 901-861-2338 (Tennessee customers) or 662-895-2088 (northern Mississippi customers) for more information on how you can get started. You can also request an easy quote here. To get to know us more intimately, follow us on Facebook.