As March arrives and the weather begins to warm up, it’s time to start preparing your lawn for the growing season ahead. However, after months of wet and cold conditions, your lawn needs careful attention. Rushing into mowing or scarifying in the wrong conditions can do more harm than good. Here’s what you need to know to get your lawn in shape while avoiding common mistakes.
Mowing – When and How to Do It Safely
Wait for the right conditions. Grass growth starts to pick up in March, but that doesn’t mean you should rush to mow at the first sign of sunshine. The ground must be dry before mowing—if it’s still wet or waterlogged, you risk compacting the soil, damaging grass roots, and creating bare patches.
For the first cut of the season, set your mower blades higher than usual to avoid stressing the grass. Never remove more than a third of the grass blade height in one go, as cutting too much at once can weaken the lawn. Make sure your mower blades are sharp to prevent tearing the grass, which can lead to disease.
If the lawn is too wet, it’s best to wait a few days until conditions improve. Walking on soggy grass before mowing can cause compaction, which leads to poor drainage and weak growth.
Scarifying – Proceed with Caution
Scarifying helps remove dead grass, moss, and thatch, allowing air and nutrients to reach the soil. However, doing this too early or in the wrong conditions can seriously weaken your lawn.
Only scarify if your lawn is dry enough. If the soil is too damp, the scarifier or rake will pull up healthy grass as well as dead material. Start with a gentle rake rather than an aggressive mechanical scarifier to reduce stress on the grass. If your lawn looks weak or patchy after scarifying, applying a spring lawn feed will help it recover.
Scarifying is best left until late March or even April in colder, wetter areas. If you’re unsure, test a small patch first—if a lot of healthy grass comes up with the thatch, it’s too soon.
Aerating – Improve Drainage and Root Health
If your lawn has suffered from compaction over winter, aerating can help relieve pressure and improve root growth. Use a garden fork or aerator to create small holes in the lawn, which helps air, water, and nutrients reach the roots.
Aeration is especially useful for clay soils, which tend to hold water and compact more easily. If your lawn has been waterlogged in winter, aerating in dry conditions will help it recover faster.
Feeding – Give Your Lawn a Spring Boost
By late March, grass needs a nutrient boost to grow strong. A spring lawn feed high in nitrogen will encourage healthy green growth.
Apply fertiliser after mowing, not before. Avoid feeding if frost is expected, as this can damage tender new growth. If you have scarified, feeding will help your lawn recover faster.
For a more natural option, top-dressing with compost or organic material is a great way to improve soil quality without using chemicals.
Managing Weeds and Moss
Weeds can start appearing in March, so it’s best to deal with them before they take over. For small weeds, hand-pulling is effective. For larger areas, a selective lawn weed killer can help.
If moss is a problem, improving drainage and sunlight exposure will help before applying moss control treatments. Removing moss without fixing the underlying issue will only lead to more moss returning later.
Lawn Edging – The Finishing Touch
Edging your lawn is an easy way to make it look neater without much effort. A half-moon edging tool will create crisp borders around flower beds and paths, keeping the lawn in check.
Doing this now means you won’t have to battle overgrown edges in the summer.
Check Your Tools and Equipment
Before the mowing season gets into full swing, take time to sharpen secateurs, oil shears, and check the lawnmower. A blunt mower blade can tear grass rather than cutting it cleanly, leading to disease and stress.
If your lawnmower hasn’t been serviced in a while, now is a good time to clean it up and make sure it’s running efficiently.
Final Thoughts
March is the start of proper lawn care season, but timing is everything. If you mow, scarify, or feed too early, you risk doing more harm than good. Waiting for dry conditions, starting with light maintenance, and building up as the month progresses will help keep your lawn healthy.
By following these careful steps, you’ll be on track for a strong lawn that thrives throughout the year.
Is your lawn ready for its first cut of the year? Let us know your tips and experiences.