Grass emerging from snow - lawn care in February

Lawn Care in February: Yes, There Are Some Important Things You Can Do Now

It’s now six weeks after the New Year and we are deep into winter. Cincinnati homeowners know that the second month of the year is a time of bitter cold, dark gray skies, and a combination of rain and snow. Suggesting that someone could do any type of lawn care in February seems ridiculous.

But we’re only about 5 weeks away from the official start of Spring! Believe it or not, now is a great time to start planning and doing some late winter and February yard tasks that will get your property ready for Spring and Summer.

Table of Contents

Get Your Mower Ready

While the skies are still gray, there are tasks you can do that will save you time at the start of the mowing season. Getting your mower ready is one of the most important. Mower maintenance ensures your machine will perform throughout the spring and summer months.

Change the Engine Oil

Start with draining and replacing your mower’s engine oil. This is key to making sure your engine runs at its peak. When performing this type of maintenance, be sure to check your Owner’s Manual for the proper steps.

Adding oil to mower engine to prepare for lawn care in February
Make sure to prepare your yard equipment prior to beginning any lawn care in February.

Replace The Spark Plug and Air Filter

Internal-combustion engines need clean air and a good spark to ignite the fuel. Over time, the mower’s air filter can get dirty with trapped dust and lawn debris. It’s a good idea to replace it before the start of every mowing season.

The same is true of your spark plug. When a mower is in use, the spark plug is igniting fuel multiple times per second. Over the course of a cutting season, it experiences a considerable amount of wear and tear. So, replacing that plug at the start of every mowing season will ensure that your mower has the power it needs.

Sharpen the Mower Blades

When a mower blade spins, it impacts each, individual blade of grass with the intent of cutting the top off cleanly. When mower blades have a sharp edge, it requires less power to cut that blade. Think of a sword that is so sharp it can cut through a melon without the two pieces separating. The cut is clean and efficient.

Now imagine a rounded club hitting a melon. Upon impact, the melon explodes creating a huge mess. Something similar happens when a dull mower blade hits the grass. The cut is not clean and can actually rip and damage the grass.

For these reasons, its best to get your mower blades sharpened at least once a year and February is a good time to do it.

Remove Sticks, Leaves and Dead Grass

One of the most important tips for lawn care in February is removing debris from the yard. Cold, winter winds can cause branches to fall and litter the yard with sticks and old leaves. Before your first cutting, it’s important to clean this debris up so it doesn’t cause problems for your mower.

You can also lightly rake your yard to remove dead grass and leaves. Take care, though, not to rake up the grass that is still planted in the ground.

Remove dead grass as part of lawn care in February routine
Remove dead grass and leaves as part of your lawn care in February routine.

Apply Herbicides

Another “Lawn Care in February” tip would be spot spraying winter weeds now, when plants are not yet actively growing. If you leave these weeds unchecked, they will go after the nutrients, water, and sunshine that your grass needs.

You can also follow this up by applying a pre-emergent around March 1st. This will take care of any annual weeds before they germinate.

Fertilizing

Providing your lawn with nutrients in the late-winter/early-spring time frame will help your grass have healthy growth in the coming weeks. Use a slow-release fertilizer in this situation. Liquid seaweed is another option that helps relieve “winter stress.”

applying fertilizer and weed control to Cincinnati yard

Test Your Soil

Having your soil professionally tested will give you a clear understanding of what it’s lacking, and what type of treatments might be needed. Clermont county residents can get a soil test performed at the OSU Extension Office in Owensville. Hamilton County homeowners can go to the Penn State Extension office in Cincinnati. Or contact your local lawn care and landscape expert; we’re also able to provide you with a soil test…as well as a lawn program that meets your soil’s unique needs.

Need More Help?

Need help with your eastside Cincinnati lawn care? Just contact American Landscapes here for a free, no-obligation estimate. Or call us at (513) 947-8727. You can also learn more about our lawn care, landscaping, and outdoor lighting services by reading our blog. In addition to fertilizer and weed control, we also provide mosquito control, lawn aeration, lawn seeding, and much more.

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