Spring Lawn Care in Saskatoon – How to Wake Up Your Lawn After Winter
Saskatoon winters can be hard on lawns, but a focused spring routine helps grass recover, thicken up, and resist weeds for the rest of the season. The steps below expand your outline into a research‑backed, original article tailored to local conditions.
1. Start with a good cleanup
Once snow is gone and the ground is firm—not soft or muddy—gently rake to remove leaves, sand, and dead grass so new shoots can emerge freely. Raking while the soil is still wet and spongy can pull up healthy roots, so wait until footprints are not leaving deep impressions.
Focus on lifting matted areas where snow may have compacted debris, as these spots are slow to dry and more prone to disease. All clean material that is free of herbicides or obvious disease can go into your compost.
2. Check for winter damage
As the lawn dries, look for matted, grey or tan patches that may indicate snow mold or areas where snow and ice sat for long periods. In most home lawns, snow mold thins the turf rather than killing it outright, and many patches grow back once raked and exposed to air and sun.
Flag thin or obviously dead spots so you know where to focus overseeding later in spring when soil temperatures are warm enough for germination (around 10 °C soil / 15 °C daytime air). Early scouting also helps you spot any vole trails or low, uneven spots that might need topdressing or repair.
3. Get ahead of early‑season weeds
Cool‑season weeds such as dandelions and chickweed often appear before your lawn is fully green, because they wake up faster in cool soil. If left alone, they can grab light, water, and nutrients just when your grass is trying to recover from winter stress.
An early‑season weed control treatment—timed once the lawn is actively growing—helps stop these weeds from setting seed and gives your grass a chance to fill in those spaces instead. Pairing weed control with proper mowing height and spring feeding greatly improves how quickly the lawn thickens.
4. Feed the lawn at the right time
Wait to fertilize until the grass is clearly growing and has been mowed at least once or twice; this ensures roots are active and able to use the nutrients. Local and Canadian spring guides generally suggest starting fertilization from late April into May, depending on weather, rather than very early in the season.
A balanced spring fertilizer helps the lawn recover from winter and build root strength, but heavy nitrogen too early can push weak, lush growth and contribute to excess thatch or snow‑mold susceptibility later. Following recommended rates and watering after application helps nutrients move into the soil without burning the grass.
5. Overseed bare and thin spots
Once daytime highs are consistently around 15 °C and soil temperatures reach about 10 °C, overseeding becomes much more reliable. Lightly rake or loosen thin and bare areas to improve seed‑to‑soil contact, and consider adding a thin layer of compost or topsoil if the surface is very hard.
Use a quality cool‑season blend suited to Prairie conditions and spread seed evenly according to the label. Keep these areas consistently moist—but not waterlogged—with light, frequent watering until seedlings reach 7–10 cm, then gradually shift to deeper, less frequent watering.
6. Set your mower up for success
Before the first cut, sharpen or replace blades so they slice cleanly instead of shredding the grass tips, which loses more moisture and can invite disease. Check mower height and aim for roughly 7–8 cm (around 3 inches) for cool‑season lawns, which is in line with many Canadian and Prairie recommendations.
Mowing high shades the soil, encourages deeper roots, and naturally reduces weed pressure by limiting light to germinating seeds. Stick to the one‑third rule—never remove more than the top third of the blade—to keep the lawn vigorous and reduce stress during this important recovery period.
You can handle many of these spring tasks yourself, but professional help with early weed control, fertilizing, and overseeding can speed up recovery and make it easier to have a thick, green lawn by summer.