Your lawn might be in a winter slumber right now, but spring will be here before you know it. Once it arrives, your lawn will leave the dormant stage, which means you'll need to be ready to begin the maintenance again. As soon as the weather starts to warm up, you'll want to resume your normal watering schedule for your lawn. You'll also want to provide the initial application of lawn fertilizer. From there, you'll want to prepare for that initial lawn mowing of the season. Here are some tips that will help you to ensure a healthy lawn once spring arrives. 

Service the Lawn Mower

You might still be dealing with the long, cold winter, but right now is the perfect time to get your lawn mower ready for spring. You might think that you can just start using your lawn mower as soon as spring arrives, but that's not the case. You should actually give your lawn mower some tender loving care before spring arrives. First, take your lawn mower blades in for a professional sharpening. Second, clean the underside of the lawn mower to remove any dead grass. Finally, have your lawn mower tuned up. These steps will help ensure a clean cut for your lawn once spring arrives. 

Take Care of the Initial Mow

If you're like most people, you mow your lawn as soon as the weather warms up in the spring. However, you should actually wait a bit longer before you mow your lawn for the first time. Once you've started on the watering cycle and applied the first round of fertilizer, allow your lawn to grow a few extra inches. This will ensure that you don't cut your lawn too short. 

Let Your Lawn Dry Out

If you're in the habit of mowing your lawn while it's wet, you'll want to change things up. Mowing your lawn while it's wet can do serious damage. First, mowing your lawn when it's wet can cause pulling rather than cutting. Unfortunately, when grass is pulled out by the roots, it can't grow back. Second, mowing your lawn when it's wet will prevent proper thatching. Instead, you'll end up with clumps of wet grass on the surface of your lawn. To avoid the risk, let your lawn dry out before you mow it. 

Don't Follow a Pattern

If you like to maintain a uniform appearance, you might follow a pattern each time you mow your lawn. Therefore, consider changing your routine. Mowing your lawn in the same direction each time prevents adequate sun exposure. To ensure the right amount of sun exposure, change patterns each time you mow your lawn.