Smart Homeowners Plan for Their Lawn Before Spring Even Starts

“How do I fix my lawn?”

The honest answer is that there are several ways to repair a lawn in the Midwest — but whether those fixes actually work depends almost entirely on what was planned (or not planned) during late winter.

By the time spring arrives, many of the most important decisions have already been made — sometimes without homeowners realizing it.

Late winter is the ideal time to step back and create a clear plan for your lawn.

Start With the Outcome You Want

Before talking products, treatments, or services, ask yourself a few simple questions:

• What do I want my lawn to look like by the 4th of July?

• What issues did I have last year?

• What am I realistically willing to do myself?

• How much effort do I want to put in?

• What’s my budget for improving the lawn?

There’s no “right” answer here — but there is a wrong approach, and that’s treating symptoms without understanding the root problem.

The Most Common Planning Mistake We See

One of the most common issues we run into is thin lawns.

The problem?

Once pre-emergent is applied, you can’t seed your lawn for a significant portion of the season.

So if thinness — not bare spots or weeds — was the main issue, that early decision quietly locks you out of the solution that would have helped the most.

Identify the Real Issue First

Different lawn problems require different starting points:

• If thinness is the main issue:
  You generally want to start the year with seeding.

• If weeds are the main issue:
  You generally want to start the year with pre-emergent and weed control.

Trying to do both at the same time rarely works well. The timing conflicts, and one goal usually undermines the other.

This is why identifying the primary issue early matters so much.

Late Winter Is When Good Plans Are Made

By late winter, your lawn is still dormant — but your decisions don’t have to be reactive.

This is the time to:

• Look at last year objectively

• Decide what actually bothered you

• Choose the outcome you want

• Build a plan that matches your priorities, effort level, and budget

We’re Happy to Help You Think It Through

Only you can decide what you want your lawn to look like — but if you want help understanding your options, we’re happy to walk alongside you and help guide that decision.