The lawn care decisions you make in March and April determine how your grass looks all summer. Miss this window and you are playing catch-up for months. Here is exactly what to do and when across Hampshire and the South.
First Cut of the Year
As soon as the grass starts growing consistently — usually from mid-March in Hampshire when soil temperature reaches 7°C — make your first cut on the mower's highest setting. Never remove more than a third of the blade at once.
Scarifying
Scarifying removes the layer of dead grass and moss (thatch) that builds up at soil level. It looks brutal but the results by May are remarkable. Use a powered scarifier for best results — a spring-tine rake is only suitable for very small lawns.
- Best time: mid-March to mid-April in Hampshire
- Always cut short before scarifying
- Work in two directions for thorough thatch removal
- Overseed immediately after and keep moist
Spring Feed
Apply a high-nitrogen spring lawn feed after scarifying and overseeding. This drives the rapid green growth that helps new seed establish and fills existing grass with vigour. Do not feed if frost is still forecast.
Overseeding Bare Patches
Scratch bare areas with a rake, apply seed at the recommended rate and keep moist. Early spring is ideal — soil is warming and rainfall is usually reliable. New seed germinates in 10–21 days depending on temperature.
A&T Landscapes provides professional spring lawn care across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. Call 07735 916029 for a lawn health assessment.