Spring Lawn Care Is About Soil Readiness, Not the Calendar
In Southern Ontario, spring lawn care usually starts around April 1, but that date is only a guideline.
“What really determines when we start lawn care is when the snow melts and the ground becomes a little bit firmer.”
If the lawn is still soft or muddy, walking on it will cause damage. The real signal is when the frost begins to release and the ground can support foot traffic without sinking.
Why Snow Melt and Drainage Come First
A lawn needs time to dry out and drain after winter. Starting too early traps moisture and creates perfect conditions for mold and disease.
“As soon as you can enter the lawn on firm ground is a great time to get in there and start lifting up your lawn.”
The First Thing You Should Actually Do
The first step in spring lawn care is not fertilizer or seed. It is light raking.
“The number one thing to do in spring to give your lawn a head start is to get out there when the ground is firm and give it a light raking with a leaf rake.”
This is not aggressive dethatching. The goal is to lift matted grass, remove debris, and allow air circulation so new growth is not smothered.
Regional Timing Across Ontario
Southern Ontario and the GTA are often ready around April 1. Ottawa and Northern Ontario usually start later, often late April or early May. Snow load and melt speed determine timing more than temperature alone.
Recent Spring Lawn Care Service Jobs in the GTA
A Matted Lawn That Looked Worse Than the Neighbors
One early spring job in the GTA involved a homeowner who was convinced her lawn care program had failed. Her lawn was still flat, matted, and dull while neighboring lawns were already greening up.
“Her lawn was matted and still all pressed down and compacted by heavy snow that had been raked on it and shoveled on it.”
The issue was not fertilizer, weeds, or seed. The grass blades were simply trapped under winter debris.
After a light raking to lift the grass and allow air circulation, the lawn began responding almost immediately.
“As soon as she got out there, gave it a rake, allowed air to circulate in there, her lawn began to green up and actually looked better than the neighbors within a few weeks.”
Takeaway
Spring lawn care starts with airflow and recovery. Skipping this step delays results even when everything else is done correctly.
