This morning I woke up to a winter wonderland outside. If it was still winter this would be fine, but it is currently mid-April. Meaning it is technically Spring. At least that is what my calendar says, but it appears Mother Nature has not gotten the memo yet. It’s also not a dusting of snow. We got more than an inch. And this is also not the first snow fall in April, it’s the third. At this rate, it feels like warm weather will never be here.
My snow covered neighborhood in mid April.
My biggest complaint with the snow is that I am REALLY ready for Spring. I am looking forward to warm weather, flowers blooming, spending time outside and getting started on my outdoor projects. The problem is with the constant flip flopping of weather it is hard to know when I can start my projects. Below is the information you need to help you know what temperature it needs to be before getting started on your projects.
WHEN TO FERTILIZE THE LAWN
This answer is different depending on where you live. If you live in the North you most likely have cool-season grass like me and if you live in the South you probably have warm-season grass. See below for more details on when to fertilize your lawn.
COOL-SEASON GRASSES: With cool-season grasses it is best to save the heavy fertilization for the Fall rather than the Spring. Fall is the peak season of growth for cool-season grasses. In the fall grass starts putting more energy into the development of the root in preparation for the winter. The root system needs the nutrients from the fertilizer for growth to keep the grass healthy through the winter and into the Spring. Focusing on making sure your grass has deep and healthy roots is the most important part if you ultimately want a thick, low-maintenance lawn.
In the Spring, grass puts more energy into growing the leaf. So, fertilizing too much in the spring can lead to rapid growth of the leave at the expense of developing a strong root system. Lawn care companies will try to convince you to fertilize regularly to help make the grass look green. However, if the grass does not have a strong root system it will struggle to survive when the temperatures get hot in the summer and it will be easier for weeds to invade your lawn.
If you are like me and never had time to fertilize in the fall, you can do a light fertilization in the spring using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Just do not go too crazy. It is also best to wait for the grass to begin growing before you fertilize it or you may lead to weed growth.
Grass does not start growing until the soil temperatures are 45 degrees Fahrenheit and optimum growth is when soil temperatures are between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The soil temperature is cooler than the air temperature at the beginning of spring so the air temperature needs to be consistently around 55 – 60 degrees before any growth will occur.
If you have tall grass, mow the lawn a day or two before application. Many bags of fertilizer suggest that the fertilizer be applied before the 3rd or 4th mow and before the air temperature is 80 degrees.
WARM-SEASON GRASSES: With warm-season grasses it is best to fertilize in the later spring and summer. Summer is the peak season of growth for warm-season grasses. At least 75% of your lawn should be green before you fertilize it. If there is a late heavy frost in the spring and you fertilize too early it can damage the grass. Also, if you apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer when the grass is dormant and not growing it may lead to an increase in unwanted weed growth.
Warm-season grasses will grow the best when soil temperatures are between 70 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The soil temperature is cooler than the air temperature at the beginning of spring so the air temperature needs to be consistently around 80 and 95 degrees before a lot of growth will occur.
WHEN TO SEED YOUR LAWN
This answer is different depending on where you live. If you live in the North you most likely have cool-season grass like me and if you live in the South you most likely have warm-season grass. It is important to time seeding with the grass’s peak growth periods. This helps the seeds to germinate and grow strong and establish roots quickly. See below for more details on when to seed your lawn.
COOL-SEASON GRASSES: Spring is a better time for patching bare spots rather than doing a full seeding of the lawn. Fall is the best time to plant cool-season grasses. Cool-season grasses grow the strongest and fastest during the cooler temperatures in the fall when the air temperature is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The soil is usually between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit at this time, the right environment for germination.
WARM-SEASON GRASSES: Late spring is generally the best time to plant warm-season grasses. Warm-season grasses grow best when soil temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This corresponds to daytime temperatures being 80 degrees or higher. Be sure the danger of a final deep frost has passed so the seeds are not damaged.
WHEN TO MOW THE GRASS
This answer is different depending on where you live. If you live in the North you most likely have cool-season grass and if you live in the South you most likely have warm-season grass. You want to be sure that the grasses have begun growing before you mow your grass in the spring. See below for more details on when to start mowing your lawn.
COOL-SEASON GRASSES: continue to grow all winter but growth majorly slows down when soil temperatures are below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the soil temperature hits the mid-40s, the grass will start growing. The optimum soil temperature for growth of cool-season grasses are between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The soil temperature is cooler than the air temperature at the beginning of spring so the air temperature needs to be around 60 degrees before much growth will occur.
WARM-SEASON GRASSES: starts to go dormant once the soil temperature drops below 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the fall and stays dormant through the winter and into the early spring. The optimal growing period for warm-season grasses is late spring and summer, when air temperatures average 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the soil temperatures are over 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
EXTRA TIPS ON MOWING YOUR LAWN
When you do start mowing your lawn you want to be sure to set your mower higher. It is not healthy for the grass to be cut too short. Only remove the top 1/3 of the grass when mowing. Longer grass blades promote longer roots, absorb more nutrients and prevent weeds. Check online to see what is the optimum height range for your grass and make sure it is not mowed shorter than that range.
Trust me this information is true. My husband thought it would be a great idea to cut the grass very short when we moved in so that he would not have to mow as often. This was nice for him but each year our grass started looking worse and having more weeds taking over the grass. It has been a challenge for us to get the grass looking like it previously did and so I am trying to follow these instructions so that eventually we will have a gorgeous lawn.
WHEN TO START WATERING THE LAWN
After a winter with snow and a spring with lots of rainfall, you do not need to be in a hurry to water the lawn. You can wait until the temperatures begin to rise (unless you need to water the grass after fertilizing or seeding the lawn). When you do start watering your lawn it is best to water in the morning. Watering in the morning allows the roots time to absorb water. Watering during the middle of the day is not ideal because the water will evaporate quickly in the heat. Watering at night is not ideal because the water will not evaporate quickly in the cooler temperatures which could encourage fungal growth.
WHEN TO DO EXTERIOR PAINTING
Most exterior paints will have an application temperature between 45 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit or between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. There are some exterior paints that say they can be applied when the air temperature is as low as 35 degrees however you need to wait 24-48 hours before applying another coat of paint. I have worked with many chemists and raw material suppliers of paint and they all have said that temperature is not really possible. 40 degrees Fahrenheit is borderline possible at best. So even if the instructions state an application temperature that low, you need to be cautious about applying the paint during that temperature because you are more likely to have problems with long term adhesion.
What you may not realize and what is not always listed clearly on instructions is that the air temperature should stay above 45 degrees for anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after application. 6 hours is pretty typical however I still recommend 24 hours for the best results. And trust me you really will not want to redo this project again right away.
WHEN TO STAIN THE DECK
I managed a deck coating brand for a few years so I have a lot of knowledge about deck coatings and will provide a little extra insider knowledge below.
Most deck stains and sealants should be applied when the outdoor temperature is between 45 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit although some will suggest the temperature be between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. There are a few and I mean very few brands that will say they can be applied if the temperature is as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit. As with exterior paints, the chemists and raw material suppliers I have worked with all have said that 35 degree application temperature is not really possible. Like exterior paint, 40 degrees Fahrenheit is borderline application at best. So even if the instructions state an application temperature as low as 40 F or less, you need to be cautious about applying the deck coating during that temperature because you are more likely to have problems with long term adhesion, just as with exterior paints.
Some of the instructions are also a little deceiving. They may state that you can apply if the surface temperature is 35 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The surface temperature of the wood and the air are often not the same. For instance, on a really hot day the air temperature may be 95 degrees Fahrenheit, but the surface temperature may be more like 115 or 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If the weather has been consistently cold, the air temperature may be 35 degrees Fahrenheit but the surface temperature may be cooler. In the world of paint manufacturers have tools to measure the surface temperature that regular consumers do not have. So again, as a rule of thumb I recommend sticking to an air temperature of at least 45 degrees.
What you may not realize and what is not always listed clearly on instructions is that the air temperature should stay above 45 degrees for anywhere from 6 to 48 hours after application. 6 hours is pretty typical for clear sealants, transparent stain & sealants, and semi-transparent stains & sealants. I still recommend 24 hours for the best results. For solid stains and thinner resurfacers the temperature should not drop below 45 degrees for 24 hours. The 48 hours only applies to the thickest deck resurfacers on the market. And trust me you really will not want to redo this project again right away.
WHEN TO SEAL / STAIN THE PATIO
Sealing or staining a patio is similar to sealing or staining a deck.
Most patio sealants and stains should be applied when the outdoor temperature is between 45 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit although some will suggest the temperature be between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another guideline that is not always listed clearly on instructions is that the temperature should stay above 45 degrees for anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after application. 6 hours is pretty typical but I still recommend 24 hours for the best results.
WHEN TO CAULK (EXTERIOR)
Many of the caulking labels I read stated that the temperature should be above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if the temperature is above 40 degrees, you should not apply when freezing temperatures are forecast. In addition, you do not want to apply when rain is in the forecast.
One label I read did have an application temperature down to 32 degrees, but I also recommend not going quite so low as you are more likely to have problems.
WHEN TO CLEAN THE SIDING / WALKWAYS / DRIVEWAYS
Many of the outdoor cleaning labels do not have a temperature range on them, however the ones that do tend to list that you should not use the product unless the temperature is at least 50 or 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Often cleaners are water based and remember that water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, so be careful when cleaning below the temperatures listed above.
ALWAYS READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABEL
Always be sure to read the instructions on the package before starting your project so that you get good results. While it may not seem like a big deal if you do not follow the temperature guidelines, the temperature has a significant impact on how well products perform. Not abiding to the instructions could lead to you having poor results.
What outdoor projects are you planning to do this spring?
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