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Seasonal Guide
Spring
Gardening Companion
Discover what to do in your garden every month with expert guidance and the right RYOBI® tools and tips for the seasons.
Lawn Care
What to do in Spring
Soil Care & Digging
Patio, Decking and Driveway
Trees, Shrubs and Hedge Care
Plant Care
Additional Tasks
After months of cold and damp, your lawn is finally ready to wake up. The first warm days of spring spark new growth, but they also reveal the toll winter has taken – patches of yellowing grass, layers of debris and compacted soil that's been starved of light and air. With the right care, that tired lawn can bounce back quickly. Prepping properly now will encourage strong roots, thicker growth and a greener, more resilient lawn that thrives through spring and beyond.
Over winter, lawns often collect layers of wet leaves, sticks, and matted grass. This buildup can block sunlight, trap moisture, and create the right conditions for fungus and disease, so clearing it is a crucial first step in spring lawn maintenance. Removing this debris allows air and light to reach the soil, helping new grass grow strong and healthy. Using a cordless blower instead of a rake makes the job quicker and gentler on your turf, preventing damage while improving airflow across the surface. Early spring clearing helps your lawn recover faster and sets the stage for healthy growth through the warmer months.
If your lawn has developed bare patches or moss, you probably need to scarify it. This essential spring lawn treatment removes thick, suffocating layers of thatch – dead organic matter that prevents water and nutrients from reaching the soil. If your lawn feels noticeably spongy or bouncy when you walk on it, it's time to act. You might dread this job, thinking of those heavy manual rakes, but with the RYOBI ONE+ Scarifier, you can get the job done in next to no time. Its powerful brushless motor does the hard work for you, removing thatch with ease and perforating the soil for improvedaeration. Four working depths provide total control, so you can get the job done without damaging your lawn. Scarifying your lawn in spring ensures that water, oxygen and fertiliser can penetrate directly to the roots of the grass, instantly boosting the effectiveness of every other maintenance step you take this year.
A spring feed can give your lawn a much-needed boost. A good fertiliser adds essential nitrogen to encourage thick, healthy growth and keeps nourishing your soil for months. Apply a specific spring lawn fertiliser in mid-spring while the lawn is actively growing. Spread it evenly across your lawn, ideally on a cool, damp day when it's forecast to rain. The 18V ONE+ Cordless Lawn Seed Spearder is the perfect tool to evenly spread the fertiliser across the whole lawn. If your lawn still looks tired after a couple of months, repeat the treatment. But stop feeding by August – late growth will be vulnerable during the cold months ahead.
The success of your first mow depends on how well you've prepared your equipment. Give yours a quick once-over before you fire it up – you don't want equipment slowing you down. If your old mower coughs and splutters after winter, it might be time for an upgrade. With a RYOBI cordless mower, you get instant starts every time. There are no cords to pull or petrol to fill – just press the button and you're ready to cut. It's also worth getting a replacement mower blade for a sharper, cleaner finish. A sharp edge slices through grass smoothly, helping it heal faster and stay greener.
Let us help you calculate your lawn size to find the perfect cordless mower with RYOBI.
The first cuts of the year set the tone for the season. Don't go too short too soon — that only stresses your lawn. Early spring is about building strength. Your focus in spring should be density, not reducing length. Start by setting your mower to the highest setting and just trim the top third of your lawn grass. Over the next few weeks, you can slowly lower the cutting height as the grass lawn gets stronger. Taking it easy at first helps the grass grow thicker from the bottom up, giving you a fuller, healthier lawn in the long run. Wait until the grass is about four inches tall and has that nice, strong green look before you mow. And always mow when it's dry. Wet grass clumps together, clogs up your mower, and blocks sunlight from reaching the grass underneath.
Re-cutting the edges of a lawn is one of the easiest ways to create a neat, well-defined finish. Clear edges help separate grass from borders, paving or driveways and make the overall layout of a garden look more deliberate and tidier. Instead of labouring with an old-fashioned half-moon iron or spade, use a RYOBI ONE+ Cordless 22cm Lawn Edger to make this usually time-consuming task quick and effortless. Its 22cm blade easily powers through soil to shape new edges or refresh old ones, while front and rear guide wheels help to keep every line straight and smooth. Regular edge maintenance prevents grass from spreading into borders and helps keep the garden looking organised throughout the season.
Do I need to water my lawn in spring?
No, not usually. Natural rainfall from autumn through spring is typically enough to keep your lawn green and healthy. Spring showers and milder temperatures generally provide sufficient moisture, so additional watering isn’t necessary unless you’re experiencing an unusually dry spell.
What is the most common lawn pest problem in spring?
The most common issue is usually leatherjackets or chafer grubs, often signalled by birds and other animals constantly pulling up the turf. These pests live just below the surface and eat the roots, which weakens your lawn. While nematode treatment is usually applied in late summer, when the larvae are at their weakest stage, a double-strength application might do the trick in the spring.
Should I apply weed killer in spring?
Yes, spring is a good time to apply weed killer to tackle weeds before they fully establish. This will prevent weeds from hogging the valuable nutrients you just applied with your spring feed. For best results, use a liquid weedkiller applied with a RYOBI ONE+ Cordless Weed Sprayer for accurate, easy application across the entire lawn.
What should I do with the collected grass clippings after mowing?
If you have a mower with a mulch plug, such as the 36V MAX POWER Cordless Mulch 46cm Lawnmower Starter Kit, you can simply mulch the clippings back into the lawn. This returns vital nutrients and moisture to the soil, naturally feeding the lawn. Alternatively, you can add grass clippings to your compost heap. If you mix them with other garden waste like twigs and leaves, they'll break down more quickly to create an excellent high-nitrogen addition to your garden.
My lawn edges are always messy – what am I doing wrong?
The mess could be caused by using the wrong kind of grass trimmer. A string or line trimmer is meant for bulk cutting, not definition. While it's a great tool for its intended purpose, using it for edging usually leads to inconsistent, ragged results. You need a dedicated edge trimmer for the best results. A RYOBI Edger cuts a clean, vertical line between the lawn and the border, giving a permanent, crisp edge.
How you care for your lawn in spring sets the tone for the months ahead. With the right preparation, winter-worn grass can quickly become a thick, healthy lawn that's ready for every sunny weekend to come. And when your tools do more, your garden can too. All RYOBI ONE+ tools run on the same 18V battery system, so you can move smoothly between jobs without stopping to change power sources. The same battery that runs your blower also fits your scarifier, edger and more, helping you stay productive while keeping your toolshed uncluttered. Explore the full RYOBI lawn care range and visit our learning hub for more practical advice on keeping your garden at its best.