Achieve a Lush Lawn with Our 4-Step Lawn Care Program

Our long winter is finally behind us, and spring is in the air! As temperatures rise, many homeowners are setting their sights on achieving the envy of the neighborhood: a perfectly lush, green lawn. The secret to a stunning yard? A strategic approach to lawn care. Our easy-to-follow 4-Step Lawn Care Program is designed to deliver exceptional results, transforming your outdoor space into a vibrant, healthy lawn you’ll be proud of.

Introducing the Enhanced 4-Step Lawn Care Program

For years, our original 4-Step Lawn Care Program has been the gold standard for homeowners seeking beautiful lawns. Now, we’ve taken it a step further, evolving it into an even more comprehensive system. This enhanced 4-Step Lawn Care Program combines premium, locally-produced, and seasonally optimized fertilizers and weed preventers with powerful soil amendments, wetting agents, and insect control products. The result is the ultimate program for lawn health and beauty, meticulously crafted to work with the specific needs of your lawn throughout the year.

Step 1: Early Spring – Kickstart Your Lawn’s Growth

For most regions in the Intermountain West, including Utah, the ideal window to begin your lawn care journey is from March to mid-April. In warmer areas like St. George and Southern Utah, you can start even earlier, from late January to mid-February.

The first crucial step is applying our Step 1 Crabgrass Preventer + Lawn Food. This early spring fertilizer acts as a powerful pre-emergent weed barrier, effectively stopping weeds before they even have a chance to sprout. It targets weed seeds that have been dormant throughout the winter, eliminating them as they germinate. By tackling weeds early, you prevent them from becoming a major problem later in the spring and summer months, setting the stage for a weed-free lawn.

Boost Soil Health with Bountiful Earth Humate

To further enhance the benefits of Step 1, we recommend incorporating Bountiful Earth Humate. This exceptional organic product, sourced from Utah mountains, is a game-changer for soil health. Rich in iron and trace minerals, Humate contributes to a deeper green color in your lawn. It also improves nitrogen retention in the root zone, maximizing fertilizer effectiveness and reducing nutrient runoff. Furthermore, Humate enhances your lawn’s water-holding capacity, meaning you can use less water while maintaining a healthy, vibrant lawn – a significant advantage, especially in drier climates.

Step 2: Spring Application – Weed and Feed for a Healthy Lawn

Around Mother’s Day in early May, approximately 4-6 weeks after your first application of Step 1, it’s time for the second step in our 4-Step Lawn Care Program. This timing ensures your lawn receives the nutrients it needs precisely when it needs them most during the spring growth spurt.

For Step 2, apply IFA Step 2 Weed & Feed. This product is specifically formulated for our region, providing your lawn with the ideal balance of nutrients and weed control for this time of year. The herbicide component effectively targets and eliminates dandelions and other broadleaf weeds that may be emerging in your lawn. Simultaneously, it delivers a vital boost of iron, promoting deep green color and healthy growth. A key difference in Step 2 application is to water your lawn before applying the Weed & Feed while the foliage is still damp. Then, wait 24 to 48 hours before watering again to allow the fertilizer to properly soak into the soil.

Proactive Grub Worm Prevention with Bonide Insect & Grub Control

Spring is also the opportune time to proactively address potential insect issues. In the Intermountain West, grub worms typically hatch in June or July (earlier in warmer zones) and can quickly cause significant lawn damage. Don’t wait for brown patches to appear! Apply Bonide Insect & Grub Control around the same time as Step 2 Weed & Feed to create a protective barrier. This powerful product effectively eliminates both surface and subsurface pests within 24 hours and provides three months of protection, preventing grub worm damage before it starts.

Step 3: Spring & Summer – Sustained Nutrition for Summer Stress

Mid-June to the end of July marks the time for the third step in our 4-Step Lawn Care Program. This application is particularly critical for maintaining a healthy, vibrant lawn throughout the hot summer months.

Apply IFA Step 3 Spring & Summer Lawn Food. This slow-release fertilizer, featuring our proprietary Omnicote technology, is designed to provide sustained nutrition during the stressful summer heat. The slow-release formula ensures your lawn receives a steady supply of nutrients over an extended period, helping it maintain a rich, green color even under harsh conditions. Because summer heat puts extra stress on your lawn, it needs a fertilizer that feeds slowly and consistently, specifically formulated for our local soils and climate.

Enhance Water Utilization with Revive or Aqua-Drive Soil Treatment

To maximize the effectiveness of Step 3, we strongly recommend using a soil treatment such as Revive or Aqua-Drive. These treatments work to improve your soil’s quality, allowing water and grass roots to penetrate deeper into the ground. Deeper root systems lead to healthier, greener grass that not only survives but thrives during our hot, dry summers. Improved water penetration also means more efficient watering and less water waste.

Step 4: Fall & Winter – Prepare Your Lawn for the Off-Season

From Labor Day until late October, it’s time for the final application in our 4-Step Lawn Care Program. IFA Step 4 Fall & Winter Lawn Food is the last feeding of the growing season, and arguably the most important. Fall fertilization focuses on root development rather than top growth. While you’ll still see some greening, most of the energy from this fertilizer application is stored in the roots. This stored energy will be crucial for robust winter survival and a vibrant green-up in early spring. Your lawn’s root system remains active until the ground freezes, giving it ample time to recover from summer stress in the cooler soil.

Fortify Soil for Winter with Bountiful Earth Humate (Again!)

Fall is also an excellent time for a second application of Bountiful Earth Humate. This second dose of Humate further strengthens your lawn for the winter months and promotes vigorous growth in the following spring. Applying Humate in both spring and fall ensures continuous improvement of soil quality, leading to consistently lush, healthy lawns year after year.

IFA 4Plus Lawn Fertilizer tearpad showcasing the four steps of the lawn care program.

Bonus Lawn Care Tips for a Superior Lawn

Beyond our 4-Step Lawn Care Program, incorporating these additional lawn care practices will further enhance the health and beauty of your lawn.

Aerate Your Lawn Annually

Annual core aeration is an invaluable practice for improving lawn performance. Aeration enhances the penetration of fertilizer and water into the soil, promotes stronger root growth, and improves air exchange between the soil and the atmosphere, reducing soil compaction. Ideally, aerate your lawn before your first fertilizer application in the spring. Alternatively, you can aerate in the late fall to avoid having plugs on your lawn during the active season.

Water Your Lawn Intelligently

Watering is crucial, but often overdone. Turfgrass studies show that most lawns thrive with watering only once every three or four days to maintain health and greenness. The key is to water deeply and infrequently. Avoid frequent, shallow watering, which encourages shallow root growth and weed germination.

In many regions, lawns may not require watering until mid to late April, depending on spring rainfall and late-season snow. Water based on your lawn’s needs, not a calendar schedule. Observing your lawn for signs of drought stress, like wilting or a bluish-gray tint, is the best way to determine when to water. Following these simple watering guidelines can conserve significant amounts of water.

Mow Your Lawn Responsibly

Mowing significantly impacts your lawn’s appearance and overall health, yet its importance is often underestimated. Follow these simple mowing guidelines to ensure proper lawn care:

Don’t mow too short: For most lawns, maintain a mowing height between 2.5 to 3 inches. The higher end of this range is especially beneficial during the summer months. Higher mowing heights encourage deeper root systems, reduce weed problems, conserve water, and improve overall lawn appearance.
Adjust mowing height seasonally: While a 2-inch height may be suitable during periods of rapid growth, raise the mowing height as growth slows, stress increases, or when the lawn is shaded.
Sharpen your mower blades: A sharp blade provides a clean cut, preventing tearing of the grass blades. Dull blades tear the grass, leaving unsightly brown tips and stressing the lawn.
Never cut more than one-third of the grass blade at once: For optimal turf health, avoid removing more than one-third of the grass blade in a single mowing. This may mean mowing twice a week during periods of rapid growth.

Revive Dry Spots During Summer

Hot summer months can sometimes lead to dry, patchy areas in your lawn. These dry spots can be caused by inefficient sprinkler systems, compacted soil, pet urine, or simply neglect. Repairing damage during the hottest part of the year can be challenging.

Applying Revive to these dry areas during summer can work wonders. Revive contains a unique blend of surfactants that help re-wet hard, compacted, and dry soil. Its organic nutrients revitalize dry lawn patches, restoring them to lush, green health.

Achieve Your Dream Lawn Today

With these straightforward steps and the expert guidance available at your local IFA Country Store, the lawn of your dreams is within reach. Visit us to learn more about our comprehensive 4-Step Lawn Care Program. It’s designed to deliver not only a lush, deep green, and weed-free lawn but also improved, insect-free soil that fosters deeper, stronger roots. The result is a healthier lawn that requires less water and withstands heat and drought more effectively with consistent seasonal applications. With 22 convenient locations ready to serve you, a beautiful lawn is just an application away.