Top 5 Spring Lawn Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Summer Lawn in Kansas City

Spring in Kansas City feels like a fresh start.

Warmer days. Longer sunlight. That itch to get outside and “do something” to your lawn.

But here’s the truth…

👉 What you do (or don’t do) in early spring determines what your lawn looks like in July and August.

At Turf Geeks, we see the same mistakes every year. Let’s break down the Top 5 so you can avoid them.

❌ Mistake #1: Walking on Frosted Grass

Those cold mornings? Stay off the lawn.

When grass blades are frozen, they’re brittle. Walking on them can:

• Crush plant cells

• Cause visible footprints

• Lead to thin spots later

If it’s crunchy… wait until it thaws.

❌ Mistake #2: Skipping (or Delaying) Pre-Emergent

This is the big one.

If you miss the pre-emergent window, you’re fighting crabgrass and weeds all summer.

Timing matters more than the calendar. We watch soil temperatures, not just dates.

In Kansas City, once soil temps are hovering around 50–55° consistently, that window is closing fast.

Miss it… and you’ll spend the rest of the season reacting instead of preventing.

❌ Mistake #3: Not Doing a Proper Spring Clean-Up Mow

Most people mow at their normal height right away.

Instead:

✔ Drop it 1–2 notches lower✔ Remove matted winter debris✔ Let sunlight warm the soil

This “reset mow” helps:

• Improve green-up

• Increase pre-emergent effectiveness

• Stimulate lateral growth

Then raise it back up for the season.

❌ Mistake #4: Mowing Too Short All Season

Now here’s where people go wrong…

They drop it low in spring — and leave it low.

Cool-season turf in Kansas City needs height going into summer. Taller grass:

• Develops deeper roots

• Handles heat stress better

• Crowds out weeds naturally

Short lawns in June = stressed lawns in July.

❌ Mistake #5: Waiting Until You “See a Problem”

By the time you see:

• Brown patch

• Armyworms

• Grub damage

• Weed takeover

It’s already advanced.

Spring is about preparation, not reaction.

The best summer lawns are planned in February, March, and April.

🌞 Spring Is Your Foundation Season

Think of spring like building a house.

If the foundation is off…The whole structure struggles.

At Turf Geeks here in Kansas City, we focus on:

• Early pre-emergent barriers

• Balanced nutrition

• Strategic mowing education

• Preventative mindset

Because we’re not just chasing green color…

We’re building turf strength.

🌱 Want To Be the First Green Lawn on the Block?

Have a plan. Avoid these mistakes. Start early.

And if you want help building a lawn program that fits your goals and budget:

👉 Visit turfgeekkc.com

We offer:

• Very Basic

• Geek Out

• Total Geek Out

Your Lawn. Your Call. Quality • Passion • Support Stay Geeky.