“At the first signs of spring, homeowners tend to be overwhelmed by the damaged, dull appearance of their yards,” says Jeff Linderman, in-house landscaping and outdoor power equipment specialist for RepairClinic.com. He says these simple steps will repair and revive yards:

Tuneup outdoor power equipment and gardening tools.

“Proper care of outdoor power equipment will positively affect the appearance of the yard, improve efficiency and extend the life of the equipment,” said Linderman. “For example, dull lawn mower blades will tear grass, rather than cut, and result in a yellow hue over your lawn.”

Clear debris.

Remove pebbles, stones, branches and any other debris on the lawn. Pay attention to the grass along sidewalks and driveways, which are areas most likely to have collected debris thrown by a snowblower.

Dethatch and aerate.

Thatch is a layer of mixed dead grass that prevents the grass from properly obtaining the nutrients needed to be healthy. Aeration is the process of creating passageways in soil for greater air, water and nutrient intake.

“Fertilization and other lawn maintenance efforts will be ineffective until thatch is removed,” Linderman said. “You can remove thatch with a basic rake or by renting a professional dethatcher. After dethatching, aerate the lawn with a pitchfork or by renting a professional push or gasoline-powered aerator. These are critical first steps to creating a healthy lawn.”

Fertilize early with strategy.

“Purchasing the wrong fertilizer can very easily kill your grass, trees, shrubbery and other vegetation in your yard,” Linderman said. “Purchase a soil test kit from a hardware store or garden center (usually under $10) and measure your soil’s nitrogen, potassium and pH levels. Use that information coupled with your yard’s unique conditions (grass type, foot traffic, presence of sunlight and shade, regional climate and vulnerability to weed and pest infestations) to find the right fertilizer formula for your yard.”

A lawn should be fertilized in the spring and fall. Package application directions should be followed closely.

Plan ahead.

“Take time to plan well improvements to your yard,” said Linderman. “Think about what will work best for your yard in the short and long-term future.”