'Fixer Upper' Star Chip Gaines Shares His Tips for a Beautiful Spring Lawn
Ready to make your yard look picture-perfect for spring? Magnolia co-founder and renovation expert Chip Gaines is here to help!
In partnership with leading equipment manufacturer Bobcat Company, Chip is sharing his top yard maintenance tips for spring.
“I’m an entrepreneur to my core,” Chip admits. “The idea for my first company came to me while I was sitting in a business class in college. But it wasn’t the professor’s lecture that had my mind racing. I’d caught a glimpse out the window of a man on a riding lawn mower and couldn’t help but wish I was sitting in his seat instead. It wasn’t a few weeks later that I bought my first mower and started knocking on doors. Whether you’re like me and love the feeling of being in the driver’s seat or prefer a more manual approach to getting the job done, come spring it’s time for all of us lawn enthusiasts to get after it.”
Whether you live on five acres or have just a few square feet of grass to work with, ahead, learn how to care for your lawn and garden according to a pro.
1. Start smart.
The hardest part about caring for a yard is actually starting. The reason? If you don’t have the right knowledge or equipment, tending to the grass, weeds, flowers, bushes, and trees can feel daunting, if not somewhat dangerous. (We’re looking at you poison ivy and oak.)
To avoid an accidental allergic reaction or a tedious yard clean-up, Chip recommends taking the time to order the right equipment and supplies in advance of when you want to embark on a yard maintenance day. For example, when Chip extended the length of a barrier fence to corral his livestock at the beginning of the season, he started by measuring out the extension and then re-measuring it to confirm the distance. He then pre-ordered the necessary posts and barbed wire so that he had everything necessary to get the job done. “The auger attachment on my Bobcat mini track loader operates like an oversized drill bit—making post holes super efficient to dig,” he reveals.
While not everyone lives on an expansive farm in Waco, Texas, this is a tip that can extend to all. Think about your yard goals. Perhaps you want to repurpose a flower bed. To do so, take note of what is currently planted and determine what to keep how to remove anything you no longer want. Then, consider the sun exposure and your growing zone to determine which new plants will thrive there. Once you nail down these two details, you can purchase the ideal gardening tools, seeds, and so on.
2. Prioritize your grass.
As beautiful as overflowing flower beds can be, a yard doesn’t look complete without a verdant lawn. With that in mind, Chip says to prioritize aeration—the process of uprooting plugs of grass so the soil beneath can breathe.
After aerating, Chip says to overseed bare patches before the trees begin to regain their foliage. Taking advantage of this pivotal in-between stage will allow typically shaded areas of grass to transform into a plush lawn.
Lastly, he says to inspect your irrigation system to ensure your lawn can be regularly and effectively watered. Now’s the time to uncover and fix leaks if any are present.
3. The right equipment makes all the difference.
The way Chip sees it, proper yard tools can transform any daunting lawn task into a more approachable project. For him, invasive mesquite trees are an all-too-common seasonal issue. However, with the right tractor, it's easy to remove the tree’s deep root system.
“Every region in the U.S. has their version of mesquite trees like we have here in Texas,” he says. “Investing in quality tools like Bobcat's Compact Tractor makes the job of tackling them easier and way more efficient. From there, you can sharpen your chainsaw and get a Brush Grapple for your Bobcat tractor to create a big burn pile, or take the stuff to your municipal brush drop-off.”
While you may not need a tractor, understanding your yard goals will help you determine which tools might be necessary—or at the very least allow you to communicate to your local hardware store associate what you have in mind so that they can recommend accordingly. Some of the most popular lawn maintenance tools for spring include hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, and edgers.
4. Keep your equipment looking sharp.
Just as you get yearly auto inspections, Chip says it’s worthwhile to take stock of your outdoor equipment each and every spring. For example, you can get your lawn mower serviced. In doing so, the fuel filter, spark plugs, blades, and decks will be tailored for optimal performance throughout the season.
5. Don’t forget to have fun.
As tedious as lawn care may feel, Chip wants you to have fun doing it. "Though farm chores and construction work are some of the most physically demanding jobs that I do, when I keep my mind set on the thrill of the discovery—what it’s all going to look like or what I’ll get to learn on the other side—it’s a whole lot more natural to love the work itself,” he says. “And there’s something really satisfying about work that feels like it’s giving you purpose.”
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