How to Get Your Lawn BBQ-Ready This Season: Simple Steps for a Perfect Outdoor Space
It’s that time of year again. The sun is creeping back, the BBQ has been dusted off, and the first brave souls are debating shorts or jeans for the first garden gathering of the season.
But while you’re perfecting your BBQ technique and picking out the best marinades, have you thought about your lawn?
A BBQ-ready garden isn’t just about having a top-tier grill. It’s about having a lush, green lawn that makes people want to kick off their shoes and stay awhile. If your grass is looking a little worse for wear after winter, don’t panic, with the right steps, you can revive it in time for BBQ season.
Step 1: Wake Up Your Lawn After Winter 🌱
After months of cold, damp weather, your lawn might look flat, brown, or lifeless. Winter can leave behind moss, compacted soil, and weak grass, but a few simple fixes can bring it back to life.
✅ Rake Away Winter Debris
Dead grass, leaves, and moss can smother new growth. Give your lawn a vigorous rake to clear out debris and allow fresh air and sunlight to reach the soil.
✅ Tackle Moss Before It Takes Over
If your lawn feels spongy underfoot, moss has likely taken hold. A quick scarifying session will remove moss and dead thatch, creating space for fresh, healthy grass to thrive.
✅ Aerate for Stronger Growth
If your lawn feels hard and compacted, grass roots may be struggling to get the oxygen and nutrients they need. Aeration (using a garden fork or aerator) creates small holes in the soil, helping roots grow deeper and stronger.
🚨 Pro Tip: If your lawn drains poorly after heavy rain, aeration is essential, it prevents puddles and water logging.
Step 2: Feed Your Lawn the Right Way 🍃
After a long winter, your lawn is hungry for nutrients. A spring lawn feed will boost growth and strengthen the grass, making it more resilient to foot traffic and BBQ gatherings.
Which Fertiliser Should You Use?
✔️ Spring lawn feed – High in nitrogen (N) to promote lush green growth.
✔️ Slow-release formula – Prevents weak, floppy grass by providing steady nutrition.
How to Apply Lawn Feed
1️⃣ Check the weather – Apply fertiliser on a mild, damp day to help nutrients absorb.
2️⃣ Spread evenly – Use a lawn spreader or apply by hand, covering the whole area.
3️⃣ Water in – If no rain is forecast, give your lawn a light watering.
🚨 Avoid overfeeding! Too much fertiliser can cause fast but weak growth, making the lawn more susceptible to disease and drought.
Step 3: Kick Weeds to the Curb Before They Ruin Your BBQ Party 🚫🌿
No one wants weeds crashing their BBQ. They steal nutrients, spread rapidly, and spoil the look of a well-kept lawn.
How to Control Weeds in Spring
✔️ Use a pre-emergent weed killer – Stops weeds before they sprout.
✔️ Hand-pull early weeds – Removing weeds before they flower prevents spread.
✔️ Keep your grass thick – A dense, healthy lawn naturally outcompetes weeds.
🚨 Pro Tip: Never mow too short, longer grass blades shade the soil, making it harder for weeds to grow.
Step 4: Mow Smart for a Soft, Lush Lawn ✂️
Ever had a bad haircut? Your lawn feels the same way when cut too short!
The Right Way to Mow Your Lawn in Spring
✔️ First cut: Keep it high – Set mower blades to 4-5cm to avoid scalping.
✔️ Sharpen your blades – Dull blades tear grass, leaving it prone to disease.
✔️ Mow when dry – Wet grass clumps and can lead to an uneven cut.
The result? A lawn that feels soft, thick, and inviting underfoot, perfect for BBQ season.
Step 5: Fill in Bare Spots for a Picture-Perfect Lawn 🌾
Patchy grass and bare spots can ruin the look of your lawn, but overseeding will fix the problem fast.
How to Repair Bare Patches
1️⃣ Rake the area to remove dead grass and loosen the soil.
2️⃣ Sprinkle fresh grass seed evenly over the patch.
3️⃣ Lightly cover with compost to protect the seed and lock in moisture.
4️⃣ Water daily until the new grass is well-established.
🚨 Keep off the seeded areas for a few weeks, your guests will thank you when they’re walking on lush, even grass instead of muddy patches.
Step 6: Protect Your Lawn During Your BBQ 🍔🌞
You’ve worked hard to get your lawn looking its best, now it’s time to keep it that way during the party!
✔️ Move tables & chairs around – Avoid damaging one area with heavy foot traffic.
✔️ Set up drinks & food stations on solid ground – Spills can leave ugly dead patches.
✔️ Use pathways if needed – Wooden boards can protect high-traffic areas.
🚨 Pro Tip: Place bins around your garden to keep guests from wandering with plates and drinks, reducing accidental spills on the grass.
Step 7: Maintain Your Lawn After the Party 🎉
Once the BBQ is over, give your lawn some post-party care to help it recover:
✔️ Rake up debris – Remove food scraps, napkins, or anything left behind.
✔️ Water if needed – If the weather is warm, give your lawn a deep soak.
✔️ Aerate compacted areas – If parts of the lawn feel hard, use a fork to loosen the soil.
The result? A lawn that stays healthy all summer long, ready for the next garden gathering!
The Takeaway: Get BBQ-Ready Now for a Summer of Enjoyment
A lush, vibrant lawn doesn’t happen overnight—but with a little planning and care, you can create the perfect BBQ-ready garden.
✅ Revive your lawn after winter with raking, aeration, and feeding.
✅ Control weeds early so they don’t take over.
✅ Mow smart for soft, thick grass.
✅ Fix bare spots with overseeding.
✅ Protect your lawn before, during, and after your BBQ.
Want expert help? Let LawnTec take care of it for you. Call us today