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Make your ryegrass thicker by boosting soil health. Add organic matter, aerate the lawn if the soil is compacted, fertilize appropriately, and see if your lawn needs dethatching. Your local lawn care service can come and look at your lawn and provide specific advice and remedies for your lawn issues.

To prepare your lawn for core aeration, water it the day before you aerate. (Alternatively, you can wait until it rains and aerate the following day.) Aerating after watering or a rainy day will make the process easier since you can penetrate moist soil better than dry soil. You should also flag your sprinklers so that you don’t accidentally hit them while aerating. If you have a lot of thatch buildup in your yard, you might need to dethatch your lawn before aerating as well.

When spring arrives, it’s best to hold off on mowing until temperatures have consistently reached a temperature of at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Attempting to mow grass that hasn't fully thawed from its winter dormancy can harm the delicate blades. Ensure your grass is dry before mowing and aim to mow when the grass is about three to four inches tall, trimming no more than one-third of the grass blade's height at a time. This timing encourages healthy growth and prevents shock to the grass, preparing your lawn for a happy, healthy growing season.

As a beginner, start by mowing your lawn in symmetrical rows by turning the mower at the end of each row and overlapping with the previous row. Use an edging tool or weedwacker to make your lawn look sharp and crisp around the edges, and then sweep the debris back into the yard. Take it slow, and know that you can adjust your approach or pattern the next time your grass needs a clip.