Soon, the ground will be thawing across Canada and the time for gardening and lawn care will be upon us.

Aeration is often referred to as the best fertilizer for your lawn – and it’s fairly simple to do. The process involves the removal of small cores – or plugs of soil – which are then deposited on the surface. Within a month or so, these soil plugs will work their way back into the grass, thus ensuring a lush thick lawn requiring a weekly cut. Perhaps also a reason to avoid aeration for some! However for those pursuing greenskeeper perfection, aeration should be followed by sanding and overseeding. Between the bulky, heavy aeration machine and load of sand required, this is often a task best coordinated with a few neighbours, ideally ones with fiscally motivated teenagers. The aeration and overseeding should lead to a reduction in weeds throughout the summer as well.

Allow your local garden centre expert to suggest a proper fertilizer and schedule to suit your lawns needs. Some gardeners prefer no lawn at all, as do some non-gardeners. Yet as much as I may prefer a yard that is palatial decking from fence to fence, the reality for children is that a lawn is a canvas on which to paint many a summer memory. From picnics, to slip and slides and cloud watching to earning an allowance lugging a mower around. Lawns absorb water and release clean oxygen all while being aesthetically pleasing with a modest amount of effort.

May yours be stunning and low maintenance.