How to Create a Year-Long Plan For Lawn Care

Looking for a year-long, easy to follow lawn care plan? A lawn care plan that keeps their lawn healthy over weeks, months, and years. Here are your key pointers for a healthy lawn:

In the Spring

Start mowing your grass as soon as it starts growing. Now is a good time to set the mower blades just a little bit lower than the recommended height and bag the clippings. This will minimize the chance of a winter-related fungal disease.  

Seed (or overseed) any bare spots created by drought, wildlife or pets. Cover with soil or paper shreddings and keep moist to achieve rapid germination and thick, healthy growth during the lawn’s active springtime growth period.

In the Summer

Let the weather be your guide to determine the frequency at which you water the lawn. A good rule of thumb is to water 1 – 1 ¼ inch of water per week for the lawn to remain green and vibrant during the summer months. 

Mid-July to mid-August, when the summer sun is at its hottest, it is recommended that you keep your grass mowed to a length that’s 1 – 1 ½ inch higher than normal. This will promote deeper root growth and slow water evaporation. It will also provide shade for the grassroots.

Fertilize the lawn every 4 – 8 weeks. The final fertilization to occur at least 6 – 8 weeks before the first frost arrives.

In the Fall

Consider seeding/overseeding once more. Fall is the ideal time for seeding/overseeding. This will repair, strengthen, and thicken the lawn in anticipation of winter.

Now that tree leaves are beginning to fall keep up on your leaf-raking duties so the grass blades can benefit from the sun and air they need to thrive.

Now is the time to aerate and detach your lawn. This accelerates recovery and rejuvenation.

If broadleaf weeds are present, treat them with safe, post-emergent herbicides in order to incapacitate them over the winter.

In the Winter

Winter is a great time for tool maintenance such as sharpening and cleaning the lawnmower and gardening tools. Give your mower an oil change too and retire it for the winter without gas in the tank. A gardener is only as good as his tools. Sharpened blades lessen the risk of grass damage and disease.

It is always a good idea to make a periodic sweep of your lawn during the winter month and remove any fallen leaves, twigs, and debris, etc. so it’s in good shape should spring arrive early.
Do minimize lawn traffic, since repetitive walking over the same spot can weaken even the strongest grass. For those of you that live in snow country, it helps to keep your driveway, walkways, and sidewalks clear of snow so these paths are always preferable to cutting across the lawn.

In Closing

A beautiful lush lawn is a source of pride and happiness for the entire family, and joy to behold. It will draw your family members outdoors to play and enjoy. Especially now during the Covid-19 shut-downs, a healthy lawn can be instrumental in maintaining one's sanity.