Seasonal Lawn Care Schedule For The Northeast: Your Calendar For Cool
Here is a more seasonal do-it-yourself cool season lawn care schedule for the northeast and states like Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
1. Lawn Fertilizer Schedule
When should I fertilize a cool-season lawn? is a common question, but the fertilization of cool-season grasses doesnt have to be complicated. You should fertilize two to four times per year, based on soil testing. The best months are March or May and September or November.
Fertilizing your lawn is key to making sure it has the nutrients it needs to prosper and thrive. That is why its important to use a soil analysis kit. Finding that balance between too much and too little fertilization takes some thought. When thinking about a fertilization schedule for cool season grasses dont be afraid to fertilize your lawn as many as four times a year, including late and early spring, once in the summer and once in the fall. These treatments will help your lawn be both healthy and resilient.
Pro tip: When you fertilize in the spring, you can use a weed-and-feed fertilizer that contains both a fertilizer and a pre-emergent.
2. Watering
If it rains more than one inch a week during any week, you do not need to water your lawn.
Remember, water in the morning so you wont scorch the grass. Another reason to water in the morning is that the grass will be dry by the time afternoon or evening humidity sets in.
3. Mowing
4. Aeration
5. Dethatching
6. Pre-Emergent Weed Control
7. Post-Emergent Weed Control
Lawn Care Tips For Mid
By aerating your lawn and loosening the soil, you can better prepare the grass for a healthy lifecycle. Seeding is also important during this time, as the fall burst of growth in cool-season grass is some of the most natural and easy to take care of.
Although you may be tempted to fertilize and mow at this time, its important to give your new fledgling grass a chance to take root. Stay away from the fertilizer altogether, and focus instead on things like edging and trimming.
To take care of all your yard tasks, check out our Toro Turf Renovation Equipment, as these tools are designed to get beautiful results over a large surface area.
Lawn Care Tips For Late Fall
As the cool weather continues, youre going to start seeing a lot of debris and leaves falling from nearby trees and bushes. Your main job now is to keep that debris from covering your lawn and preventing sun and water from getting to the grass and roots. Learn more about why you shouldnt let fall leaves cover your grass.
A mulching mower, or a Toro mulching attachment for a zero turn mower, will go a long way in breaking up the leaves and organic matter without damaging the grass below. This mulch is also a great way to put nutrients into the soil without introducing fertilizers, so take advantage of as much of it as you want.
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Printable Lawn Care Schedule:
For all your lawn care needs contact the grass experts near you at Lawnsavers, top lawn maintenance company in Toronto and the GTA.
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Diy Lawn Care Calendar
- Written by Rowena Mangohig on Apr 21, 2021
Lawn maintenance can be tricky, but a little knowledge can take the crowning glory of your home from mediocre to showstopper, and reduce the amount of work you have to do throughout the year.
The Right Lawn Care for Your Grass
Determine the type of lawn you have. Aside from the name of the grass, you’ll want to know if it’s cool season or warm season. Figure this out because if youve got cool-season grasses planted in Florida, now you know why its never lived up to your expectations. Maintenance is similar, but this distinction will help determine when you should fertilize, mow, dethatch, etc.
Cool-season grasses are vulnerable right now in northern states subject to extreme weather. Limit foot and vehicle traffic and focus instead on some prep and machine maintenance. Sharpen those mower blades and get your lawnmower and edger serviced now when before the season gets started.
The Southern half of the US should start getting ready for action once warm weather kick starts the lawn. Resist the urge to tramp along the soggy yard. Calm yourself and get a soil test first, then neaten up the edges of your dormant lawn while waiting for the results.
Warm-season lawns could use an application of pre-emergent herbicides to help thwart any weed seeds that have taken root.
Warmer states can start mowing once grass gets growing again. If you suspect disease, bag the clippings rather than mulch it.
May
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How Does Sunday Lawn Care Work
Once Sunday has the data they need about your property, they can start sending you the products you need to care for your lawn properly. Cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses have different times of the year that they will need attention. Sunday can help with the timing of your application as well.
One of the great things about Sunday is that once your plan is in place and working, you will get your product delivered on time and ready to distribute to your lawn. Most homeowners will receive a package in the early spring that gives them everything necessary to green up the lawn after the winter season.
You will give your property size to Sunday so that they can give you just the right amount of product for your lawn.
What Is Sunday Lawn Care
Sunday Lawn care is a company that provides curated solutions to all of your lawn care needs. You will send a soil test kit to Sunday Lawn Care in addition to data about your climate and property. The results will be analyzed, and a plan will be put together that suits the needs of your property.
Sunday is very intentional about the type of chemicals and fertilizers that they use. Everything that you put on your lawn will be safe for both children and pets. Whether you want to use a crabgrass preventer or get rid of some of the dandelions growing in your turf, Sunday can help.
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Begin Planting New Grass On Your Weed
Once you have finished removing all of the weeds from your lawn, the next step in the process is to begin planting new grass so that your lawn looks green and fresh and vital. To begin with, youll need to loosen up the soil a bit with a dirt rake and then plant new seeds in the soil you just went over. Afterwards, put a small amount of soil over the seed and gently cover it back up so that it is fully concealed. Afterwards, water it appropriately based on the instructions that came with the seed and watch your new lawn begin to grow!
Winter Lawn Care Maintenance Schedule
Theres not much to do during the winter months. The ground is most likely frozen and your lawn hibernating under a heavy blanket of insulating snow. But you can get ready for that day when the last snow disappears and your lawn begins to green up.
- Get your mower ready for another year of hard work. A tune-up now to beat the spring rush will guarantee your gas-powered lawnmower will start on the first pull.
- Get the lawnmower blade sharpened. It took a beating last season and a sharp blade will help keep your lawn looking good and healthy.
- Make sure the rest of your lawn equipment, such as trimmers, edgers and leaf blowers, is ready to go. Check those rechargeable batteries, change spark plugs and replace gas and oil filters as necessary.
- Do some reading. There are many great resources on taking a more environmentally sustainable approach to lawn care. Check out your local lawn and garden extension service as a starter. Theyll share accurate, non-biased information specific to your area. Some communities and local colleges may offer lawn care classes during the winter.
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When To Fertilize Your Lawn
The best time to fertilize your lawn is in the fall while grass is growing and storing nutrients. However, your lawn fertilizing schedule will depend on the type of grass you have and the type of fertilizer youre using.
Early fall means cooler weather with warm soil and ample rain, creating the perfect environment for grass to develop strong roots and grass seeds to germinate. An application of nitrogen-rich, slow-release fertilizer around Labor Day will feed your lawn and provide essential nourishment for the coming spring.
Spring is the next most important time of the year to fertilize your lawn. Spring grasses come to life hungry and ready to be fed. Fertilize your lawn as soon as the dormant grass is at least fifty percent green again.
Summer is hard on lawns because of heat, drought, insects and increased foot traffic. Feeding your lawn slow-release fertilizer at the start of summer will help keep your grass healthy and green throughout the season. This is not necessary for cool-season grasses. If insects are a problem in your yard during the summer, consider using a fertilizer with insect control.
Apply slow-release, high-nitrogen fertilizer every 90 to 120 days at the start of spring, summer and fall. Apply all-purpose fertilizer every six to eight weeks.
Kong Junior Scarlet Coleus
Kong Junior Scarlet coleus brings season-long color to shade or part shade spots. Like all annuals, this beauty looks best when its set off by a swath of healthy green grass.
Ball Horticultural Company
Growing healthy turf pays off in more ways than looking good. A stand of thick grass also crowds out weeds, stands up to drought and holds its own through seasonal temperature extremes. Want to tend your best lawn ever? Take our crash course on lawn fertilizing basics.
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Strategies To Help You Create Your Routine: The Free Weekend Strategy
Complete your lawn maintenance before the weekend by combining tasks on weekdays. If you travel often, need flexibility, or if your weekends are generally packed with activities, this strategy is for you.
A Sample “Free Weekend” Routine
- Monday: Mow and water
- Friday: Repair damage and fertilize
- Weekend: Relax!
How to Use This Strategy
Pair one time-consuming task with one quicker task, or pair one high-effort task with one low-effort task. Assign pairs of tasks to specific days of the week. During spring, mow twice a week.
How To Choose Fertilizer Based On Your Grass Type
Determine your grass type to find the best lawn fertilizer for your yard. Warm-season grasses such as bahia, bermuda, centipede, St. Augustine and zoysia grow vigorously throughout much of the year and need a little more attention than cool-season varieties.
The cool-season grasses, like fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and rye, grow and spread more slowly than warm-season varieties. They are typically semi-dormant during the summer, so you can fertilize them just twice a year: once at the beginning of spring and again at the beginning of fall.
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What Are Some Simple Steps For Do It Yourself Lawn Treatment
If you own your own home, one of the things you are going to spend a lot of time working on maintaining is your front lawn. Whether we like it or not, our front lawns say a lot about how people see us and the kinds of judgements that they make, so you want to make sure that yours is always in the best shape it possibly can be. But what if you dont know much about lawn treatment at all? Here are some great tips that you can use to help you get started today.
Main Types Of Fertilizers
| Synthetic – Lawn Fertilizers | |||
| Available in various time-release formulas. Gives you more control over your lawn feeding schedule. | Quick-release designed for quick growth and color. Available with synthetic or organic materials. Many liquid fertilizers are available in a bottle that attaches directly to the end of a hose for convenient and quick-acting distribution. | All-natural can be purchased or made at home.Feeds lawn as organic materials break down and release nutrients back into the soil. | Tends to be less expensive than organic lawn fertilizers.Fast-acting, water soluble and quickly absorbed by plants for rapid greening. |
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A Simple Lawn Maintenance Schedule 10 Steps A Lush Lawn
Some articles will lead you to believe that you need to spend lots of money and follow a super complicated plan to achieve a great-looking lawn. While those plans undoubtedly work, most people dont need something so in depth.
With a little planning, and some local knowledge you can have a great looking lawn with a minimal amount of planning and effort.
In this guide, we will give you a lawn maintenance schedule with only 10 simple steps.
Disclosure:It is important you understand that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. All opinions are our own we pride ourselves on keeping our articles fair and balanced. For more info see our disclosure statement.
In This Article:
Video: Mowing The Lawn To The Right Height
There is more to a healthy lawn than watering and fertilizing. Mowing the lawn to the right height is important for healthy grass. Travis Larson, senior editor at The Family Handyman, will show you how to determine what height is optimal for cutting your grass. Each type of grass has a recommended cutting height.
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Two Common Types Of Mulch
Wood products gradually decompose and enrich the soil.
A layer of mulch, usually shredded wood or bark, vastly reduces gardening chores. It discourages weeds by shutting out light to the soil and keeping weed seeds from germinating. It reduces the need for watering by slowing evaporation. And it enriches the soil as it breaks down, reducing the need for fertilizer.
Apply a 4-in. layer of mulch to the bare soil for best results. Itll gradually decompose, so youll have to replenish it every few years. For more information, type mulch in the search box above.
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A Seasonal Lawn Care Schedule Helps You Plan What To Do And When To Do It Let’s Take A Quick Trip Around The Calendar And See What Needs To Be Done
Family Handyman
Working from home has given some people much more time to work on lawns and gardens. If youre a proud do-it-yourselfer and lawn enthusiast, it can be easy to ruminate about ways to make your turf look better, no matter what month it is. As you contemplate lawn care, consider a yard maintenance schedule to keep yourself on track.
Note: This schedule follows recommended lawn care practices for Northern lawns consisting of cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and perennial ryegrass. The actual timing of these tasks will vary by a few days or even weeks with an early or late arrival of spring weather.
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Easy Lawn Maintenance Schedule
You want the lush lawn, the vibrant spread of green, the clean edges and the velvety cushion of healthy grass beneath your feet. You also want your weekends long days that include a hammock and a cold drink, not a rake and a weed-whacker. But one question haunts you: Is it possible to have both?
The answer is yes. All you have to do is divide and conquer lawn work, doing a little bit each weekday.
Here are the six essential lawn maintenance tasks:
Each task has a time estimate and an effort rating on a scale of 1 to 4 . Then you can use one of the strategies explained below to create a routine that allows you to enjoy both your weekends and your beautiful yard.
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How To Fertilize Your Lawn
Before you fertilize, check your local weather forecast. Plan to fertilize just before a day of light, steady rain. Youll save water and your grass will be well-fed. Using an aerator to make small holes in your lawn before you fertilize can make it easier for fertilizer and water to reach the roots of the grass.
Fertilizers are typically grouped as granular, water-soluble and organic, and you can choose from walk-behind, handheld, drop or liquid spreaders to apply fertilizer to your lawn.
When trying to determine how much fertilizer to use on your lawn, remember that every eight steps is roughly equal to 10 feet. For size reference, compare your lawn to the size of a tennis court, which is 78 feet long and 36 feet wide.
It helps to break up your lawn into easily measurable sections. Sketch out a rough drawing of your yard and break it into a few large squares, rectangles, circles and triangles.
- For squares and rectangles, measure the length and the width, then multiply those two numbers to get your area.
- For circles, measure half the distance across the center of the circle then multiply by 3.14.
- For triangles, measure the base and the height, multiply the two numbers, then divide by two.
- Once you have the areas determined for each shape, add up the areas to get the total area of your lawn.
Choose from broadcast, handheld and drop spreaders to apply fertilizer to your lawn. Find recommendations for the proper spreader settings on the label of most fertilizers.
