While curb appeal is about selling a piece of property, good lawn care is for all homeowners. However, many people don’t know what their yard needs to look great. Whether you have cool or warm-season grass, this monthly checklist will help guide you:
January
The second month of winter and the first of the year, January is often overlooked when it comes to lawn maintenance. Although people are prone to trudging across the lawn when it is frozen over, this can lead to bare spots come spring. Those in cool climates need to avoid this, along with keeping de-icing salts away from their greenery.
Everyone can take advantage of the slow season by having their mower blades and tools sharpened. Southern lawns can usually benefit from edging the pathways and soil testing at this time.
February
If you have areas where animal waste or excessive salt has become an issue, begin to flush it out when the temperatures rise. Doing so will minimize the damages.
Now is the time to begin searching for debris that will need to be removed before spring gets into full swing. Those in warmer regions will need to take a proactive stance against weeds at this time.
March
As spring rolls across the land, lawns begin to come to life. Unfortunately, it is not just your grass that begins to grow in the warming climate. Treat any unwanted moss and amend your soil as indicated by February testing results.
Mow your lawn shorter than recommended the first few times, tossing the clippings to reduce the risk of fungal growth. If you are in a cooler region of the country, make certain that you have removed the dead grass and debris that has been hidden throughout the winter.
April
Fill in any gaps in the grass coverage with the appropriate species. Utilize herbicides as needed to prevent crabgrass and other unwanted growth from overtaking your lawn. At this point, you can mow your yard at the recommended height and leave the clippings to enhance the soil.
May
Continue to leave the clippings from regular mowing. You might need to fertilize your lawn at this point. If you have tough weeds that have been resistant to your herbicide applications in April, take a stronger stance now with a post-emergent herbicide. Otherwise, you will have a difficult time getting the growth under control.
In cool-weather climates, this is the time to begin aerating and dethatching your lawn. Over the winter, your soil has become compacted. Loosening it up will allow for better flow of water and air, lowering the chance of disease.
June
While kids get excited that the school year is finally over, the grass and other greenery in your lawn are equally respondent to the start of summer. Begin to feed your warm season grasses during this time. Raise your mowing heights so that plant roots have more shade.
It is essential that you provide adequate water for all of your lawn at this time of year. No matter what type of sprinkler or watering system you have in place, you must calculate the appropriate amounts of water according to current weather conditions. While the past can give you some indication of what to expect, you can’t depend on those statistics for accuracy this year.
July
Now that summer is in full spring, your lawn should have a healthy, even color everywhere. Look for grubs and other types of pests that attack the turf so you can eliminate them before extensive damage has been done. If you wait too long, your lawn will be ravaged while you fight off the infestation. Increase mowing height a bit more this month.
August
As summer begins to wind down, cut back the frequency of your mowing schedule to match the growth speed. Fertilize your warm-season lawn. Test soil in cool-season lawns and amend before generously seeding it. The cooler temperatures and high moisture levels are ideal for seed germination.
September
Cool-season grasses should be fertilized at this time, and post-emergent weeds treated. Begin to lower mower blades to pre-summer heights.
Cut back on your watering schedule for warm-season grasses, and overseed the lawn as needed. Make sure that you keep the soil moist so that these new seeds will take root.
October
In cooler regions, make sure that you keep the lawn raked and cut back on additional watering. If testing indicates the need for lime or other amendments, apply them now. This allows the entire winter for them to incorporate into the soil.
Warm-season grasses need regular mowing as long as the shoots continue to grow. As the month wears on, begin to lower the blades. As with cool-season grass, now is the time to test and amend the soil.
November
Continue to maintain your lawn, removing leaves and debris as needed. This applies to warm and cool-season yards. Spot treat any weeds and water as needed.
If you live in a cold region, you should water the lawn to keep it hydrated, but make sure it is not overwatered when the first freeze hits. Additionally, take precautions to reduce winter damages by mowing the lawn a bit short the last mow of the season. Snow mold and vole damage are both causes for concern that you should prevent if possible!
December
As winter sets in, most of your lawn care work for the year is done. However, that doesn’t mean that you should ignore your lawn and garden during this time. In fact, it is the perfect time of year to begin planning for the following spring. Do you want to add or remove some of the plants in your yard? Are you thinking about growing some wildflowers this spring? Whatever you might want to do, you can fill cold winter nights with your gardening ideas.
Your lawn is an important part of your home. No matter what your local climate and grass type, these tips will get you well on your way to maintaining an attractive yard every month of the year! Consider calling on Lawn Care near Maineville Ohio, to assist you with any questions are help you may need!