For more on lawns click on the links below:
March to May & September to November
May to June and late August to September
Prepping the Lawn for Winter
Optional: Spread up to an inch of compost or garden or turf mix as a topdressing and work in with a leaf rake.
- Apply corn gluten to kill germinating weed seeds when the forsythia blooms (March/April). Don't apply with lawn seed as it will kill them too!
- When lawn is not sodden, rake with a leaf rake removing debris.
- Lime with slow release lime such as Dolopril, not rapid lime.
- Aerate with a core aerator, rent a machine or hire someone.
- Optional: Topdress with an inch of compost or good garden loam then work in with a leaf rake.
- Sow lawn seed in sparse areas.
- Apply fertilizer high in phosphorus and water.
- Apply moss killer, ferrous sulfate to kill moss and to feed the grass plants as iron is a trace nutrients. Only apply once a year according to package directions. For more on moss control click here.
May to June and late August to September
- Apply a high nitrogen fertilizer.
- Keep mower set at 3 to 4 inches.
- Mow weekly when grass is actively growing.
- Only cut 1/3 off the leaf blades at each mowing.
- Leave clippings on the lawn if they are 1 inch long or less, therefore mow frequently.
- Water weekly, don’t allow the grass to die due to drought.
Prepping the Lawn for Winter
- Rake or mow fallen leaves on grass and place on garden beds.
- Aerate with core aerator, especially if you didn't do it in spring.
- Apply Dolopril lime, especially if you did not do so in spring.
Optional: Spread up to an inch of compost or garden or turf mix as a topdressing and work in with a leaf rake.
- In October or November fertilize with a winterizer fertilizer high in potash (last number the highest).
- Rake any bare spots, apply compost or good garden soil and reseed. Keep seeds moist until they germinate.