Instead of typical granular fertilizers, liquid feeds and tonics can also be applied. A lawn care professional can choose the best type of fertilizer for your grass and create a fertilization schedule for proper care on how to take care of your lawn year-round. New spring growth also encourages weed growth in your lawn.
Full Answer
What does it mean to take care of your lawn year round?
Taking care of your lawn year-round means maintaining a strict lawn care schedule, fertilizing, aerating, and more at the right times. You can take out the guesswork and research by following this guide. What is the best lawn care program? This Old House Reviews Team believes TruGreen offers the best lawn care services across the country.
When is the best time of year to get lawn care done?
Autumn is often the busiest time in the lawn care calendar as you help your lawn recover from the heat of summer and prepare it for the extremes of winter. It’s also the best time to carry out invasive repairs.
What is the best lawn care program in the US?
What is the best lawn care program? This Old House Reviews Team believes TruGreen offers the best lawn care services across the country. Our second and third choices are Weed Man and Lawn Doctor, respectively. When should I fertilize my lawn?
What should I do with my lawn in February?
Like January, February is a pretty uneventful month in the lawn care calendar. With the weather becoming milder you might notice worm casts appearing again. So deal with those and keep any leaves and debris off your lawn. Your lawn takes up more time than any other plant in your garden.
How do you treat your lawn throughout the year?
Seeding the entire lawn, especially bare spots. Applying fertilizer high in nitrogen and potassium for proper fall nutrients. Aerating to provide oxygen and moisture. Dethatching and raking leaves to allow sunlight to reach the grass.
How do I prepare my lawn for next year?
Here are eight fall lawn care steps that'll help make your lawn dazzle next year:Keep mowing. ... Water when needed. ... Rake often. ... Now is the time to think about aeration. ... Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. ... Seed to fill in bare and burned spots. ... Keep up with lawn pest control. ... Keep a Tight Schedule.
What should I put on my lawn for the winter?
Tips for Winter Lawn Care (Snow-Covered)Supply adequate nitrogen in the fall. ... Cut the grass shorter on your final cut of the season. ... Use fallen leaves to your advantage. ... Aerate your lawn just before winter hits. ... Spray pre-emergents. ... Clean off the lawn. ... Keep mowing until the grass stops growing. ... Water your lawn.More items...•
What are the most important lawn treatments?
A comprehensive lawn care service should customize the use of these treatments together for your lawn's needs as they change throughout the seasons.Lawn Fertilizer Treatment. Soil naturally provides nutrients needed by grass to grow. ... Lawn Weed Control Treatment. ... Lawn Pest Control. ... Lawn Disease and Fungus Treatment.
What should I do to my lawn in autumn?
One or more of these tasks may be required:Scarifying. Regular raking (or scarifying as it known) keeps levels of thatch (old grass stems, dead moss and other debris) at an acceptable level. ... Aerating (spiking) Aerating (or spiking) lawns allows better movement of air and water in the root zone. ... Top-dressing. ... Flattening.
Should I put lime on my lawn before winter?
The benefit of adding lime to your soil in fall is that both the freeze-thaw cycles and the abundant rain and snow common during the fall and winter months will help break down the lime and start raising the soil's pH. Lime should never be applied to a lawn that is stressed or dormant.
What should I put on my lawn in November?
While this fall lawn fertilizer dose is important, an application at the end of October or early November is essential. At that time, apply a fertilizer with a formula of 13-25-12. The push of phosphorus will stimulate root growth through November and even into early December.
What should I put on my lawn in January?
Aerate & Fertilize After you've opened up your lawn, it's a good time to fertilize with Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Lawn Food. Fertilizing your lawn gives your grass the essential nutrients it needs as it prepares for winter. The grass roots absorb and store the nutrients during the winter months.
What should I do to my lawn in January?
Caring for the Lawn in WinterFertilize. Apply fertilizer with a spreader. ... Aerate the Lawn. Provide some extra air for grassroots by aerating your lawn. ... Spread Cool-Weather Grass Seed. ... Clean it up. ... Lower the height of your mower. ... Be aware of traffic. ... Monitor weather conditions.
What should I put on my lawn in February?
January/ February Start your lawn off right by giving a light dose of fertilizer including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In addition, early spring is the time to do your first application of pre-emergent herbicide.
What is a good lawn care schedule?
Lawn maintenance and fertilizing don't end in the summer. For cool-season grasses, fertilize twice in the fall to take advantage of the great growing conditions. Fertilize once around the beginning of September and then once more 6 to 8 weeks later. For warm-season grasses, only fertilize once.
How often should you treat your lawn?
While feeding your lawn once a year will improve its condition, feeding it 4 times a year will make it even healthier and more beautiful. Turn your lawn into the best on the block by putting it on this fertilizer schedule.
When is the best time to take care of lawns?
Autumn is often the busiest time in the lawn care calendar as you help your lawn recover from the heat of summer and prepare it for the extremes of winter.
What is summer lawn maintenance?
Summer lawn maintenance is about keeping on top of the work you did during spring and is really a time to enjoy the longer days in your garden as you relax, with friends and family.
What to do after scarifying a lawn?
Make sure you employ a good recovery program after scarifying. You should also overseed to fill in bare patches left by these invasive treatments. Serious gardeners should top dress their lawns. Also, if you want to sow a new lawn or lay turf, now is the time.
When is the best time to cut worm casts?
November marks the winding down of the lawn care calendar. Keep on top of worm casts by brushing them back into the lawn and removing fallen leaves to reduce their surface activity. If the weather is still good (neither frosty or wet) then set the lawn mower high and give your lawn its last cut of the year.
Does lawn take up more time than other plants?
Your lawn takes up more time than any other plant in your garden. So much time in fact, that many people are put off by the work load. By breaking that workload down into a lawn treatment schedule it becomes much less intimidating. Follow this lawn care calendar and you can have a beautiful looking lawn all year round.
How to keep grass green and healthy?
3. Water. To keep grass green, healthy, and growing, provide at least 1 inch of water per week, either through irrigation or rainfall. Time irrigation for early morning (between 6 and 10 a.m.) to minimize water loss to evaporation. 4.
How to cut grass at the highest level?
2. Mow High. Double-check your mower deck height, and position it to cut grass at the highest possible setting for your grass type. Cutting high encourages grass plants to grow thicker with deeper roots, which creates a lawn of healthy grass that will help to crowd out weeds. 3.
How to get rid of leaves in the fall?
Mow Short. In late fall, drop mower height and cut your lawn 1 to 2 inches shorter than normal. In areas with falling leaves, a shorter lawn prevents leaves from matting down the grass.
What is the primary maintenance of a lawn?
The basics involve watering, fertilizing, and mowing (cutting grass) as required. These actions constitute the primary maintenance. Core aeration, overseeding, and dethatching activities are part of crucial secondary maintenance. By correctly maintaining your lawn, in the long run, you would incur fewer costs.
Why is it important to water your lawn in the day?
When you water your lawn in the day is crucial as it impacts grass growth, weed growth, and potential for lawn diseases. For best lawn care practices and final results, keep in mind the following recommendations:
What is the difference between thatch and sod?
There could be a piece of thin material holding the earth and grass together. Thatch is an organic matter that is accumulated on a lawn around the base of the grass. Typically, thatch is a combination of living and dead plant matter.
What is grass cycle?
Grass-Cycling. Grass-cycling is to do with the grass clippings that you would get when you mow. These clippings contain valuable nutrients that the soil needs. When you leave these clippings on the lawn instead of keeping them in a bag and throw them away, you are essentially grass-cycling.
What is fertilizer in lawns?
This term is something you might have already heard. Fertilizer is a mixture of organic or human-made materials. This substance would contain all the nutrients that the lawns need, and you would distribute this on the grass.
Why do you need to mow grass?
Mowing is essential for healthy grass growth and proper lawn care. Before you start mowing, ensure that your mower has sharp blades. If the mower blades are not sharp, you will end up chopping rather than cutting. Shredded grass will lose water through a high rate of evaporation.
What happens if you cut your grass too short?
As an example, if you cut your grass too short, believing you do not need to mow for a long time, you would actually see the adverse effect.
When is the best time to aerate grass?
One of the spring staples of yard maintenanceis to aerate. For cool-season grasses, the best time for aeration is the early spring. For warm-season grasses, the best time to aerate is in the late spring.
Why do people forget to mow in winter?
Some people forget winter in their lawn care schedules because the grass is dormant. Even though you won’t need to mow or water, there are a couple of yard maintenancestrategies to help keep your yard healthy: . Take care of dormant grass. Even in the winter, it’s important to care for your lawn.
What is the best time to take care of your lawn in spring?
Months Included: March, April, May. Lawn care in spring is particularly busy, as your lawn transitions from winter dormancy to greening up. Here are the crucial steps to take when caring for your lawn from March through May. Clean up your yard: Rake up any fallen leaves, dead grass, and debris and dispose of it.
How to get rid of dead grass?
Remove any dead grass and debris. Use a trowel or spade to break up the soil, then work an inch or so of compost into it to add nutrients. Spread the seed over the soil, then work it in with a rake . Place a thin layer of straw over the newly seeded area—this will protect the seeds from the elements and curious birds.
What is Trugreen warranty?
TruGreen takes care of the major tasks to keep your lawn healthy, from aeration and fertilization to weed control and grub control. To get a free quote, call 866-817-2287 or fill out this simple form. TOH Brand CTA TruGreen – Best Warranty. Our Rating:
How to check if your thatch is thick?
In spring, check to see if your thatch layer is over ½ an inch thick by digging up a patch of grass with a sharp spade. If it is, use a dethatching rake to lift and break up the thatch. Fertilize: If you have cool-season grass in your lawn, aim to fertilize in early spring.
Why is tall grass better than weeds?
Tall grass leads to stronger, deeper, healthier grassroots. This will help your grass compete more effectively with weeds. Mow as high as you can for your particular type of grass. As always, do not cut more than the top ⅓ of the grass blade each time you mow.
How to make grass breathe better?
Your soil will be able to breathe a lot better. Break up the cores and leave them on the surface of the grass to decompose back into the soil, reintroducing beneficial organic matter. Dethatch: Thatch is the layer of living and decomposing organic matter that builds up between the soil and growing grass.
How to clean up a yard?
Clean up your yard: Rake up any fallen leaves, dead grass, and debris and dispose of it. This will prepare the way for the other steps. Test your soil: Healthy lawns start with a strong foundation. Spring is the perfect time to test the nutrients levels and pH of your soil.
When is the best time to aerate a lawn?
Around the middle of March is the ideal time to aerate the lawn by spiking with a motorised spiker fitted with slit or knife blades, or by hand forking, then run the lawnmower over it to restore any disturbed areas.
When to apply selective weed killer?
If weeds are a problem the time to apply a selective weedkiller,is early June, about a week after the late May fertiliser application to unsure the grass is strong enough to quickly fill in the gaps left by the dying weeds. Get here.
How long does it take for moss to kill after fertilizer?
Around a week after the fertiliser application the moss will be blackened and killed ready for removal. On a small lawn this is easily achieved by using a spring tine rake, but on larger lawns a powered scarifier will be required. When the moss is removed use the mower to remove any remaining debris.
When to treat perennial weeds?
The perennial weeds will need treating with the correct type of weedkiller, when the new lawn areas are more than 2 months old. Don’t rake the lawn before applying moss control, as this will spread the spores and encourage more moss to grow.
When should I apply moss treatment to my lawn?
As with moss, a treatment needs to be applied starting from April, when the weeds are starting to grow.
Why is my lawn brown?
Walking over your lawn during wet and frosty weather may cause localised puddling, compaction and the blades of grass can become bruised, which will allow frost in , causing brown scorching. Don’t worry too much if you do, come April, spiking the lawn will help to rectify the compaction and puddling issues. Now is a good time to check ...
How high should I cut my lawn?
Your grass will probably have grown to a height where it requires it’s first cut, then you can mow the lawn as and when needed. For everyday lawns that are use to hard traffic, cut down to a height of 3cm and ornamental lawns take down to 2cm. Areas that you have recently sown with new grass seed, need to be kept moist at all times, ...
Why do I have worms on my lawn?
If you have lots of worm casts on your lawn, make sure you brush them away before mowing, as constant soil contact with the blades will quickly blunt them leading to poor mowing . Worms are a sign your lawn is in good health and they also aid with aeration, and adding organic matter to the soil underneath.
How do I prepare my lawn for turfing?
Start preparing the ground for any turfing in the autumn by weedkilling, digging and levelling to remove any humps and hollows. Don’t forget to sit down in your garden on a nice day just to enjoy it, have a picnic.
How do I start a lawn?
Seed any bare patches. First use a garden fork to spike the lawn and lift gently to crack the soil to remove compaction. Try to do this in dry conditions, as the soil will fracture more easily. Next rake to make some tilth, sow the seed, then rake into the surface of the soil and water. Give a final rake to level the soil before turfing, making sure to remove any stones turned up. Thoroughly soak the soil before laying the turf, once laid water again. Keep moist until established.
How to help grass grow in drought?
Giving the grass a good long soak is another way to encourage roots to grow deeply into the soil, which strengthens the lawn and helps it survive during times of drought. When the grass has started to look a little grayish and the blades don’t bounce back when you walk on them, it’s time to water.
How to discourage weeds from sprouting?
By letting the grass grow to its optimum height, you ’ll encourage it to establish a deeper root system while shading the soil to help discourage weed seeds from sprouting. It’s also important to mow frequently enough that you’re never removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade height at a time.
How to keep grubs from growing in lawn?
To keep grubs from growing in your lawn for up to 4 months, apply Scotts® GrubEx® as directed from spring to early summer. Bonus: Grubs are a food source for moles, which are a close second to grubs when it comes to lawn destruction. Take away the grubs and the moles will have less reason to hang out in your yard.
Can lawn pros do anything?
After all, lawn pros don’t do anything to your grass that you can’t do yourself—they just know precisely what to use on your lawn, plus how and when to use it. While they may not want to share their secrets, we’re happy to do just that. Read on to discover the 6 things you can do to create a gorgeous lawn that will have your neighbors clamoring ...
When is the best time to start lawn care?
The official beginning of the lawn care season is early spring, and several lawn care treatments are planned to get your yard off to a healthy start for the year. At Oasis, these are the services you can expect in the spring when the timing is right:
Is late summer bad for lawns?
Late summer is a difficult time for your lawn. In addition to the possibility of drought stress, many other factors can negatively impact your lawn in its seasonal weakened state. At Oasis, here is how we help your yard during these stressful months: