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Our tips are for cool-season lawns like bluegrass and fescues.
Lawn calendar Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec soil test aerate topdress fertilize lime seed mow water annual weeds perennial weeds grubs disease
Routine Care Do not fertilize. Roots decline with the arrival of hot weather and cannot support the added top growth.
Mow to 3–3½ inches.tips Mowing shorter than 3inches causes multiple problems:
Close mowing can injure or kill the turfgrass clump growing point. Because short blades cannot photosynthesize effectively, vigor is reduced, increasing susceptibility to pests and disease. Weed seeds germinate more easily because more sun reaches the soil. Rain hits and compacts the soil. Don’t remove more than ⅓ of the grass height. Mowing is pruning and grasses respond by redirecting energy and nutrients away from roots in order to produce new leaves, resulting in a weaker root system. Drastic cuts also increase water loss to stressful levels.
Travel north–south on one mowing and east–west on the next. This keeps growth upright and reduces lawnmower ruts.
Leave grass clippings on the lawn. They decompose quickly and can return up to 25% of the lawn’s fertilizer. If clippings are too plentiful, use them as mulch or, if they do not contain herbicide, let them dry a bit and then add to your compost.
Supplement rainfall as needed to provide 1 inch of water weekly. This should wet the soil to a depth of 4–6 inches. You can check by probing the soil with a screwdriver.tips The ideal time to water is 4–7am, when your grass is already wet from dew. While less desirable, 10pm–8am is still OK. Clay soils absorb only ¼–½ inch of water per hour. If you have clay, irrigate just until runoff occurs, wait about 30 minutes for the water to absorb, then repeat the cycle until the soil is wet to the desired depth. Try a simple water timer. You can use shallow containers like tuna cans to measure applied water.
problems Brown patch can be a problem in fescue lawns during prolonged periods of wet weather with evening air temperatures above 68°F and daytime temperatures in the mid to upper 80s.
Check for white grubs.
Do not apply herbicides. Grass is not actively growing and can be injured.tips The most effective weed control is proper mowing. If weeds are still a problem, they may indicate an underlying issue(s). If issues cannot be corrected, consider using an ornamental ground cover instead.
Weed Low pH Low N Compaction Too moist Shade Low Mowing annual bluegrass chickweed speedwell moss violet ground ivy goosegrass crabgrass yellow nutsedge plantain knotweed prostrate spurge bermudagrass red sorrel black medic clover vetch kylinga nimblewill pennywort pearlwort
Special Tasks Wait until September to aerate. Aeration should happen when turfgrass roots are actively growing to speed recovery.
Prepare cool-season lawns (bluegrass, fescue) for reseeding in September.Learn about lawn renovation
