When caring for your lawn, you can’t just wing it. You can’t mow the lawn all year round and expect sterling results; you’ll only be doing the right things at the wrong time.
Besides grass species, the time of the year determines the seeding and maintenance approach. This is because soil texture and weather conditions impact turf well-being and growth. That’s why it’s advisable to take a mechanical approach to lawn care if you don’t know where to start.
Regarding mechanical practices, nothing beats a year-round lawn care calendar. With a schedule, you can be smart with your time and resources and get the most out of your field.
A lawn care calendar can help you preserve and maintain a healthy and visually appealing turf throughout the year. Also, it can help you take breaks and prepare for the coming year. In this guide, you’ll learn what to do and how to take care of your lawn throughout all four seasons.
Warm Season Lawn Care
The second and third quarters of the year are usually the warmest. From watering to weeding, you perform the most tasks to keep the grass healthy and visually appealing.
It’s during this period many homeowners like you consult a lawn care company for their gardening tasks. These professionals can help ease the burden of regular maintenance and provide weed-resistant care for the year-long protection of your turf.
However, while hiring a lawn care company, ensure you hire a local company as they are well-versed with local conditions and are easily approachable. For instance, if you reside in Alabama, you should only hire the best Alabama lawn care company.
1. Spring
Starting in March, you will begin your lawn mowing exercises for the year. However, go easy on mowing to avoid overcutting to an unsatisfactory or unhealthy level.
It is also the time to prepare your turf for seeding and provide an environment for it to thrive. It’s during this period you add nutrients to the soil to boost grass growth, texture, and appearance. You may also start overseeding at this point.
Sowing seeds generously across the field can help you achieve the rich thickness that makes lawns attractive. You can also reseed patches that may have been created during cold season damage.
After prepping your turf for growth in March, April is when you nourish and maintain it. Here, you continue filling up patches and scarifying the field.
Scarifying involves removing unwanted materials or weeds from your grass with rakes and scarifiers. These unwanted hosts are usually thatch, moss, and debris from other yard endeavors. Scarifying is also instrumental in aerating the soil for better water and nutrient absorption. It sets the tone for fertilization.
By May, your lawn should be fully grown to where you can trim it to your preferred form. At this point, the most essential activity is mowing your lawn. It keeps it fresh and brings out its beauty in the sunlight from near or far.
2. Summer
Summer is when you begin to reap the fruits of your hard work. Between June and August, all you have to do is maintain the appearance and well-being of the turf.
Your major activities will involve regular mowing at least once a week. You will also irrigate the lawn regularly to keep it hydrated as these are the hottest periods of the year.
In fact, you will be remiss not to ask your friendly neighbor for help watering your lawn while on your summer vacation. You will also do lots of weeding.
Fertilization is not advisable during hot weather as it can stress the grass. However, if you must fertilize, do so during the cooler hours of the day around late July. By August, you may need to increase the mowing intensity and reduce irrigation.
Cold Season Lawn Care
The colder seasons are when you must be careful with lawn maintenance. This period can be challenging as the weather conditions limit the aesthetic of the lawn.
1. Autumn
Starting from autumn, the rain will pour, and the grass will get enough fluid so you won’t need to irrigate. However, if it has undergone significant wear and tear, you may need to reseed, overseed, and aerate the field.
Another challenge is the litter of fallen leaves scattered around your lawn. This and other issues call for scarifying. However, it is advised to use more gentle tools, such as rakes, on your lawn.
If mowing the lawn is not your cup of tea, these are exciting times, as the mowing season typically ends between October and November. From October, you must raise your mowing level to keep the grass high. Also, consider planting budding flowering plants to add color to your lawn and help you spot moving objects. You’ll end the autumn months by weeding out unwanted or dead plant remains and removing fallen leaves from your field.
2. Winter
Many people consider winter the most challenging time to work outdoors. Not only do heavy piles of snow disrupt movement, but the intense cold makes working outdoors very uncomfortable. Fortunately, winter is when you make the least effort to maintain a lawn.
First, you will say goodbye to mowing. You will also retire your scarifying tools for the rest of the year. Winter is the perfect time to put your feet up and enjoy the festive season.
From December until January, you may not need to work on your turf, especially if it is frozen. In the later parts of January, you may only repair the turf and fill in the patches. By February, you should be preparing for the new season of sowing and improving soil fertility.
This is the perfect time to restock lawn care essentials and service your tools. You may also take some time to prune your grass and trim the edges to maintain a beautiful look from far and near.
Takeaway
Keeping a well-cut, irrigated, and pest-free lawn all year round is not for the faint-hearted. Lawns are delicate, and maintaining them can be tricky. Without the right orientation, you can overdo it.
It takes planning and dedication to reap the benefits of a healthy and visually appealing turf. Only then can you enjoy camping outside, having a picnic, and playing field games with loved ones. It’s an avenue for bonding with those who matter the most to you. For those reasons, you must be intentional with caring for and maintaining the lawn.
Giving your lawn the deserved care throughout the year isn’t something you wake up one morning to accomplish. The real work starts just before spring. This is where you prepare for the rest of the year. Take advantage of every season and explore this article occasionally to guide you through this process. If you want professional assistance with some or all of these responsibilities, contact a lawn care company near you.
