4 Seasonal Tips for a Greener Healthier Northern Lawn

Follow this program for lush, healthy, weed-free turf all spring and summer long.

Early Spring

Clean litter off lawn. Aerate and apply Lime if necessary. Clean out dead clumps of grass and re-seed patches. Apply a fertilizer to nourish the grass for 1 to 2 months or longer. Turf should be rolled to smooth out areas heaved by frost.

Late Spring

Start mowing when grass is 2 1/2 to 3” high, cut back to about 1 1/2”. Control weeds with a selective weed killer as recommended by your local garden center.

Summer Care

Cut grass at frequent intervals maintaining a height of 1 1/2 – 2″. Frequency of mowing will depend on amount of moisture available. Turf requires at least 1″ of water every 10 days on average either from rain or watering. A second fertilizer application is required in mid-June. Use a turf fertilizer recommended for you area and water in well after application. If insects or diseases become a problem use an insecticide or fungicide as recommended by your local garden center.

Fall

Reseeding of dead patches can also be done at this time. Mowing should be discontinued after cool weather has stopped grass growth. Weeds which have come into the lawn through the summer can be controlled in early fall while still actively growing. Use weed control as recommended by your local garden center. Do not fertilize later than the end of September.