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Maintenance Tips
LAWN MAINTENANCE CALENDAR
COOL-SEASON | WARM-SEASON

COOL-SEASON LAWN MAINTENANCE CALENDAR

NOTE: BEGIN FOLLOWING FERTILIZER SCHEDULE 90 DAYS AFTER SEEDING

September 1st – 15th
Fertilize: Minimum of 1-pound actual nitrogen per 1,000 SF. Ex: 3 pounds ammonium nitrate or 6 pounds nitrate of soda, or equivalent.

September 1st – October 15th
Overseed: (prime time) 4 to 6 pounds of tall fescue per 1,000 SF. Many lawns do not need overseeding annually.
Dethatch: To prevent buildup and to enable seed to reach the soil. Does not need to be done annually, only when thatch exceeds one inch.
Cutting Height: Minimum of 2 _ inches
Water: Water deeply (4 to 6 inches) every 7 to 10 days if it does not rain. Water in the morning.

October 15th – November 1st
Fertilize: Apply enough complete fertilizer to provide 1 _ pounds each of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Ex: 15 pounds of 10-10-10 or 20 pounds of 8-8-8 per 1,000 SF.

October 1st – December 1st
Winter Weed Control: Mow new grass at least twice prior to herbicide treatment. Treat for annual broadleaf weeds such as chickweed, dandelion, henbit, buttercup, etc. at this time.

December 1st – 15th
Fertilize: Minimum of 1-pound actual nitrogen per 1,000 SF.
January 15th – March 15th
Crabgrass Control: Apply crabgrass preemergence control; best time is when forsythia is in full bloom.

February 15th – March 15th
Overseeding: Only if absolutely necessary. It is not needed every year. Use 4 to 6 pounds of tall fescue per 1,000 SF.

March 1st – May 1st
No fertilizer during this period. This is very important as root growth is needed now and fertilizer would stimulate top growth, weakening the roots. Roots are needed to survive summer.
Weed Control: When midday temperatures reach 60 degrees, apply weed control. Do not apply on newly seeded lawns until turf has been mowed at least twice.
Deep Watering: Every 7 to 10 days to a depth of 4 to 5 inches in the morning. Avoid frequent, shallow watering.

May 1st – 15th
Fertilize: Use no more than _ pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 SF. If grass was fed 3 times in the fall and of a normal green color DO NOT FERTILIZE NOW.
Cutting Height: 2 _ to 3 inches
Deep Watering: As above. Do not water in evening.
Weed Control: Repeat broadleaf control if needed. Post emergent crabgrass control to be done now if needed.
Disease Alert: Observe turf frequently for disease outbreak; act quickly with fungicide.

June – August
No Fertilizer
Deep Watering: As above
Cutting Height: 3 inches
Disease Alert: Continue to monitor

August
Weed control: Control annual bluegrass now with preemergent application. DO NOT RESEED OR OVERSEED FOR 4 MONTHS.

LAWN MAINTENANCE CALENDAR
COOL-SEASON | WARM-SEASON

WARM-SEASON (FESCUE) MAINTENACE RECOMMENDATIONS

Watering your sod:
Watering is the most important factor in maintaining the survival of your newly laid grass. Do not water at night. Early morning hours are recommended in order to reduce disease potential.

When sod is harvested, the plant’s root system has been cut off. At this time, the only way for the plant to receive water is through the leaf. Therefore, water must be applied directly on top of the sod so the leaf will receive the water. The plant will then take the water through the leaf and carry it down into the plant. Once the sod reestablishes a root system, it can then remove water from the soil. At this time you can reduce the amount of water being applied to the grass.

Wilt is a condition in which the leaves and stems droop and die due to lack of moisture inside the plant. Wilt occurs when there has not been enough water applied to the grass. It can be recognized by a blue gray color on the leaf of the plant. The blades will also shrivel and close up. Water must be applied as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage to the grass. When water is applied the blade will start to open back up and its green color will return to the plant.

The sod must be watered as many times a day as necessary to avoid wilt. Generally once in the morning and once around 2:00 pm for 20-30 minutes in each area is enough. The goal is to give your grass enough water to keep wilt from occurring. Watering will vary on a day-to-day basis. For instance, windy days require more watering because the plant dries out faster.
As long as your grass is not wilting the moisture level is sufficient. Always remember to look for wilt.

Disease:
Fungus lives and feeds on the tissues of living plants. It is present in grass at all times but it is not always active. When the temperature and humidity are high, the fungus may become active. High nitrogen, frequent watering, and wet warm weather will encourage disease activity. If light brown patches occur, a fungicide must be applied immediately in order to reduce damage to the sod. A fungicide can be applied to the grass to prevent disease activity and also control current disease activity. We recommend having your lawn treated with a fungicide immediately after having sod installed during the months of June, July and August.

Mowing:
Your grass should be mowed only after the sod has completely tacked down. During the summer months, the grass should be mowed at about 3”. The leaf clippings should be removed in order to maintain turf grass quality and reduce disease activity. Make certain your blade is always sharp to ensure a good leaf cut and turf grass uniformity. The grass should be mowed on a regular basis with an emphasis on not letting the grass get too tall. If your lawn does get extremely tall, remove only a small amount of leaf tissue at a time. In other words, take the height down slowly, not all at once, to avoid scalping.

Fertilization:
Fertilize September, October, November, and February. We recommend an analysis offering a 2:1:2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potash. See your local garden center for analysis availability.

Weed Control:
See your local garden center for products that can be applied in a granular form. You will need a crabgrass prevention program in spring, and a broadleaf weed control program in spring or early summer. You will need to follow the instructions on the packaging.