Here is a handy little calendar to tell you what work to do when, in order to get a beautiful lawn all summer long. Good practices help reduce insect and disease damage while limiting weed growth.
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In April and May
As soon as the snow is gone and the water is absorbed, we start with a good raking of the lawn. In addition to cleaning the surface of leftover debris in the fall, this vigorous stroke of the rake removes the build-up of dead grass blades, also called stubble. Then we move on to repairing the damage caused by winter. You should pull out any dead grass or weeds and ensure that you have everything ready to help your lawn blossom back to life. Finally, if necessary, we ventilate the lawn. This exercise allows better circulation of oxygen, which stimulates the growth of the grass. It is also during this period that you can perform top dressing and overseeding, for lawns that are a little bare. Do not forget to water well, to promote germination. If you’re ready to get started on your spring lawn maintenance, a spring to-do list might help ensure you don’t forget anything. You can now add some steel lawn edging at this point, in order to neaten the edges.
In May or June
As soon as the lawn begins to show signs of greening, you can start mowing. In spring and fall, the recommended cutting height is 5 cm (2 ”). During the summer, it is best to increase the cutting height to 8 to 10 cm (3 ” to 4 ”). As for fertilization, it is essential to apply it only when the lawn is growing. It is therefore after the third mowing that you can start fertilizing. There are many fertilizers on the market and one professional recommendation would be to use a phosphorus-free fertilizer, because a lot of soils contain enough already.
July and August
In the height of summer, increase the mowing height to 10 cm (4 ”), and avoid mowing in times of drought. Even though in a lot of parts of the world, natural precipitation meets 65 to 100% of the lawn’s needs, it may be necessary to water during a heat wave. If you live in a place with mild/cooler summers, it is still good to water the lawn if you do not get enough rainfall.
In September
Fall is also a great time to do some lawn repairs. It is also a good time for aeration. You should water it thoroughly to ensure that it is healthy for the coming months that will be cooler.
In October
The end of the season is approaching and this is when we can take the opportunity to lower the mowing height to 5 cm (2 ”). Get rid of any leaves and tidy up. You’ll find that through winter, your lawn will not grow a considerable amount. It should stay trim and neat, with minimal growth. You may want to consider some food for it during the winter months, but there’ll be no need to whip out the lawnmower just yet.