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Month-by-Month Lawn Care Calendar & Schedule

Looking for a month by month lawn care calendar? Lawn Phix created this specialized lawn care calendar and schedule for cool-season grasses – located in the Northeast (Zone 6b) in New England. Quickly check your lawn care tasks for each month of the season in this monthly guide to a healthy, thick green turf. 

View and make a copy of my lawn care calendar on Google Sheets – and download a free copy of my cool-season lawn care guide here.

Table of Contents

March Lawn Care

  • The first day of spring is March 20, 2022
  • Cleaning up is the main goal this month. Remove all branches, sticks, twigs, acorns and/or pine cones from the grass
  • Assess the lawn and look for troubled areas including snow mold
  • Pick up all other debris such as leaves that may have stuck remained over winter. A leaf blower is a good idea
  • Get your mower ready. Sharpen your blades. I love the Gator G3 mulching blade by Oregon
  • Get a soil test done so you know what your dirt needs heading into the season

April Lawn Care

May Lawn Care

June Lawn Care

  • The first day of summer is June 21, 2022
  • Apply a second application of pre-emergent, this time using Dithiopyr. It also has post-emergent qualities that will help kill crabgrass and dandelions 
  • Begin your irrigation. Aim for 1″-1.5″ of water per week – including natural rainwater. Water deeply but infrequently: 2-3 times per week at the most, preferably between 4-9 a.m. 
  • Lawn fungus, such as brown patch, can also start now. Ideal climates are hot and humid. Seasons with lots of rain and hot humid overnight temps make an ideal environment for brown patch etc. An application of Heritage G can prevent and control turfgrass diseases for up to 28 days (also see products from May above)
  • Raise mower height to ~3.5″ (depending on grass type)
  • Spot-spray broadleaf weeds in earlier mornings or later evenings when air temperatures are under 85 degrees
  • Products:

July Lawn Care

  • High heat and low rainfalls may lead to dormant grasses
  • Irrigate as long as your town allows. Aiming for 1.5″ of weekly watering
  • Keep an eye out for lawn diseases and fungus – especially as humidity rises
  • Watch for grubs and other lawn insects
  • Fertilize with slow release nitrogen fertilizer and organic lawn products
    • Summer Survival (Potash , Humic Acid, Sea Kelp) is a great option
    • Never fertilize dormant turf
  • Products:

August Lawn Care

September Lawn Care

October Lawn Care

  • Mow low again, aiming for ~2.5 – 3.0″ grass height. Final cut of the season should be 2″
  • If you skipped September tasks, do it early as nighttime temps will drop to unfavorable temperatures for new seedlings trying to germinate
  • Begin winterizer fertilizer like Macro-Micro Blend by Yard Mastery or ProPEAT 17-0-4
    • Depending on location – After your final mow (when the grass stops top growth) and before your ground freezes

Related post: Prepare your lawn for winter

November Lawn Care

So, there you have it. I hope this calendar helps you with your annual lawn care maintenance. It’s worked for me – check out my front yard renovations.

Please let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

FAQs

When is the best time to overseed my lawn?

For cool-season lawns, the best time to overseed is late summer and early fall. For example, in the Northeast and Zone 5-6, the last week of August or the beginning of September are the best conditions for new grass. The number of weeds to be invasive is much lower in September than spring seeding in the spring (April).

Can I fertilize my lawn in the summertime?

If you can irrigate regularly, you can still add fertilizer. However, it is best to apply less nitrogen during the hot summer months – particularly when drought stress occurs. Ideally, spoon-feeding with micronutrients such as humic acid and sea kelp (Kelp4Less ExtremeBlend) or a combination with molasses powder (Kelp4Less Green Lawn & Turf). Molasses in the hotter months can provide energy in the form of sugars/carbohydrates which can help “dethatch” the lawn.

How early can I fertilize my lawn in spring?

In the Northeast and Massachusetts (Zone 5-6) for example, you can begin to feed your lawn in April and May. Feeding your lawn too early can cause excessive top growth which isn’t ideal – particularly if there’s still a risk of freezing overnight temperatures and morning frost. When the air and soil temperatures are consistently in the 40s and 50s respectively is a good time to begin your feeding.

How frequently should I mow my lawn?

During peak growing season (May & June in the Northeast) you could be mowing as frequently as 2-3 times per week. This, of course, also depends on your fertilization and watering schedule. Ideally, you follow the “1/3 rule” where you are never cutting off more than 1/3 of the grass blade during each mowing. For example, if you want to maintain a 3″ lawn, you never want the grass to exceed

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