Seasonal Tips for Maintenance Programs
and Tree Care
Spring
- Spread granular, slow-acting fertilizer. (This is optional if you fertilized in the fall or winter)
- Aerate the lawn to treat compacted
soil.
- Mulch with organic matter,
if necessary.
- Sharpen your mower
blades weekly.
Summer
- Learn the signs of bug infestation, and head them off before they
get settled in.
- Water your lawn
weekly if rain is scarce or your soil is poor. Otherwise, water when you receive less than 2" of rainfall during the
week.
- Treat weeds and bare spots as soon as you see them.
- Sharpen your mower blades weekly.
Autumn
- Water
trees and shrubs thoroughly mulched before the first frost.
- But don’t over water! Plants and shrubs should be expected to look a little brown in September
and October.
- Mulch with organic
material, or mow a layer of fallen leaves into the lawn.
- Fertilize your lawn every six weeks to promote strong root growth and a lush green turf.
- Scalping and de-thatching the grass
just before winter to allow for winter rye planting.
Winter
- Apply
liquid iron monthly to lawns which were over seeded with rye.
- Apply granular fertilizer to all turf areas every 6 weeks.
- Watch for aphid and mite infestation on shrubs and trees.
- Avoid walking on frosted or snow-covered lawns.
- Use only non-salt de-ices for sidewalks and driveways, so the runoff doesn’t harm plants.
- Salt will damage grass, perennials,
and shrubs, and will keep the plants from absorbing much-needed water.
- Check any perennial plants during periods of thawing soil to see if roots popping out of the ground.
If they have, gently push them back into place, and add mulch.
