A Lawn and Landscape Schedule

January / February

  • Prune dormant shrubs, if needed
    • Call a professional if excessive pruning is required
  • Dormant oil can reduce winter pest population and "prevent" a destructive spring
    • Seek professional help for application
  • If winter is dry, water trees and shrubs to maintain health

March

  • Cut back ornamental grasses
  • Remove dead plant materials, leaves, limbs and clippings
  • Apply pre-emergent to landscape beds

April

  • Weed beds and remove tree suckers and back growth on a regular basis
  • Mow lawns on a regular basis
  • Check with a professional about mowing height as it varies by grass
    • For most species, mow at 2.5 to 3.5 inches to maintain healthy turf
  • Irrigation systems should be turned on and any repairs made
  • Fertilize roses and remove any dead cane
  • Watch for aphids and bagworms on all plants and treat accordingly (do this until Fall)

May

  • Complete turf watering by 7 a.m.
  • Check with a professional about mowing height as it varies by grass
    • Deeper root growth will make the turf more heat and drought tolerant
  • Water your annuals every morning
  • Watch roses for powdery mildew and aphids and apply combination as needed

June

  • Temperatures above 80 degrees and higher humidity stimulate fungus growth in the turf
    • Patches of dark and lighter greens and yellowing indicate fungus is present
    • Do not water more! You may even need to eliminate excess water
    • Have a lawn care specialist identify the type of fungus and recommend treatment
  • Leaf drop or discoloration usually indicates a mite infestation in shrubs
    • Treat with a commercial grade miticide
  • If flowers are not blooming in late June, you may need to treat for bud worms
  • Yellowing and/or spots on rose leaves could also be signs of fungus

July

  • In extreme heat, you may need to increase water
    • Do so only a day at a time and do not increase the watering time.
    • Back off the extra day(s) when the weather cools
  • Do not water at night as it will promote fungus
  • If you see grub damage, which leaves solid dead areas, treat accordingly
    • Fungus damage will leave dead brown patches with some live grass in them

August

  • Continue to water turf, annuals, perennials, trees and bushes

September

  • Renovate lawns to restore health depending on condition:
    • Core aeration is recommended for all lawns
    • Overseed after aeration is recommended for overly stressed lawns
    • Verticut and reseed lawns with turf damage
    • Core aerate, verticut and overseed if lawn has an under layer of dead grass

October

  • If you own a sprinkler, schedule winterization
    • Do this before temperatures dip below freezing
  • Seed before you turn your irrigation system off
    • New seed should be watered regularly
  • Plant spring bulbs (get them in the ground before it freezes)
  • Cut back perennials and clean up where needed
    • Dead plants will become leaf traps.

November

  • Fall perennial cleanup leaf cleanup
  • Remove leaves from turf to avoid damage
  • Cut back perennials
  • Mulch roses for protection from freezing temperatures
  • Prune roses just enough to prevent breakage from ice and snow
    • Finish the prune to the desired height in the spring, based on the variety of rose.

December

  • Landscape plants can still be planted but check with a professional
  • Remember! Shrubs and trees need water over the winter
  • Prune overgrown shrubs that are now dormant
  • Apply a dormant oil application to plants that had insect infestations the previous season
  • Shake evergreens to remove snow, when applicable, to avoid misshaping
  • Be careful not to damage grass and plantings when shoveling snow