Late Winter Feb–Mar |
Prepare for spring without forcing growth |
• Clean up sticks/debris; rake lightly if needed
• Sharpen mower blade; set mowing plan
• Watch drainage and low spots (fix before irrigation season)
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• Over-fertilizing “because it’s warm for a week”
• Watering too early and creating disease/mud issues
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Early Spring Mar–Apr |
Prevent weeds; wake the lawn up steadily |
• Start mowing as needed; never remove more than 1/3 of blade
• Apply pre-emergent when conditions are right (timing matters)
• Inspect irrigation system before full run-time (leaks, coverage, broken heads)
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• Applying pre-emergent too late (after weeds germinate)
• “Set it and forget it” sprinkler schedules
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Late Spring May–Jun |
Build density + keep weeds from taking over |
• Spot-treat broadleaf weeds (avoid blanket spraying when not needed)
• Fine-tune watering: fewer days, deeper cycles
• Watch for early insect pressure and thinning patches
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• Watering daily in short bursts (encourages shallow roots)
• Mowing too short before hot weather hits
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Summer Jul–Aug |
Protect against heat stress |
• Raise mowing height; mow less aggressively
• Check sprinkler coverage weekly (dry arcs and overspray show up now)
• Scout for grub damage: spongy turf, birds digging, areas that peel back
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• Heavy nitrogen during peak heat (can stress turf)
• Ignoring a small leak until it becomes a big water bill
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Early Fall Sep |
Best window to repair and thicken turf |
• Core aeration (the single highest ROI service for many lawns)
• Overseed where needed; keep seed consistently moist until established
• Fall fertilizer strategy to build roots and energy reserves
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• Skipping aeration year after year on compacted soil
• Seeding without adjusting watering (seed dries out fast)
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Late Fall Oct–Nov |
Winterize systems; keep turf clean and healthy |
• Keep leaves cleaned up (smothering causes thin spots)
• Plan sprinkler blowout/winterization before freezing temps
• Final mow(s) as needed; don’t scalp
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• Waiting too long on blowouts (freeze damage risk)
• Leaving wet leaf mats on turf
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Winter Dec–Jan |
Prevent damage; plan improvements |
• Limit foot traffic on frozen turf when possible
• Plan spring: weed prevention, fertilizer, sprinkler repairs, and aeration timing
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• Piling snow mixed with de-icer repeatedly on the same turf area
• Forgetting to schedule early spring irrigation startup
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