Take the guessing out of yard work . This lawn - attention calendar lets you acknowledge when to pout , aerate , fecundate , and sow your yard in the Northeast .
The dramatic seasonal swings in the Northeast can make lawn care tricky . As if merelykeeping your grass aliveand green with the right lawn fertilizer schedule is n’t difficult enough , you also have topick the right varietyof grass to accommodate your climate and decide when to aerate , hayloft , and water it . As tempting as it is to just let the weeds take over , we have a better mind : Take the tussle out oflawn maintenancewith this handy seasonal schedule , which walks you from spring through twilight lawn care in the Northeast . ( Yes , you get the winter off ! ) Now sharpen your mower blade , and snaffle your smartphone to set those reminders to fertilize .
Spring
intend of spring as the start of cubic yard season . Set your grass up for all - twelvemonth - long success by harness the basics from March to June , and the remainder of the spring up season will be a breeze .
maintain Your Mower
Before you even step metrical foot onto your lawn , incline to your mower . Bring your grass carver in for service in former spring — that way , you ’ll beat the rush , and your most critical putz will be in peak - top shape when you need it . Make certain tosharpen the bladesso they trend evenly and efficiently .
Credit: Jacob Fox
Mowing
How do you make love when it ’s sentence to pout ? hold back until your grass is about three inch magniloquent , then correct your vane meridian so you only trim an column inch or so at a time . It ’s best to keep most turf eccentric in this region at least two inches tall — this helps the grass ward off weeds and withstand summer drouth later in the year .
Starting a New Lawn
Though fall is the ideal clock time to start a newfangled lawn from cum , you may also do it in the spring . Do n’t wait until the latter part of the time of year , though — you want to give your grass a chance to develop in and establish itself before the summer heat arrives . Once daytime temperature hit the 60s , you may set off seed ; check the forecast to verify a springtime rainfall is n’t on the means to avoid washout .
Aerating
Compacted soil can be a major culprit behind grass that just wo n’t inspissate up . If it ’s hard to stick a shovel into your soil and you have persistent barefaced patch , this may be your job — and fortunately , there ’s an promiscuous fixing : aeration . Pulling up cylindric plugs of soil when your weed is actively growing enables the roots to reach deeper and the soil to better absorb wet .
Fertilizing
Aquick diligence of lawn foodin other saltation will help oneself launch your yard into the blistering months with staying office . Keep your scattering light ( hint : it ’s easier to systematically apply granules than to spray ) , and apply a slow - release or organic expression . The ideal time to fecundate is 24 to 48 hours before your first time mowing ; depending on the type of plant food you prefer , you’re able to reapply every four to eight workweek throughout spring and summer .
Summer
summertime is all about uphold the strong start you instal in the spring . A bad part of your summer duty : keeping an heart on your grass to judge what it needs when , since temperature and rainwater can vary from workweek to week .
look out how your lawn grow . During hot , dry period of time , it may only need to be cut every two or three weeks , once the grass is about three in tall ; consider bring up the blades on your lawn mower if your dope starts looking scorch . During coolheaded or moist menstruum , your yard may needmowing twice a week . On average , expect to crank up the lawnmower once a week during the summertime .
Watering
It ’s okay to let your grass go abeyant during drouth . It ’ll turn brown , but will stay alive , and then will go green and start growing when the rainfall comes again . If you do n’t want a brown summer lawn , selectdrought - patient of types(such as buffalo eatage ) , or design on giving your pace about one in of water a calendar week . If you have sprinkler with a timekeeper , set them towater your lawnbetween 4 and 8 a.m.
Fall
If you dwell anywhere from Maine to New Jersey , you know thatfall lawn careis all about white - up and prepping for next year . bump out these undertaking when the weather starts to cool , and you ’ll enjoy an easier outflow .
If you only fertilize your lawn once a year , capitulation is the time to do it . Consider laying down a loose program in former fall , then ingeminate the process in the later part of the season .
As temperature chill , your lawn will start growing faster , so you ’ll probably need to mow on a ordered weekly schedule through the remnant of the time of year . When the first foliage begin to fall , apply the mulching mount on your mower , and entrust the chopped - up leaves atop your grass as fertilizer . As they decompose , they ’ll make your grunge composition healthier .
clean Up
Once you come to the peak of fall , you ’ll need to start clean up the farewell , since just chopping them as you mow will leave too deep a layer and could suffocate your Gunter Grass . If you do n’t have the time ( or patience ! ) to rake , you could make several passes over your lawn with a mulching lawn mower to more finely hack them . Repeat this every span of weeks .
Overseeding
Most Mary Jane in this region flourish in coolheaded temperature , shit fall the ideal clip to overseed . Lay down your new grass seed about a calendar month before your area ’s distinctive first frost date , allow it to take root before the ground is too cold .
As name sooner , cooler fall temperature intend your sens will grow faster , so it ’s a great time to aerate , relax any press dirt and letting those root contact deeper .
