A Season-by-Season Guide to a Healthier Lawn

The lawns that look effortless are usually the ones tended a little in every season. You don't need to do everything at once — you need to do the right thing at the right time. Here's the short version of the calendar we follow.

Spring: wake it up

As the soil warms, focus on relieving compaction and filling thin spots. Aerate, overseed where needed, and start a feeding program tuned to your soil. Tackle weeds early, before they flower and spread.

Summer: protect it

Heat is the stressor now. Mow tall, water deeply but infrequently, and resist the urge to fertilize heavily during a heat wave. The aim is to help the lawn coast through stress rather than push hard growth.

Fall: build it back

• Fall is the best time to overseed and feed — roots grow even as top growth slows.
• Keep leaves from matting on the lawn, which smothers the grass beneath.
• Lower the mowing height slightly on the last few cuts of the year.

Winter: rest and plan

Stay off frozen or dormant grass to avoid crushing the crowns, and use the quiet months to plan next year's projects. A little restraint now pays off the moment spring arrives.