Your lawn and other plants require different maintenance and care throughout the year. When taking on the care and maintenance yourself, it could be confusing what to do what and when. But if you want to maintain the lawn, trees, and shrubs’ health and beauty, they need routine care all year long. With that in mind, we at Rentokil would like to share some brief tips and suggestions to keep your landscaping beautiful throughout all the seasons.

Spring Lawn Care Schedule: March-May

Early in the season mulch the beds if they were not mulched in the winter. Apply a light application of 10-10-10 over the beds of perennials. Sharpen the blades of your lawnmower and set the lawnmower to 3 – 3 1/2 inches. Avoid cutting more than 1/3rd of growth at any one time and get the lawn cut once a week. Most spring-flowering shrubs can be cut back and fertilized just after flowering. Deadhead perennials after they flower to extend the bloom time in most species. In early March administer a pre-emergent to lawns to prevent crabgrass invasions. Spray the broadleaf weeds with the appropriate weed killer as they appear on the lawn.

Summer Lawn Care Calendar: June-August

By the summer make sure the spring-flowering shrubs pruning and fertilizer are completed after blooming. Apply the second round of pre-emergent in early June. With the appropriate weed killer, continue spraying the broadleaf weeds as they grow in the lawn. Administer a second application of 10-10-10 over the perennials and deadhead when needed through mid-summer. Periodically check your plants, grass, and trees for pest infestations and spray if they occur. To avoid flowering and setting in more seeds, remove the weeds from the beds as they appear. Water your vegetation deeply and consistently throughout the summer.

Fall Lawn Care: Month By Month from September-December

From late August to early October aerate and seed the lawn at any time and fertilize the lawn from September to November. Continue to water throughout the fall, especially the evergreens and newly planted trees and shrubs just until the weather is cool enough to produce the frost. Cut back the perennials and clean out the gardens. In September, prune the trees and shrubs that are optimally done in the fall. Pruning promotes stimulated new growth which could be killed off in the frost otherwise. Don’t prune heavily after September or it could leave plants weak and vulnerable during the harsh winter months. The spring-flowering bulbs should be planted in November to early December. Keep the leaves raked up weekly, especially on newly seeded lawns.

Winter Lawn Care to Protect Grass: January-February

Using an upward motion on the branches gently brush the snow with a broom from shrubs and trees with a broom as often as possible. This will help prevent the limbs from breaking under the weight of the snow. Continue raking up stray leaves from off the lawn. With the bulbs and perennials being dormant and bed clean, now is the time to mulch. Mulch helps keep the soil from drying out and gives the plants more protection especially from heaving out of the ground due to freezing and thawing. Evergreens, such as Hollies and boxwoods should be pruned and fertilized. In February, thin out the crape myrtles.

Lawn & Yard Care

To make the care for your lawn, trees, and shrubs easy and convenient, let Rentokil provide our expert weed management, insect and disease treatments, lawn fertilization and aeration to ensure you have a healthy, green lawn this spring. Contact us to schedule a consultation today!