Lawn care--a seasonal schedule

Here are some general lawn maintenance tips and outline of our lawn maintenance plan. We live in Sacramento, California, a Mediterranean  climate with hot dry summers and wet (but not too cold) winters. Our grass is primarily tall fescue.

General lawn care recommendations

• Water in the early mornings when water pressure is greater (fewer people are awake using water) and less water will evaporate and be wasted.
• Change your mowing patterns frequently to minimize ruts
• Keep a sharp blade on the lawnmower (you can sharpen blades yourself with a file if you keep up on it—if it’s really dull, use a bench grinder or take it to a shop for sharpening)
• Fertilize 1-2 times per season
• Once an month run the sprinklers during the day and check that they are all working and watering your lawn and not the street.

Seasonal Care

Spring

• To start the season off right with a healthy, weed-free lawn follow these steps: Aerate using a rented aerator (it pulls out plugs of lawn and soil)

• Thatch using a rented thatcher or a stiff rake to remove plugs and thatch (compacted, dead grass)

• Mow the lawn about ½ inch shorter than usual

• Use a hand held broadcast spreader to apply seed
  

• Rake in a layer of compost to cover the seed and provide nutrients (it will also go in the holes from the aerator)

• Let this grow for several weeks before mowing. Be sure to avoid using any “weed and feed” fertilizers during the grass germination time

Summer

• Continue fertilizing in addition to watering
• Pull weeds by hand frequently but if it’s a problem apply a weed-specific herbicide.
• For pictures of several weeds and their names: http://www.ext.nodak.edu/county/cass/horticulture/lawn/weed.htm
• For detailed information about control of specific weeds once yours is identified: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/weeds_common.html
• Spray for lawn insects or fungi as needed. If you have dry, brown spots that don’t respond to increased watering it may be an insect or fungus problem.

Fall

• Continue with summer protocol but adjust watering and mowing schedule based on rain
• This is a good time to stock up on lawn clippings in your compost when they can break down over winter.

Winter

• Turn the sprinklers off-rain provides enough water
• Use a winter-specific fertilizer to encourage root growth
• Mow infrequently, as needed, and only when it’s been dry for several days