Below is a simple lawn care calendar for Twin Cities homeowners.
Growing a healthy lawn in Minnesota and Wisconsin depends on taking the right actions at the right time of year. Cool season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and fine fesuces grow most actively in spring and fall, slow down during summer heat, and go dormant during winter. Knowing what to do each month helps homeowners avoid common mistakes and keep their lawn healthy all year.
January – Your lawn is dormant under snow
- Avoid piling large snow mounds on the lawn, as areas with heavy snow piles take much longer to melt in spring and are more prone to ice damage and snow mold
- Let the lawn rest
February – Conditions remain similar to January
- Continue avoiding large snow piles on the lawn
- February is a good time to prepare equipment for spring such as sharpening mower blades
March – Snow begins melting and lawns become extremely fragile
- Avoid walking on the lawn whenever possible as this can cause compaction
- Do not rake the lawn yet as the grass is still rooting
- Pick up sticks or pet waste
- If large snow piles remain, you can redistribute them to help speed up melting
Patience now prevents lawn damage later.
April – Spring lawn care begins, but timing matters
- Early April is often still too early for lawn work
- Late April is usually when mowing can begin
- Light raking of debris or matted grass can begin once the lawn dries out, typically in late April. A good rule of thumb is if the lawn is ready to mow, then it is ready to rake
- Crabgrass prevention can be applied
- Apply fertilizer to support spring growth
May – Lawn growth increases quickly
- Begin regular mowing at 3 to 4 inches
- Ensure the lawn receives about 1 inch of water per week
- Apply fertilizer to encourage thick growth
- Weed control as needed
- Crabgrass prevention can continue to be applied
- Preventative grub treatments can begin if grubs have been a problem in the past
June – Lawns start to shift from spring growth patterns to summer growth patterns
- Continue mowing at 3 to 4 inches
- Maintain about 1 inch of water per week
- Treat weeds as needed
- Apply fertilizer if the lawn needs additional support
- Preventative grub treatments can still be applied
July – Summer heat increases stress on cool season grasses
- Mow less frequently and raise height to about 4 inches
- Provide roughly 1.25 inches of water per week
- Avoid mowing during very hot weather, temperatures above 85 degrees. Evenings are often not a good time to mow
- Spot treat persistent weeds and newly germinating weeds
- Many lawns may turn brown during this time as they enter dormancy. This is a natural defense against heat and drought and lawns will green back up when temperatures cool and water returns
- Fertilizer is generally not needed during this time
August – Early August conditions remain stressful, but recovery season begins later in the month
- Continue mowing at about 4 inches
- Provide roughly 1.25 inches of water per week
- Avoid mowing during hot afternoons, when temperatures are above 85 degrees
- Monitor for disease and stress
- In the later part of August, fertilizer can be applied to help recovery
- The second half of August is the ideal team to start seeding
September – September is one of the best months for improving lawns
- Mow at 3 to 4 inches
- Provide about 1 inch of water per week
- Fertilizer can be applied to help recovery from summer stress
- Now is a great time to treat weeds, especially difficult to control weeds like creeping charlie or wild violet
- September is also the ideal time to seed the lawn
October – Lawns begin preparing for winter
- Mow slightly shorter at around 3 inches
- Make sure to cleanup leaves to prevent smothering the lawn
- Apply fall fertilizer while grass is still growing to encourage root development
- Weed control can continue if temperatures remain warm
November – The lawn season wraps up
- Complete final leaf cleanup
- Perform a final mow if needed before snow arrives
- Dormant seeding can still be done if fall seeding was missed
December – The lawn is dormant again
- Snow begins covering the lawn
- No active maintenance is needed
- Allow the lawn to rest until spring
Final Thoughts on a Lawn Care Calendar
Healthy Minnesota lawns come from working with the natural growth cycle of cool season grasses. Spring and fall are the most important times for building thick, healthy turf, while summer is focused on protecting the lawn from stress.
Following this simple monthly lawn care calendar can help Twin Cities homeowners maintain a healthy lawn throughout the year.