April – May: wake the lawn up
- Rake out matted grass and winter debris once the ground is firm
- Overseed thin and salt-damaged edges
- First mow high — never scalp new growth
- Aerate compacted areas before the heat arrives
June – August: keep it alive
- Mow at 3 inches to shade roots and slow weeds
- Water deeply twice a week, early morning
- Spot-treat weeds instead of blanket spraying
- Sharpen or have blades sharpened mid-season
September – October: the most important month
- Aerate and overseed — cool nights favour germination
- Apply a fall feed for root growth
- Keep leaves off the grass; mulch-mow light layers
- Cut slightly shorter on the final mow
November – March: protect
- Clear gutters and downspouts away from beds
- Avoid road salt near lawn edges; use sand where possible
- Keep foot traffic off frozen turf
- Book spring cleanup early — good crews fill up by March