• Mowing
• Fertilizing
• Watering
• Herbicides
• Insect Control
• Disease Control
• Thatch Removal
• Aerification
• Overseeding

April 1 to April 10

Clean lawn of debris (i.e. rocks, sticks, etc.). Set mower one setting lower than the lawn was mowed last fall.

April 10 to last mowing

Maintain 2.5- to 3-inch mowing height throughout season to promote rooting  and stress tolerance.

May 1 to May 10

Fertilize with 1.0 lb of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. Slow release fertilizer carriers are preferred.

June 1-10

Fertilize with .5-1.0 lb. of slow-release actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft.

July to Aug.

Avoid fertilizing.

Sept. 1 to Sept. 15

Fertilize with 1.0 lb. of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. Slow release fertilizer carriers are preferred.

Oct. 15 to Nov. 1

Fertilize with about 1.5 to 2.0 lbs. of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. Phosphorus and potassium can be applied with fall fertilizer formulations.

April to November

Water as needed to prevent wilting and drought. About 1.0 inch of water  is needed per week in spring and fall, and 1.5 inches per week in summer. Deep water every two to three days. Avoid daily, light watering.

Alternative Watering Schedule

For water conservation allow turf to go dormant. Irrigate only if sustained drought occurs (> 3 weeks without rain). Lawn will green up with sufficient rainfall in the late summer/early fall.

May 1 to May 10

Apply preemergent herbicides for crabgrass, goosegrass and foxtail control.

May 1 to May 20

Control dandelion and winter annual broadleaf weeds if they are a  problem.

June 1 to June 20

Apply second preemergent herbicide application (i.e., six weeks after initial application) to areas where spotted spurge has been a problem or areas with a history of severe crabgrass infections.

Sept. 15 to Oct. 15

Apply perennial broadleaf weed control. This is the preferred time for controlling dandelion and clover (see NebGuide G91-1045, Lawn Weed Prevention and Management).

April 20 to May 10

Check for sod webworm larvae and control if necessary.

May 10 to May 20

Control adult billbug, particularly on lawns with a history of injury.

July 15 to Aug. 15

Check for white grubs and control if necessary (see NebGuide 92-1085, White Grubs in Turf.)

Aug. 20-Sept. 10

Check for billbug larvae, control if necessary

April 10 to June 15 and
Sep. 15 to Oct. 15

Control leafspot on common Kentucky bluegrass lawns. Apply according to  label directions (see NebGuide G89-925, Leaf Spot and Melting Out Diseases of Turfgrass).

May 30 to July 30

Apply preventive summer patch control on lawns that have had this problem in the past (see NebGuide G90-970, Summer Patch and Necrotic Ring Spot Diseases of Turfgrasses).

Aug. 15 to Oct. 15

Leaf and stem rust may be a problem on susceptible cultivars (see G92-1119, Rust Diseases of Turfgrass).

April 1 to April 30 and/or
Sep. 1 to Sep. 30

Power rake if thatch layer exceeds 0.5 inch (see NebGuide G85-751, Thatch Prevention and Control). Apply leafspot fungicide control to common Kentucky bluegrass lawns after power raking.

April 1 to April 30 and/or
Sep. 1 to Sep. 30

Aerify lawns that are on clay soil to minimize compaction and improve rooting.

April 1 to April 30 and/or
Sep. 1 to Sep. 30

Overseed thin Kentucky bluegrass lawns with improved cultivars at .75  to 1.0lb. seed per 1,000 sq. ft. (See current NebFact Recommended Cultivars for current cultivar recommendations.)