We are known for the lush green lawns we create, not only because of our name, but also because of our reputation in the Grand Junction, Colorado area! Since 2003, the lawn care specialists at Lush Green Services have been dazzling customers and neighbors by creating some of the best lawns in Colorado, and everyone always asks the same question—“How do you do it?” So, we decided to devise a guide for you to follow at home to create the lush, green lawn you have always wanted!
Lawn Care Calendar For Colorado
- Leaf Cleanup: If snow stops falling and/or melts early, start your lawn care for the year by removing any leaves or debris that may have found its way into your yard over winter.
- Weed Control: Apply pre-emergent weed control to prevent weeds that may have been lying dormant all winter long.
- Mowing & Watering: You will not likely need to focus on watering or mowing, as your lawn is still in dormancy this early in the year.
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- Fertilization: Apply your first fertilizer treatment in early March. It is important to not stress your turf so early in the season, so consider using a starter fertilizer that is higher in potassium and lower in nitrogen.
- Weed Control: Continue to apply a spring pre-emergent to keep weeds down in the dirt instead of up in your lawn.
- Disease Control: Fungicide treatments at this time of year help ensure healthy turf just at the time when your grass starts growing again. This is an important time for treating snow mold or other winter lawn diseases.
- Mowing & Watering: Start a weekly mowing routine in March, or when grass starts starts growing again. Mow 1 inch higher than normal to allow your lawn to get established. Start watering 2-3 time per week, early in the morning.
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- Fertilization: Begin full fertilization treatments. Check NPK ratios to make sure your lawn gets adequate nitrogen for full growth. Your Colorado lawn will reach its peak growth during this timeframe, and plenty of nitrogen will ensure a lush, green lawn.
- Weed Control: If any weeds pushed through the pre-emergent applications, you will need to spot spray them with a herbicide or other product, or you can dig out the roots.
- Aeration & Seeding: As ground temperatures rise, likely in late April to early May, aerating and seeding can be a great way to improve soil quality just when your lawn is at the peak of its growing season. Drop in seed anywhere that looks a little patchy.
- Mowing & Watering: Never remove more than the top 1/3 of your lawn while mowing, and stick to a weekly mowing schedule. Water only twice per week, but make sure they are deeper, longer sessions that take place early in the morning.
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- Fertilization: Use a mixture of summer fertilizer and broadleaf weed control. Slow-release, granular fertilizers are best for this time of year in our climate. Be sure to water-in granular fertilizer, or else the nutrients can not be activated and absorbed by your lawn.
- Weed Control: In addition to using a fertilizer/herbicide combo, be sure to directly spot-spray any broadleaf weeds that are maturing and flowering across your turf.
- Grub Control: White grubs tend to hatch in summer, and they will immediately start destroying your turf once they do. Applying a preventive grub control can help protect your lawn against such attacks.
- Mowing & Watering: Keep cool-season grasses near 3 inches and warm-season grasses near 2 inches, and stick to weekly mowings. Water 2-3 times per week for up to 30 minutes per zone.
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- Fertilization: As summer slowly comes to an end and fall creeps in, it’s time to fortify roots! Introduce potash to help roots endure cooler temperatures. Make sure not to apply too much nitrogen, as this is damaging to many warm-season lawns when it is too cold.
- Weed Control: Always spot-treat any existing weeds this late in the year. The last thing you want is to allow weeds to grow and spread right before lawns enter winter dormancy.
- Leaf Cleanup: Rake up fallen leaves and tree debris as quickly as possible in order to prevent a fungal infection from appearing next spring.
- Aeration & Seeding: This is the best time of year to aerate and seed a cool-season lawn. Aeration will help loosen up compacted soil, which means your lawn can absorb nutrients and seeds for thicker growth.
- Mowing & Watering: Monitor your lawn’s growth closely at this point in the year. Lower the blade half an inch each session until growth stops completely. This helps your lawn store nutrients in dormancy. Cut watering frequency/amount by 50% until growth stops.
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- Fertilization: Apply a granular, slow-release fertilizer to help sustain your lawn throughout winter dormancy.
- Weed Control: Pre-emergent weed control can still be applied to help ensure that your lawn’s soil is as healthy and weed free as possible over winter. This is actually a very important application of pre-emergent, because it will help set your lawn up for success in spring.
- Disease Control: Fungicide treatments should be applied right before and right after winter in order to ensure that no lawn or leaf diseases develop during winter.
- Mowing & Watering: Your lawn is likely in dormancy by this point, which means it is no longer growing and in need of water and mowing. If growth is still apparent, mow until your lawn stays at 2 inches and does not grow taller.
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Step 1: Early Spring
Fertilization & Weed Control
During this timeframe, we apply a spring pre-emergent in order to keep weeds from germinating. Attacking these weeds early in the growing season, before the plants even emerge, is the best way to prevent the spread of weeds as the temperatures warm up. Fertilizers used early in the season should contain low to moderate amounts of nitrogen in order to avoid overfertilization, which will damage your lawn so early in the year.
Mowing
- Mowing should begin around early March.
- Mowing this early in the season should be done cautiously.
- Keep the blade height set to mow no lower than 3 inches.
- Remove leaves from previous season before mowing begins.
Watering
- Start your watering routine in March if conditions are dry.
- Avoid shallow roots by making sure not to overwater.
- Consider watering 2-3 times per week early in the season.
- Water every zone for about 20-30 minutes.
Step 2: Late Spring
Fertilization & Weed Control
Our second fertilizer application takes place during these months, with efforts focused on rejuvenating your turf through the middle of the spring season. The spring fertilizer used at this stage should contain moderate to high amounts of nitrogen, which will stimulate grass growth and help root development. It is important to remember that applying high levels of nitrogen to your turf will cause your grass to grow more rapidly, meaning more mowing and maintenance will be needed. Also, avoid applying excess amounts of fertilizer, as this could lead to turf burn and cause your lawn to develop bare spots.
Aeration & Overseeding
Core aeration is one of the most underutilized lawn care services, but it can work wonders for your grass. Just as lawns and plants begin to bloom, aerate your lawn in order to allow the soil to breathe better and absorb the most nutrients. If you notice any bare spots on your lawn as it starts to return to full strength, overseeding can be combined with core aeration to fill in those areas. The tiny holes created by core aeration are perfect for dropping in grass seed to start turning those bare spots green again.
Mowing
- Stick to a weekly mowing schedule for deep roots and healthy turf.
- Always make sure to clean and sharpen mower blades.
- Mowing height should remain around 3-3.5 inches if growth is slow.
- Leave grass clippings on your lawn to recycle nutrients and fertilize.
Watering
- Continue a watering schedule of at least 2-3 sessions per week.
- Make sure all sprinkler heads are spaced apart evenly.
- Water every zone for about 20-30 minutes.
- Always allow a heavy rainfall to replace a watering session.
Step 3: Summer
Fertilization & Weed Control
Our third application of the year comes as summer starts to arrive. This treatment features a mix of fertilizer and broadleaf weed control. The fertilizer used should be a slow-release type in order to sustain your lawn through the potentially damaging effects of the summer heat. If you are applying this fertilizer yourself, make sure to pick out a brand that has the highest slow-release percentage you can find. Any weeds that have emerged since our previous two applications will be spot sprayed.
Mowing
- Continue a weekly mowing schedule for deep roots and healthy turf.
- Always make sure to clean and sharpen mower blades.
- Mow warm-season turfs near 2-2.5 inches in summer.
- Only remove the top 1/3 of your lawn’s grass length.
Watering
- Start watering every other day in the heat of summer.
- Make sure all sprinkler heads are spaced apart evenly.
- Water every zone for about 20-30 minutes.
- Always allow a heavy rainfall to replace a watering session.
Step 4: Early Fall
Fertilization & Weed Control
The fourth treatment we give our customers features a slightly altered mixture of fertilizer and weed control that is better suited to typical weather experienced at the end of summer. If you have a warm-season turf, a fall pre-emergent could be applied in order to prevent winter weeds from germinating. If you are purchasing and applying fertilizer by yourself, make sure to ask your salesperson which type of fertilizer is best for this time of year.
Aeration & Overseeding
Late August to early September is the absolute best time to perform core aeration on your turf. If you choose to aerate only once per year, this is the timeframe during which it should occur. This is also the optimal time to apply seed over struggling areas of your lawn. Aerating now will reduce the likelihood of bare patches and weeds reappearing in the following spring. We highly recommend taking advantage of our aeration and overseeding services at this time rather than trying to perform these tasks yourself, as our technicians are regularly trained on the best methods of aerating and seeding.
Mowing
- Continue a weekly mowing schedule for deep roots and healthy turf.
- Always make sure to clean and sharpen mower blades.
- Mow warm-season turfs near 2-2.5 inches in summer.
- Only remove the top 1/3 of your lawn’s grass length.
Watering
- Keep top 1/2 an inch of your lawn consistently moist when seeding.
- Make sure all sprinkler heads are spaced apart evenly.
- Water every zone for about 10 minutes, 3 times a day.
- Always allow a heavy rainfall to replace a watering session.
Step 5: Late Fall
Fertilization & Weed Control
For our final visit of the year, efforts will be centered around getting your lawn ready to take on winter. This treatment features a high-nitrogen winterizing fertilizer. The elevated levels of nitrogen used in this fertilizer will provide your turf with a big boost of energy and nutrients, which is a crucial step in making sure your lawn is not destroyed by harsh winter weather.
Mowing
- Continue mowing the top ⅓ of your lawn until growth slows down.
- Rake all leaves before every mowing that takes place in autumn.
- Make your last mowing of the year slightly lower to the ground.
Watering
- Watering should be reduced by at least 50% of previous cycles.
- Water twice per week until turf growth ceases for the season.
- Ask us how our irrigation services can protect your sprinklers this winter.
