Landscape Calendar
Creating a beautiful lawn and landscape is the result of a partnership between RYAN and the homeowner. Our RYANPros have compiled this list of monthly action items for homeowners to ensure great results. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule service, please contact us.
January
- If the weather is dry but above freezing, bring out your hose and water trees, shrubs and garden areas.
- Keep bird feeders filled.
February
- Tune up mower including oil and filter change.
- Sharpen blades.
- Mow ground cover plantings with mower on high setting. Do not bag clippings, leave them in the beds.
- Pull back mulch from pansies so their early spring blooms will brighten your landscape.
March
- Mow ground covers if you did not get it done in February.
- Water every 1 to 2 weeks if the weather has been dry.
- Check automatic sprinkler systems now.
- Mow bluegrass and fescue lawns low the first time to remove brown leaves. Bag the clippings if necessary.
- Fill the birdbath.
April
- Scalp zoysia lawns on lowest mower setting and bag clippings after April 15th.
- Aerate bluegrass and fescue lawns now or in the fall.
- Mow every 5 to 7 days; increase frequency as the lawn grows faster.
- Start disease control program on pines, crabapples and hawthorns.
- Finish cleaning up perennial beds.
- Start planting perennials after the middle of the month.
- Divide perennials such as hosta and daylilies this month.
- Clean leaves and debris from downspouts and gutters.
May
- Mow bluegrass and fescue lawns every 4 to 5 days until growth slows. Do not bag clippings except on zoysia and Bermuda lawns.
- Plant annual flowers and tomato plants after Mother’s Day.
- Mulch new planting areas after plants are in the ground.
- Hummingbirds return. Clean feeders with warm soapy water and fill with nectar.
- Watch for sawfly larvae eating scotch and Mugo pines in early May. Call RYAN if control is necessary.
- Water weekly if it is dry.
- Prune low hanging branches on trees after leaves emerge.
- If your lawn is a combination of zoysia and bluegrass, this is the month to aerate.
June
- Water your lawn following watering recommendations.
- Water flowerbeds and lightly fertilize annual flowers.
- Aerate zoysia now. Mow zoysia at 1.5 to 2 inches in height.
- Sharpen mower blade again.
- Prune spring flowering shrubs. Thin deciduous shrubs by removing one-third to one-fourth of the older, larger canes.
- Clean air conditioner coils by spraying coils with a soapy solution and using a forceful spray from your hose nozzle.
- RYAN puts preventive grub control on your lawn now.
July
- Water every 1 to 5 days, depending on the heat, to keep plants and lawn from drying out.
- Watch for disease spots in your lawn. Call RYAN to get on a disease control program.
- Weed flower beds regularly.
- Water weekly or more often if needed.
August
- Check shrubs for mites and other insect and disease problems. Call RYAN for a preventative control program.
- Water all beds with 2 inches of water per week if natural rainfall is lacking.
- Prepare the lawn for September seeding by mowing the grass short.
September
- Seed your lawn if needed. Water daily for 3 weeks after seeding.
- Prepare new beds for planting in the spring. Kill the grass in the beds and till in compost.
- RYAN fertilizes the lawn with a high nitrogen fertilizer to help it recover from summer injury.
October
- Plant spring blooming bulbs such as daffodils.
- Empty ornamental containers and store for the winter.
- Call RYAN to root feed trees and shrubs for healthy year round growth.
November
- Mulch perennials with leaves for winter protection.
- Fill bird feeders as needed.
- Mulch around pansies in November or December, before hard freezes hit.
December
- Mulch roses after the soil freezes.
- Review your landscape for winter color. Add evergreens and plants that produce berries to add interest.