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Lawn Care

Lawn care that actually works: mowing height, deep watering, overseeding, fertilizer timing, crabgrass control and month-by-month checklists. Based on university extension guidance.

Read our lawn care guide · 3 min read

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The short version

A good lawn comes from a few habits, repeated at the right time of year:

  1. Mow high and often. Most lawns do best at 2.5 to 3 inches, and you should never cut more than a third of the height at once.
  2. Water deep, not daily. Wet the root zone, then let the soil dry before the next round.
  3. Feed and seed on your grass type's schedule. Cool-season and warm-season grasses want different timing.
  4. Prevent weeds instead of chasing them. Thick grass and a well-timed pre-emergent stop most crabgrass.

The timing and rates in these guides come from university extension services. For fertilizer, herbicides and pre-emergents, the product label is always the rule.

Start here

Cool-season or warm-season?

According to University of Georgia Extension:

  • Cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass grow best at about 60 to 75°F. They peak in spring and fall and can struggle in summer heat.
  • Warm-season grasses such as bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass and centipedegrass grow best at about 80 to 95°F and go brown and dormant in winter.

Roughly, the North grows cool-season grass, the South grows warm-season grass, and the transition zone in between can grow either, with trade-offs.

Mowing

University of Illinois Extension recommends 2.5 to 3 inches for most lawns, 2.5 to 3.5 inches for tall fescue and 1 to 2 inches for bermudagrass. Leave clippings on the lawn: they're 75 to 80% water, break down quickly, don't cause thatch and return nitrogen. Keep the blade sharp, because a dull blade tears grass and invites disease. Full technique in How to mow a lawn.

Watering

Kansas State Research and Extension suggests wetting the soil to 6 to 8 inches, which usually takes 1 to 1.5 inches of water, then waiting for signs of drought stress before watering again. Daily watering isn't needed for an established lawn. A screwdriver pushed into the soil shows how deep the water went. More in How often to water your lawn.

Seeding and repair

For cool-season lawns, Iowa State Extension puts the best overseeding window at mid-August to mid-September. Good seed-to-soil contact matters most: aerate, dethatch or slit-seed first, then keep the seedbed moist with light, frequent watering.

Fertilizer

University of Maryland Extension recommends feeding cool-season lawns from late summer into fall, and warm-season lawns from late spring into summer. Test your soil before using phosphorus, and measure your lawn before buying, since bags are usually sized for 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 sq ft. Always follow the product label for rates and timing.

Weeds

Crabgrass is an annual that comes back from seed every year. A pre-emergent herbicide applied before the seeds germinate stops it. Kansas State ties timing to soil at 1 inch averaging about 55°F for roughly five days, and notes that blooming forsythia is only a rough signal. Follow the product label.

Seasonal checklists

All lawn care guides

FAQ

What is the most important thing for a healthy lawn?

Mowing at the right height with a sharp blade. Tall grass grows deeper roots, shades out weeds and needs less water. Most lawns do best at about 2.5 to 3 inches.

When is the best time to fertilize?

For cool-season grass, late summer and fall. For warm-season grass, late spring into summer. Follow the product label for the rate.

When should I overseed?

For cool-season lawns, mid-August to mid-September is the best window in much of the North. Warm-season lawns are usually seeded or sodded in late spring and early summer.

How much water does a lawn need?

Enough to wet the soil 6 to 8 inches deep, then let it dry before watering again. That usually means 1 to 1.5 inches per watering, not a daily sprinkle.

Should I bag or mulch my grass clippings?

Mulch them in most cases. They break down fast and return nitrogen. Bag only when the grass got too tall or clumps sit on top of the lawn.

When do I put down crabgrass pre-emergent?

Before crabgrass germinates in spring, when soil at 1 inch averages about 55°F for several days. Follow the product label for timing and rate.

What is my grass type?

If your lawn stays green in winter and slows in summer heat, it's likely cool-season. If it goes brown in winter and thrives in summer heat, it's likely warm-season. Your local extension office can identify a sample.