Lawn Care Calendar for Ohio

This calendar is for central Ohio, however southern and northern Ohio may differ by 10 to 14 days. Southern Ohio may be 10 to 14 days ahead of schedule, while northern Ohio may be 10 to 14 days behind. This calendar shows when lawn practices should take place in general; check the text for further information on specific topics.

EARLY SPRING (MARCH)

• Rake up any remaining leaves on the lawn or mow to chop them up.

• When the grass starts to grow again, start mowing on a regular basis.

SPRING (APRIL AND MAY)

• Early April, around the time the forsythias bloom, is a good time to use corn gluten for pre-emergent weed management.

  As needed, mow.

• Hand-pull weeds as needed, or spot-treat with herbicidal soaps.

• If there is a lot of thatch or the soil is compacted, core cultivate it.

SUMMER (JUNE AND JULY)

• Hand-pull weeds as needed, or spot-treat with herbicidal soaps.

• As needed, irrigate.

• As needed, mow.

• In the early summer, keep an eye out for insects (bluegrass billbug, chinch bug and sod webworm)

LATE SUMMER (AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER)

• Hand-pull weeds as needed, or spot-treat with herbicidal soaps.

• As needed, irrigate.

• As needed, mow.

• Keep an eye out for grubs, the chinch insect, and the sod webworm.

• Fertilize your garden in September.

• If necessary, renovate or overseed in early September.

• Application of corn gluten (only if no seeding work is being done in the lawn).

LATE FALL (NOVEMBER AND POSSIBLY INTO DECEMBER)

• Continue mowing as long as the grass continues to grow.

• Using a lawnmower, chop up fallen leaves.

• Use a late-season fertilizer.