Maintaining a healthy lawn in Louisville, Kentucky means following a seasonal schedule that matches our transitional climate. Cool‑season grasses dominate our area, so spring and fall are the most active periods. Here’s a month‑by‑month guide:
Spring (March–May)
- Apply pre‑emergent herbicide on time: In central Kentucky, pre‑emergent weed control should be down by mid‑April to stop crabgrass and other summer annual weeds publications.ca.uky.edu. A second application in late May may be needed for weeds like goosegrass and foxtails publications.ca.uky.edu.
- Mow high and often: Taller mowing heights (around 3 inches) help shade out weeds and encourage deeper roots publications.ca.uky.edu. Never remove more than one‑third of the blade at once to reduce stress.
- Limit spring fertilizer: Heavy spring fertilization promotes disease and weed problems; the University of Kentucky recommends avoiding “weed & feed” products in spring and saving most nitrogen for fal lpublications.ca.uky.edu.
- Check for grubs: Japanese beetles and masked chafers lay eggs in early summer; if more than eight grubs per square foot are found during August sampling, treatment may be warranted entomology.ca.uky.edu.
Summer (June–August)
- Deep, infrequent watering: Lawns need about one inch of water per week. Apply ½–⅔ inch every 3–4 days, saturating the soil 3–4 inches deep daviess.ca.uky.edu. Water early in the morning to reduce disease and evaporation daviess.ca.uky.edu.
- Raise mowing height: Increase cutting height during hot weather to reduce stress and shade the soil publications.ca.uky.edu.
- Scout for brown patch: Humid nights with highs over 85 °F favour brown patch disease plantpathology.ca.uky.edu. Avoid fertilizing during outbreaks and mow when grass is dry plantpathology.ca.uky.edu.
Fall (September–November)
- Fertilize for root growth: Apply most of your annual nitrogen in autumn; 2–3 lbs of nitrogen per 1,000 ft² per year is adequate plantpathology.ca.uky.edu. Fall fertilization promotes vigorous, well‑rooted turf that recovers from summer stress plantpathology.ca.uky.edu.
- Seed or overseed cool‑season lawns: The best time to seed Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue is mid‑August through early October publications.ca.uky.edu. Overseeding helps thicken thin turf and crowd out weeds.
- Aerate and dethatch: Core aeration relieves compaction and mixes soil with thatch. For cool‑season lawns, aerate while grass is actively growing in spring or fall publications.ca.uky.edu. Aim for 20–30 holes per square foot and penetrate 2–3 inches deep publications.ca.uky.edu.
Winter (December–February)
- Limit traffic: Frozen turf is susceptible to damage; avoid walking on frosted grass.
- Plan ahead: Schedule soil testing and plan fertilizer and weed control purchases early.
By following this Louisville‑specific calendar, you can keep your lawn healthy year‑round. For professional help, contact the team at Rise Pest Pros for a customized lawn care program.
