Maintenance December 24, 2025 12 min read

Year-Round Lawn Maintenance Checklist: Monthly Tasks for Chester County

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Maintaining a beautiful lawn year-round requires consistent effort and knowing what tasks to prioritize each month. This comprehensive checklist breaks down lawn maintenance by month, ensuring you never miss critical seasonal tasks. Print this guide and check off tasks as you complete them, or hire a professional to handle maintenance for you.

January: Winter Dormancy

Focus: Protection and planning for spring

January Tasks:

Monitor snow mold (pink/gray patches on snow)

Protect grass from salt damage near walkways

Plan spring lawn care and equipment needs

Order seeds, fertilizer, and equipment online

Schedule spring aeration and seeding appointments

February: Late Winter Maintenance

Focus: Preparing for spring growth

February Tasks:

Service mower and equipment before spring

Sharpen mower blades

Order spring bulbs and perennials if not done

Clean gutters and downspouts

Remove winter mulch from garden beds gradually

March: Spring Preparation

Focus: Wake up the lawn

March Tasks:

Rake vigorously to remove winter debris and thatch

Assess lawn damage (bare spots, compaction, disease)

Get soil test from Penn State Extension

Edge garden beds and walkways

Prune dead branches from trees and shrubs

April: Spring Growth Kick-Off

Focus: Active spring maintenance begins

April Tasks:

Apply first fertilizer when soil temp reaches 55°F

Pre-emergent crabgrass control if not done in fall

Begin regular mowing (1-2x per week)

Spot-treat visible weeds

Schedule aeration if needed

May: Peak Spring Growth

Focus: Keep up with rapid growth

May Tasks:

Mow 1-2 times per week at 3.5-4 inches

Aerate if not done, followed by seeding

Seed bare spots immediately after aeration

Apply second spring fertilizer

Keep new seed and seeded areas consistently moist

June: Transition to Summer

Focus: Prepare for heat stress

June Tasks:

Continue regular mowing (may be 1-2x per week)

Gradually raise mowing height to 4+ inches

Stop fertilizing (wait until fall)

Ensure adequate watering during dry periods

Monitor for disease in humid conditions

July-August: Summer Stress Management

Focus: Survival mode for grass

Summer Tasks:

Mow only once weekly (if at all)

Keep blade height at 4-4.5 inches

Water deeply and infrequently (1-1.5 inches per week)

NO fertilizer (causes heat stress and disease)

Watch for dormancy; don't panic—grass will recover

September: Fall Growth Returns

Focus: The most important fertilization month

September Tasks:

Apply first fall fertilizer (late August/early September)

Increase mowing frequency to 1-2x per week

Lower blade height to 3-3.5 inches gradually

Overseed thin areas

Begin fall cleanup (but leave some leaves for wildlife)

October: Fall Maintenance Peak

Focus: Prepare for winter

October Tasks:

Apply second fall fertilizer (mid-October)

Rake and remove excessive leaves

Continue mowing 1-2x per week

Prune shrubs and trees

Plant spring bulbs

November: Preparation for Winter

Focus: Final fall tasks

November Tasks:

Apply final pre-winter fertilizer (slow-release)

Final lawn mowing (cut to 2.5-3 inches)

Remove all remaining leaves

Clean gutters and downspouts

Store equipment; drain gas from mower

December: Winter Rest

Focus: Protect dormant grass

December Tasks:

Protect lawn from heavy foot traffic on frozen ground

Protect from excessive salt damage

Plan for spring projects

Review this year's lawn performance

Schedule spring maintenance appointments

Monthly Summary Table

Month	Key Task	Mowing	Fertilize
Jan	Plan spring	—	—
Feb	Service equipment	—	—
Mar	Rake, soil test	—	—
Apr	Fertilize, mow	1-2x/week	Yes
May	Aerate, seed	1-2x/week	Yes
Jun	Raise height	1-2x/week	No
Jul-Aug	Water, rest	1x/week	No
Sep	Fall fertilize	1-2x/week	Yes
Oct	Fall cleanup	1-2x/week	Yes
Nov	Final mow	1x	Yes
Dec	Protect lawn	—	—

Conclusion

Following this year-round checklist ensures your Chester County lawn receives the proper care at the right times. While you can certainly handle many of these tasks yourself, hiring a professional landscape company eliminates guesswork and ensures nothing is missed. Contact F&A Property Services to discuss a customized year-round maintenance plan for your property.

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