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Apply crabgrass pre-emergent in spring, a week or two before the soil holds about 55°F for several days in a row, then water it in. That ranges from mid-February in the Florida Panhandle to mid-April through early May in places like Nebraska.
October 14, 2026
Aerate cool-season grass (bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass) in early fall or spring, and warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine) from late spring through midsummer, while it's actively growing and has at least 4 weeks to recover.
October 8, 2026
Weed and feed can kill broadleaf weeds like dandelions and clover while it fertilizes, but only on damp, actively growing weeds. For most cool-season lawns, early fall is the best time to apply it.
September 26, 2026
Thatch over about 1/2 inch needs managing, and core aeration often handles it. Several extension services save mechanical dethatching for about 1 inch or more: do it in early fall or spring for cool-season grass and late spring to midsummer for warm-season grass.
September 3, 2026
Overseed cool-season lawns in late summer to early fall (mid-August to late September in much of the North) at about half the new-lawn seed rate, after aerating or slit seeding, and keep the top inch of soil moist until the grass is up.
August 28, 2026
Winterize before the first hard freeze: shut off the water, switch the controller off, then drain or blow out the lines with compressed air (never above 80 psi for PVC or 50 psi for poly pipe). HomeAdvisor puts a pro blowout at about $100–$250.
August 24, 2026
Fertilize cool-season grass mainly in fall (September through November), with an optional light feeding in late spring. Fertilize warm-season grass from late spring through summer, once it has fully greened up and the soil is about 65°F.
August 22, 2026
