By Ley’s Lawn Care
Your year-round lawn care experts in Troy, Novi, Southfield & surrounding areas.
Keeping a great lawn in Michigan takes more than mowing when the grass gets tall. Each season brings new challenges — and new opportunities — to improve your turf’s health, appearance, and resilience. This checklist breaks down exactly what your lawn needs throughout the year in Oakland County’s unique climate.
🌸 Spring: Wake It Up Right
After months of snow and ice, spring is the time to prep, clean, and set the tone for the entire growing season.
✅ Spring Lawn Care Tasks:
- Clean up debris: Remove branches, leaves, and dead grass.
- First mow: Wait until your lawn reaches 3 inches, then mow down to about 2.5–3 inches.
- Pre-emergent treatment: Apply pre-emergent herbicide in March–April to prevent crabgrass.
- Core aeration (if skipped in fall): Improves air, water, and nutrient flow.
- Early fertilization: A slow-release nitrogen fertilizer helps kickstart growth.
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t rake too early—let the lawn dry first to avoid pulling up healthy grass.
☀️ Summer: Protect Against Heat and Stress
Summer in Oakland County brings heat, foot traffic, and potential droughts. Here’s how to keep your lawn green without overdoing it.
✅ Summer Lawn Care Tasks:
- Mow higher: Raise your blade to 3.5–4 inches to shade soil and retain moisture.
- Water deeply & early: Water 1–2 times per week in the early morning, aiming for 1″ total.
- Spot-treat weeds: Avoid blanket herbicide sprays that can stress grass in heat.
- Keep mower blades sharp: Dull blades tear grass and invite disease.
- Avoid fertilizing in drought: It can burn already-stressed lawns.
💡 Brown grass? Don’t panic. Many grasses naturally go dormant in extreme heat.
🍁 Fall: Prepare for Spring Success
Fall is your most important season for building root strength and preventing issues next year.
✅ Fall Lawn Care Tasks:
- Core aerate: Best done in September–early October.
- Overseed: Fill in bare spots and thicken weak turf after aeration.
- Fertilize: Use a fall/winter formula to strengthen roots before winter.
- Final mow: Cut to about 2.5 inches to prevent snow mold.
- Leaf removal: Don’t let leaves smother the lawn. Mulch or remove them weekly.
💡 Fall is the perfect time for big improvements. Overseeding now leads to greener grass in spring.
❄️ Winter: Protect and Prepare
Your lawn may be dormant, but it still needs protection from foot traffic, plows, and Michigan’s brutal snow.
✅ Winter Lawn Care Tasks:
- Avoid walking on frozen grass: This can crack blades and damage roots.
- Mark driveway edges: Help plows avoid tearing up lawn borders.
- Inspect snow plow damage: Note issues to address in spring.
- Schedule spring cleanup early: The best slots fill up fast!
💡 Planning ahead ensures your yard is ready to bounce back at the first thaw.
🛠️ Want to Skip the Work?
At Ley’s Lawn Care, we take the guesswork (and the heavy lifting) out of seasonal maintenance. From spring fertilizing to winter prep, we’ve got Oakland County covered.
📞 Call or text us today at 313 744 7066
📩 Or request a free quote online
Serving Troy, Southfield, Royal Oak, Novi, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills & surrounding Oakland County communities.