Michigan Lawn Care Calendar

A month-by-month lawn care schedule for Michigan, built around Kentucky Bluegrass in the north zone (USDA Zone 5). Spring soil temperatures here average 40°F. Print it or save it as a PDF and stick it on the fridge.

North ZoneUSDA Zone 5Kentucky Bluegrass

Month-by-Month Calendar

Each month lists the key tasks for a Kentucky Bluegrass lawn, with mowing height () and weekly watering () where they apply.

JanuaryWinter
  • •Water Your Lawn
FebruaryWinter
  • •Water Your Lawn
MarchSpring
  • •Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches
  • •Spring Clean-Up
  • •Ensure 1 Inch Per Week of Water
✂ 2.5-3.0"💧 1"/wk
AprilSpring
  • •Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches
  • •Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicide
  • •Spring Fertilizer
  • •Post-Emergent Weed Control
  • •Hold Off on Weed Killer (New Seed)
  • •Seed-Safe Weed Prevention (Tenacity)
  • •Spring Overseeding
  • •Ensure 1 Inch Per Week of Water
✂ 2.5-3.0"💧 1"/wk
MaySpring
  • •Grub Preventive Application
  • •Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches
  • •Ensure 1 Inch Per Week of Water
✂ 2.5-3.0"💧 1"/wk
JuneSummer
  • •Mow to 3.0-3.5 Inches
  • •Ensure 1.5 Inches Per Week of Water
✂ 3.0-3.5"💧 1.5"/wk
JulySummer
  • •Mow to 3.0-3.5 Inches
  • •Summer Stress Management
  • •Ensure 1.5 Inches Per Week of Water
✂ 3.0-3.5"💧 1.5"/wk
AugustSummer
  • •Mow to 3.0-3.5 Inches
  • •Summer Stress Management
  • •Ensure 1.5 Inches Per Week of Water
✂ 3.0-3.5"💧 1.5"/wk
SeptemberFall
  • •Core Aerate Your Lawn
  • •Dethatch Your Lawn
  • •Fall Fertilizer (First Application)
  • •Fall Overseeding
  • •Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches
  • •Starter Fertilizer for Fall Overseeding
  • •Ensure 1 Inch Per Week of Water
✂ 2.5-3.0"💧 1"/wk
OctoberFall
  • •Fall Fertilizer (Second Application)
  • •Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches
  • •Post-Emergent Weed Cleanup
  • •Ensure 1 Inch Per Week of Water
  • •Leaf Cleanup
✂ 2.5-3.0"💧 1"/wk
NovemberFall
  • •Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches
  • •Water Your Lawn
  • •Winterizer Fertilizer
  • •Final Leaf Pass Before Winter
✂ 2.5-3.0"
DecemberWinter
  • •Water Your Lawn
  • •Winter Lawn Care

Key Timing at a Glance

Pre-emergent (crabgrass)
mid-April – early May
Apply when soil reaches ~50°F, before crabgrass germinates.
Aerate & overseed
September – October
The prime window for cool-season grass — soil still warm, air cooling.
Biggest feeding
September – November
Fall is the most important feeding for a cool-season lawn.
Mowing & watering
See the month grid
Cutting heights and weekly watering are listed per month above.

Want the exact day instead of a window? The soil temperature tool shows the current 4" soil temp anywhere in Michigan.

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More for Michigan

Michigan lawn care guideNational calendar by zoneSpring checklistFall checklistTexas calendarFlorida calendarGeorgia calendarSouth Carolina calendar
MeasureLawn
Michigan Lawn Care Calendar
Michigan • Kentucky Bluegrass • USDA Zone 5
January
Water Your Lawn
February
Water Your Lawn
March
Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches · Spring Clean-Up · Ensure 1 Inch Per Week of Water
April
Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches · Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicide · Spring Fertilizer · Post-Emergent Weed Control · Hold Off on Weed Killer (New Seed) · Seed-Safe Weed Prevention (Tenacity) · Spring Overseeding · Ensure 1 Inch Per Week of Water
May
Grub Preventive Application · Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches · Ensure 1 Inch Per Week of Water
June
Mow to 3.0-3.5 Inches · Ensure 1.5 Inches Per Week of Water
July
Mow to 3.0-3.5 Inches · Summer Stress Management · Ensure 1.5 Inches Per Week of Water
August
Mow to 3.0-3.5 Inches · Summer Stress Management · Ensure 1.5 Inches Per Week of Water
September
Core Aerate Your Lawn · Dethatch Your Lawn · Fall Fertilizer (First Application) · Fall Overseeding · Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches · Starter Fertilizer for Fall Overseeding · Ensure 1 Inch Per Week of Water
October
Fall Fertilizer (Second Application) · Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches · Post-Emergent Weed Cleanup · Ensure 1 Inch Per Week of Water · Leaf Cleanup
November
Mow to 2.5-3.0 Inches · Water Your Lawn · Winterizer Fertilizer · Final Leaf Pass Before Winter
December
Water Your Lawn · Winter Lawn Care
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