Here is a simple guide for maintaining a beautiful lawn in Ottawa's unique climate. Lawn cutting is by far the most important aspect of lawn care and should not be overlooked. There are a few lawn care tasks that if done at the right time can make a big difference and take your lawn to the next level.
Mowing
• Cut your grass at 2.5" - 3" inches tall and never cut off more than 1/3 of the grass blade.
• Mow every week in spring and fall.
• Mow every two weeks in July and August.
• Leave the grass clippings on your lawn and disperse them with a rake or leaf blower if they clump up. The clippings will decompose and be a natural source of nutrients for your lawn.
Lawn Care
Spring (late April to early May):
• Dethatch - Dethatching can be done using a dethatching machine or just a fan rake. Remove all dead grass and debris from the lawn down to the root level. This allows more water and sunlight to be absorbed by the root system.
• Aerate - Aerating the lawn reduces compaction and allows water and air to pass through the root system more efficiently.
• Top Dressing - Spread a thin layer of topsoil over your lawn, just enough so that about 1/3 of the grass blade is buried.
• Over-seed - Spread grass seed over the top dressing and rake it into the soil.
• Fertilize - Give the grass seed about 3 weeks to germinate and then apply a spring fertilizer to the lawn.
Summer (late June to early September):
• Fertilize - fertilize twice in the summer, once early summer and once late summer. Make sure to use a summer fertilizer blend.
Fall (late September to mid November) :
• Do the same lawn care tasks in the fall as in the spring. Dethatch, Aerate, Apply Top Dressing, Overseed and Fertilize. Just make sure to use a fall fertilizer mix.
