Warren County Master Gardeners
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Four Steps to a Healthy Lawn
1. Dethatch your grass and rake out the excess thatch.
2. Feed your lawn with the appropriate fertilizer for your grass type at the suggested times.
3. Every few years, aerate your lawn in fall and spring when grass is actively growing, but not stressed by the hot sun.
4. Kill the weeds. Small patches may be dug out, but others will require specialized weed killer. Check the labels and apply as the label suggests.
Lawn Mowing Heights Centipede 1.5 to 2 inches high St. Augustine 2.5 to 3 inches high Zoysia 1 to 2 inches high
Bermuda 0.5 to 1.5 inches high
for January – March
Take a soil sample – pH (lime)
Plant fruit trees, shade trees and shrubs
Mow or rake up leaves
Transplant small trees and shrubs
Prune summer blooming plants
Cut back ground cover plants
Buy summer blooming bulbs
Apply a pre-emergence herbicide to control late winter/early spring type weeds
Spring Activities
for April – June
Prune spring blooming plants
Fertilize plants/lawns
Repot houseplants; put outside
Plant summer annual flowers
Plant warm season vegetables
Put out fire ant bait
Spray for insects & disease
Summer Activities
for July – September
Water, Water, Water
Lightly prune plants
Mow grass when needed
Fill in with annual flowers
Pinch spent flower heads
Plant wildflower seed
Put out fire ant bait
Start cool season vegetables
Fall Activities
for October –December
Apply pre-emergence herbicide to control winter weeds
Plant cool season vegetables
Build new flower and shrub beds Broadcast flower seed – poppy, larkspur, nigella
Rake up leaves / mulch plants
Plant winter flowers
Buy & plant spring bulbs
~ from Donna Beliech
Area Horticulturist,
MSU-Extension Service
