Season	Landscape Area	Landscape Task
Spring (March - late May) March is the month when we receive the greatest snow fall.	Perennials	Cut back perennials 3"- 4" from ground. This material can be composted as long as it is not diseased.
	Grasses	Cut old growth 8" from ground. This material can be composted as long as it is not diseased.
	Shrubs	Prune shrubs as noted in shrub care section - remove dead wood and unwanted suckers. Make sure to not prune flowering shrubs and understand if your shrubs bloom on old wood (stems from the previous season) or new wood (stems formed during current season). Some shrubs such as Russian sage or Blue Mist Spirea are better controlled and develop a better shape with annual cutting back to the ground.
	Trees	Minimize number of pruning cuts - pruning too fast lessens trunk taper and increases sunscald. Remove dead, broken or competing branches (keep 1/2 of foliage in lower 2/3 of tree). Identify lowest scaffold branches (lowest branches of tree canopy) to manage for a 7' clearance to walk beneath. Branch management must be done over multiple growing seasons. Structurally prune tree to manage temporary branches, maintain dominant trunk into upper region of tree and remove any co-dominant branches (branches that grow together and form a weak connection to trunk or other branches). Prune suckers to maintain the single or multi stem nature of the tree. Observe for any signs of disease, insect damage or winter drought stress and treat.
	Turf Please Note: You turf is Kentucky Blue Grass. KBG has received a reputation as a bad choice for drought tolerance. While Buffalo grass will survive on 8-10 inches of water it will not stand up to daily foot traffic. KBG does turn brown during drought conditions; however it will reemerge with the application of water. KGB is second only to Buffalo grass in drought tolerance and feels softer underfoot and performs much better under constant use.	Core aerate all turf areas leaving plugs to release nutrients back into turf. Dethatch only if thatch layer is blocking water from reaching the soil. Mower maintenance - make sure to sharpen blade before or after each mowing. Apply pre-emergent herbicides only if turf areas and planting beds are older than 1 year. Most post emergent herbicides are OK on sod type turf. Apply slow release fertilizer - (make sure to adjust application times if mulch or bag your lawn clippings - recycling lawn clippings back into the lawn reduces the amount of fertilizer needed in a season. Short Mow - remove no more than 1/3 of grass blade. Keep mow height at 3-3.5".
	Irrigation Please Note: KBG needs 24-26 inches of water per season to look its best. It will be acceptable with 18-20 inches of water per season. Both of these numbers are based on normal precipitation and good irrigation coverage.	Start up system after danger of frost has past (Typically, Mother's Day). Replace any broken heads and check backflow device for freeze damage. Adjust heads for even coverage of each zone. Check each plant emitter to ensure it is working. Make adjustments to irrigation schedule if necessary.
	Water Feature	Install pump. Check feature lights and replace bulbs as necessary. Remove debris and fill basin. Refill basin as necessary. Enjoy!
	New Plants	Late spring is a good time to divide and plant new plants in the landscape.
Summer (June - mid to late September)	Perennials	Deadhead or remove all spent blooms to promote longer flowering. Material can be composted if not diseased. Fertilize according to plant care guide.
	Shrubs	Observe for disease, insects or signs of drought stress. Treat as necessary. Fertilize according to plant care guide.
	Trees	Observe for disease, insects or signs of drought stress. Treat as necessary.
	Turf	Observe for disease, insects or signs of drought stress. Treat as necessary. Irrigation schedule may need to be changed to match current season's rain amounts. Apply fertilizer in August if not recycling lawn clippings. Mow weekly - sharpen mower blade before or after each mowing. Mow Height - keep turf height at 3-3.5" (promotes healthier turf, less water use, out-competes broadleaf weeds). Never remove more than 1/3 of grass blade in any one mowing.
	New Plant Material	Good time to add or transplant divided plant material. Make sure new plant material is irrigated with drip system. May require additional hand watering to get plant established.
	Irrigation Please Note: Sometimes due to watering restrictions your lawn may not look as green as you would like. Realizing that we are in a semi-desert region of the world and that your Kentucky Blue Grass reacts to drought stress by going into dormancy (turning brownish) will save you time and aggravation. Remember, brown KBG is not dead; it is just waiting to green up again when the water returns.	Signs of drought stress include: footprinting (wilting and very common during summer months), Blue-green discoloration, Scorch (lighter color green to brown), or dormancy(brown). Adjust irrigation controller as necessary to maintain proper water amounts. Try watering between 9pm - 9am to reduce evaporative loss.
Fall (October - mid to late November)	Perennials	Deadhead or remove all spent blooms to promote longer flowering. Material can be composted if not diseased. Remove weeds and volunteers.
	Shrubs	Observe for disease, insects or signs of drought stress. Treat as necessary. Prune according to shrub guide.
	Trees	Observe for disease, insects or signs of drought stress. Treat as necessary.
	Turf	Apply fertilizer and water into lawn at least once before shutting off irrigation system. Final mow at 2"-2.5".
	Irrigation	Apply heat tape and cover backflow prevention device if watering in to mid October to early November. Shut off water valve to irrigation system. Blow out irrigation system.
	Water Feature	Drain basin. Remove and clean pump. Store pump for winter.
	New Plant Material	Great opportunity to extend your landscape's bloom time into the early spring by planting bulbs.
Winter (December - February)	Trees	Winter water every 4-6 weeks. Water along drip line (canopy line extended to the ground). Make sure there is no snow on the ground and avoid watering before a string of cold days when hard freeze is likely.
	Shrubs	Winter water every 4-6 weeks. Water along drip line (canopy line extended to the ground). Make sure there is no snow on the ground and avoid watering before a string of cold days when hard freeze is likely.
	Snow Removal	Beware of over using snow melt around planter beds or turf areas. Try to minimize salt use.