A Lawn Care Calendar for Central Illinois Yards

How cool-season lawns grow here

Most home lawns in Central Illinois are a mix of Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass. These grasses grow hardest in the cool, wet weeks of spring and again in early fall. They slow down in the heat and dry spells of mid-summer, and they go dormant over winter. Almost every job on a lawn works best when it follows that rhythm.

The soil matters too. Much of this area sits on dark, heavy prairie silt loam. It holds water and nutrients well, but it stays soggy after a heavy rain and packs down under foot traffic and equipment. That's one reason not to mow or work a yard while it's saturated.

Early spring (March to April)

• Rake out leaves, sticks and matted grass, and clear dead growth from the beds. Aspring cleanup lets light and air reach the grass.
• Wait for the ground to firm up, because mowing a soggy lawn leaves ruts and packs the soil.
• Start mowing once the grass is actively growing, usually in April.
• Watch the gutters in the first spring rains to see if last fall's leaves are still in them.

Late spring (May to June)

• Mow often during peak growth. Many lawns need weekly mowing, since cutting more than a third of the blade at once stresses the grass.
• Keep the cut around 3 to 3.5 inches, which suits most cool-season lawns and shades out weeds.
• Spread 2 to 3 inches of fresh mulch in the beds, kept back from trunks and stems.
• Plant annuals, perennials and shrubs once the risk of frost has passed.

Summer (July to August)

• Raise the mowing height and mow less often while heat slows the grass down.
• Skip heavy feeding and seeding in peak heat, which usually does more harm than good.
• Note thin or bare spots now so they can be seeded when the weather cools.
• Use dry summer weeks for rock beds, edging and walkways.

Early fall (late August to October)

• Seed thin areas. Late summer to early fall is the best window forgrass seeding in Central Illinois, with warm soil, cool nights and fewer weeds. Spring is the second-best window.
• Fertilize in early fall, one of the most useful times to feed a cool-season lawn.
• Keep mowing as growth picks back up in the cooler weather.

Late fall (October to November)

• Clear the leaves before they mat down and smother the grass over winter. Afall cleanup covers the lawn and beds.
• Clean the gutters after the leaves have dropped, so the job only needs doing once.
• Keep mowing at your normal height until the grass stops growing.
• Put up holiday lights once the gutters are clear, before the roof gets icy.
• Mark the edges of driveways and walks with stakes before the ground freezes, so they're easy to find under snow.

Winter (December to February)

• Keep driveways, walks and steps clear after each snowfall, before the snow packs down into ice.Snow removal is one of the main winter services.
• Stay off frozen grass where you can, since frozen blades break and leave brown paths.
• Decide what help you want this year, such as regular mowing, cleanups or a bed refresh.

Getting help with the calendar

Russel's Mowing and Services handles each of these jobs for homes in Champaign and Douglas counties. Each job is quoted for the yard, whether it's regular mowing or a one-offcleanup. Call or text (217) 729-1112, or use the quote form.

This calendar is general guidance for Central Illinois. Weather varies year to year, so timing shifts with it.